While we are all looking forward to spring and the hope it brings, this month marks a year that we have been navigating the impacts of COVID-19.
We often hear that our children are resilient, and they are, but what we hear less about are the educators. Our educators have been on the front lines from day one, supporting our youngest learners’ needs during these trying times.
Policymakers and thought leaders have said that this could be our opportunity to “fix child care.” It is the perfect storm of events: a global pandemic, more than 4 million people leaving the workforce since last year (mostly women) and 60% of child care centers being forced to close.
I arrived at the Council for Professional Recognition almost a year ago, and as a holder of our Child Development Associate® (CDA) credential myself, I could see how these early childhood educators were being put to the test of their lives and they were ready for it!
The child care industry should be recognized as an integral part of our greater infrastructure. This idea is taking hold with policy advocates arguing that recognizing the industry in this way will not only allow parents to return and continue to work but also potentially create new jobs.
Furthermore, we need to recognize that these educators deserve wages that enable economic mobility. Historically early childhood educators have been Latinas and Asian and Black women. In 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the median hourly wage for these educators was just $11.65 an hour. Research shows us that every dollar invested in early childhood programs is well spent, yielding between $4 and $12 in return.
Our CDAs tell us that they are prepared to support families. Their training allows them to understand what our children are going through while helping them navigate their feelings and understanding of what is happening in the world around them. These jobs by their very nature require in-person, individual connections between the educator and student, not to mention that these early years are crucial for a child’s development.
I am opening myself up to cautious hope. I have seen and spoken to educators who are encouraged by the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement about the priority for early educators to be vaccinated as soon as possible. This is one step in the right direction, but we need to see more things like this happen.
We have been working with several states to help those interested find their way to early education. Just last month, the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Early Childhood, Maryland Family Network and the Council announced a partnership to provide funding to support Maryland-based child care providers in obtaining the CDA. Similar programs exist other states.
As we approach 1 million CDAs across the globe, I encourage others to consider the value and stability these educators bring to our lives and how we can best support their commitment to our children.
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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.
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