The month of May is a time of heartfelt gratitude and thoughtful reflection. Not only is it the month we honor mothers, but we also celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5–9), Teacher Appreciation Day (May 6), and Provider Appreciation Day (May 9)—moments to recognize the tireless work of educators who inspire, nurture, and guide our youngest learners every single day. It’s also Mental Health Awareness Month, and within it, Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (May 5–11)—a call to action to uplift the emotional well-being of children and those who support them.
These observances aren’t just aligned on the calendar; they are deeply interconnected in purpose. Our educators carry enormous responsibilities! Early childhood educators are not only helping children develop early literacy and numeracy skills, but they are also building the emotional foundation for lifelong learning, resilience, and social connection. In doing so, early educators often shoulder the invisible weight of the emotional needs of children and families, while managing their own stress and mental health. So instead of sharing mere words of encouragement and celebration for teacher appreciation, we decided to offer guidance and resources for supporting early childhood educators, children, and families. Of course, this information can be useful for educators at all levels, along with the youth and families they serve.
Educators are experiencing unprecedented levels of burnout, emotional fatigue, and stress. According to the American Federation of Teachers, more than 75% of educators report job-related stress, and over a quarter have symptoms consistent with clinical depression (AFT, 2022). In early childhood settings, burnout is compounded by low wages, the lack of job security, under-resourcing, staffing shortages, and the emotional demands of constantly seeking appropriate ways to alleviate the distress of young children and families. Further intensifying these issues, educators who work with young children prior to elementary school are often impacted by the lack of access to healthcare and medical benefits, which are not standard or consistent in early care and education programs.
While educators are suffering from emotional and health adversities brought on by the daily demands of their work, children’s mental health is also in crisis. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that up to 1 in 5 children experience a mental health disorder each year, yet only about 20% receive care from a specialized mental health provider (CDC, 2023). Early childhood educators are often the first to notice signs of distress and are uniquely positioned to provide support—if they are supported themselves.
When we care for educators, we create a ripple effect that benefits children, families, and entire communities. Consider employing at least one of these five recommendations to support early childhood professionals during the month of May and beyond:
A simple thank-you note, or moment of recognition can go a long way. Consider organizing appreciation events, creating community recognition boards, or offering time for self-care during the workday. Offering your time as a volunteer to allow classroom teachers to enjoy an extended lunchbreak outside of the classroom and/or off the premises would be significantly appreciated.
Provide access to mental health resources, stress reduction programs, and peer support networks. Normalize conversations about stress and burnout. Offering a segment for general reflections at the top or bottom of your staff or team meeting agendas can be a great starting point.
Equipping educators with tools to support children’s emotional health benefits both students and teachers. Professional development topics may include identifying early signs of distress, mindfulness in the classroom, and building safe, predictable environments. Consider choosing one topic to focus on each month and provide staff/team time to discuss the selected topic during meetings.
Advocacy can happen at all levels—from school boards to state legislatures. Support policies that increase wages, reduce class sizes, fund mental health services in schools, and protect time for planning and self-care. Here at the Council, we’re expanding our government relations and advocacy efforts, offering intentional assets to keep you updated on policies that may impact early childhood education.
Strong family-school partnerships enhance outcomes for children and create shared responsibility for mental wellness. Educators need tools and time to build trusting relationships with parents/caregivers. This is why Child Development Associate (CDA®) candidates are required to develop a Family Resource Guide as a part of the Resource Collection in their professional portfolio. In alignment with Competency Goal IV Functional Area 11 of the CDA® Competency Standards that is focused on families, candidates must include the contact information for a local agency that provides family counseling.
This May, as we honor the educators who shape the hearts and minds of future generations, let’s make a commitment—not only to celebrate them but to care for them. Making mental health a priority is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for educators, for children, and for families.
Together, let’s build a culture of appreciation, advocacy, and action. Let’s ensure every teacher, every child, and every family is seen, heard, and supported.
Written in honor of all educators who show up with heart and hope, every day. We see you. We thank you. We stand with you!
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Vice President of Strategic Alliances
Elisa Shepherd is the Vice President of Strategic Alliances at the Council, where she leads initiatives to advance the Council’s mission and strategic plan through designing, managing, and executing a comprehensive stakeholder relationship strategy.
With over 25 years of experience in early childhood education (ECE), Elisa has dedicated her career to developing impactful programs, professional development opportunities, and public policies that support working families, young children, and ECE staff. Before joining the Council, Elisa held numerous roles within the childcare industry. Most recently, she served as Associate Vice President at The Learning Experience and as Senior Manager at KinderCare Education, where she influenced government affairs and public policies across 40 states.
Elisa’s commitment to leadership is reflected in her external roles on the Early Care and Education Consortium Board of Directors, the Florida Chamber Foundation Board of Trustees, and as the DEI Caucus Leader for KinderCare Education. She has been recognized as an Emerging Leader in Early Childhood by Childcare Exchange’s Leadership Initiative.
Elisa earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a focus on child development from Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA.
Chief Operations Officer (COO)
Andrew Davis serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Council. In this role, Andrew oversees the Programs Division, which includes the following operational functions: credentialing, growth and business development, marketing and communications, public policy and advocacy, research, innovation, and customer relations.
Andrew has over 20 years of experience in the early care and education field. Most recently, Andrew served as Senior Vice President of Partnership and Engagement with Acelero Learning and Shine Early Learning, where he led the expansion of state and community-based partnerships to produce more equitable systems of service delivery, improved programmatic quality, and greater outcomes for communities, children and families. Prior to that, he served as Director of Early Learning at Follett School Solutions.
Andrew earned his MBA from the University of Baltimore and Towson University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland – University College.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Jan Bigelow serves as Chief Financial Officer at the Council and has been with the organization since February of 2022.
Jan has more than 30 years in accounting and finance experience, including public accounting, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. She has held management-level positions with BDO Seidman, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Pew Center for Global Climate Change, Communities In Schools, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization and American Humane. Since 2003, Jan has worked exclusively in the non-profit sector where she has been a passionate advocate in improving business operations in order to further the mission of her employers.
Jan holds a CPA from the State of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lycoming College. She resides in Alexandria VA with her husband and dog.
Vice President of People and Culture
Janie Payne is the Vice President of People and Culture for the Council for Professional Recognition. Janie is responsible for envisioning, developing, and executing initiatives that strategically manage talent and culture to align people strategies with the overarching business vision of the Council. Janie is responsible for driving organizational excellence through strategic talent practices, orchestrating workforce planning, talent acquisition, performance management as well as a myriad of other Human Resources Programs. She is accountable for driving effectiveness by shaping organizational structure for optimal efficiency. Janie oversees strategies that foster a healthy culture to include embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of the organization.
In Janie’s prior role, she was the Vice President of Administration at Equal Justice Works, where she was responsible for leading human resources, financial operations, facilities management, and information technology. She was also accountable for developing and implementing Equal Justice Works Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy focused on attracting diverse, mission-oriented talent and creating an inclusive and equitable workplace environment. With more than fifteen years of private, federal, and not-for-profit experience, Janie is known for her intuitive skill in administration management, human resources management, designing and leading complex system change, diversity and inclusion, and social justice reform efforts.
Before joining Equal Justice Works, Janie was the Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer for Global Communities, where she was responsible for the design, implementation, and management of integrated HR and diversity strategies. Her work impacted employees in over twenty-two countries. She was responsible for the effective management of different cultural, legal, regulatory, and economic systems for both domestic and international employees. Prior to Global Communities, Janie enjoyed a ten-year career with the federal government. As a member of the Senior Executive Service, she held key strategic human resources positions with multiple cabinet-level agencies and served as an advisor and senior coach to leaders across the federal sector. In these roles, she received recognition from management, industry publications, peers, and staff for driving the creation and execution of programs that created an engaged and productive workforce.
Janie began her career with Verizon Communications (formerly Bell Atlantic), where she held numerous roles of increasing responsibility, where she directed a diversity program that resulted in significant improvement in diversity profile measures. Janie was also a faculty member for the company’s Black Managers Workshop, a training program designed to provide managers of color with the skills needed to overcome barriers to their success that were encountered because of race. She initiated a company-wide effort to establish team-based systems and structures to impact corporate bottom line results which was recognized by the Department of Labor. Janie was one of the first African American women to be featured on the cover of Human Resources Executive magazine.
Janie received her M.A. in Organization Development from American University. She holds numerous professional development certificates in Human Capital Management and Change Management, including a Diversity and Inclusion in Human Resources certificate from Cornell University. She completed the year-long Maryland Equity and Inclusion Leadership Program sponsored by The Schaefer Center for Public Policy and The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. She is a trained mediator and Certified Professional Coach. She is a graduate of Leadership America, former board chair of the NTL Institute and currently co-steward of the organization’s social justice community of practice, and a member of The Society for Human Resource Management. Additionally, Janie is the Board Chairperson for the Special Education Citizens Advisory Council for Prince Georges County where she is active in developing partnerships that facilitate discussion between parents, families, educators, community leaders, and the PG County school administration to enhance services for students with disabilities which is her passion. She and her husband Randolph reside in Fort Washington Maryland.
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