Biography

I am interested in this position because I am enthusiastic about early childhood education. In my career spanning decades, I have been a nanny, center staff, lead teacher and a family childcare provider. I didn’t get my associates degree until I was forty years old, and I’m now a few semesters into my bachelors program. My experience and excitement about learning and living in this field has given me a unique voice that I would love to use to advocate not only for children, but for the students that are getting the degrees to work with children. This is such a huge interest for me to the point that I am obtaining my degrees so that when I retire from my actual work with children, I can then move to the community college level to train the next generation of quality early childhood educators. My love for learning, and early childhood education will come full circle.  

I have been a board member for many organizations, including the final vice president for the former Iowa Family Child Care Association, the affiliate of the National Association for Family Child Care. The organization decided to merge with our Iowa affiliate of the NAEYC, called IA AEYC, in 2020. I am now the newly created family childcare chapter representative for the governing board. Both of these appointments have allowed me to get to know the providers of Iowa well and build the strong relationships that are the backbone of any successful organization. I know the importance of building relationships and networking with other people in this field, and I know that NAEYC would be a wonderful place for students for this purpose. However, students aren’t always aware that NAEYC is a great resource, and I want to make sure that our student membership goes up so that we can introduce new educators, before they enter the field, to a group of likeminded passionate people that can guide them. We all know that working with children can be exhausting and sometimes lonely. It would be a great asset for new teachers and providers to have a network and place to go for questions and concerns, which will help us retain our new educators both in the field and the organization.  

The pandemic has really shown the government that childcare is a priority. There is so much that we can do to keep this idea moving and growing. As a student board member, I would have many ideas on how to get interested people into undergraduate programs for early childhood education. I’ve personally partnered with Hawkeye Community College to become a field experience place for students pursuing an early childhood degree. In my experience, students do not often consider family childcare a viable option, but I’ve found through this partnership that students may consider it if they see it firsthand. I want to move this option state and nationwide so that family childcare is another option after graduation, instead of a stepping stone to teaching in a school system.  

I am a local and state advocate for children and families. I am ready to use this loud voice to advocate for children, families and the students wanting to work with those families at a national level. I have the passion and excitement. I’d love to put it to work as a student governing board member of NAEYC. Thank you so much for the opportunity!  

For the candidate's personal statement click here: https://youtu.be/RSuBqxJgxEU