Published by The Columbus Dispatch on January 6, 2020
Written by Valora Washington, Ph.D.
Ohio is known for many things. The birthplace of eight U.S. presidents. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Corn and buckeye trees. An incredible football legacy, both in professional and college leagues.
When I think of this state, I think of a legacy that is in the making with a program called POWER Ohio. This program, whose acronym stands for Powering Optimal Wages and Encouraging Retention, pays individuals to complete their higher education courses and degrees in early childhood education while they are working in these settings. This is important for several reasons, the most pressing of which is that we need to keep passionate educators in our field.
How do we do that? By helping them complete advanced training so they can earn a fair wage.
There are more than a half-million children under the age of 6 potentially in need of child care in Ohio. Investing in early childhood education and care should be a top priority for all who care about children, and a qualified early childhood educator — one who can create a dynamic learning environment that engages children and encourages their growth and exploration — is at the center of a high-quality early learning experience. This is something that parents and caregivers across the United States want and their children deserve.
However, this field often has been shoved to the sideline of education conversations, treated more as a child care safety net than a solid foundation for well-adjusted, capable young kids.
According to the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at the University of California, Berkeley, on average ECE educators in the state of Ohio earn a wage of just $9.86 per hour, which puts them toward the bottom of the wage-earning percentile and leads to high employee turnover.
I can tell you that these talented professionals do much more than tie shoes and wipe noses. They help children develop skills that will serve them across their life span. They model how to resolve conflicts, how to manage emotions and ultimately build a platform for academic success.
More than 60% of Ohio’s 53,000 ECE educators have a degree or credential beyond a high school diploma. According to Groundwork Ohio, early educators in the state earn an average annual income of $20,508; however, more than half of them rely on some form of public assistance. POWER Ohio is helping to bridge the gap so that the education and training needed to get to that next pay grade is possible.
“I am so excited to get my first POWER Ohio check,” said Donisha Gore. “It will help pay for my associate degree in Early Childhood Education at Columbus State University. It will help me move forward.”
Operated by a public-private partnership between the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association and the Child Care Resource and Referral network, POWER Ohio provides payments and wage supplements for recipients to attain an initial child development associate credential or an associate degree in a related field — from child development to family studies to physical education and more.
“POWER Ohio has helped me in so many ways,” said Mavis Aidoo. “It is providing motivation so I can obtain my CDA hours and receive my CDA credential. It has also given me the hope to complete my associate degree in early child care education.”
Ohio (and other states) can further invest in the early childhood education workforce to improve outcomes for at-risk children in several ways, including by increasing compensation and improving benefit standards, and by bolstering scholarship programs such as TEACH Early Childhood.
I can’t imagine a greater legacy for our children than ensuring that their first teachers, like Donisha, Mavis and so many more, are trained to succeed and are compensated in a way that allows them to do the work they love.
Valora Washington, Ph.D., is CEO of the Council for Professional Recognition, which works to ensure that all professional early childhood educators and caregivers meet the developmental, emotional and educational needs of our nation’s youngest children.
My mom called me up some years ago to praise a movie about a pig. As she began to mimic the pig’s squeaky little voice, I started to wonder what this meant and worried my...
It takes a village to raise a child, the old proverb tells us. But we need to expand our perspective, according to pediatric surgeon, social scientist and mom Dana Suskind. In her heartfelt work, Parent...
Dr. Calvin Moore shared that when he first arrived at the Council and took on the CEO role, he was focused on assessing the early childhood education (ECE) landscape, the reach of the organization and...
We have probably all seen the commercials this time of year when you can hear the popular holiday song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, playing in the background as parents dance joyously...
Did you know early childhood educators in Maryland have a special benefit that can help them and the children they serve? The Maryland State Department of Education has awarded a $1 million grant to the...
For the first time in three years, the Education Writers Association (EWA) gathered in person for their National Seminar in Orlando last month. The event drew journalists from across the country to hear from leaders...
In April 2022, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) issued new guidance and an Information Memoranda (IM) announcing the long-awaited, family-friendly policy of permitting families and guardians to use proof of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program...
Dasani wakes up before dawn each day at a homeless shelter in Brooklyn, New York. After slipping out from under the covers, she goes to the window. On a clear day, she can see all...
The CDA Advisory Committee was created to provide insights, perspectives, and best practices to the CDA community and other early childhood professionals. Established during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the members’ first-hand experiences...
Chief Operations Officer
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
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.
Read our monthly e-newsletter and keep up to date on all Council programs and services, as well as the latest news in the world of early care and education. Subscribe today to stay connected with us. You’ll receive timely information on events, webinars, special promotions, and more.
