Biography

Kharesa Rivera is NAEYC’s Student Board Candidate. She is proud to be of Mexican and Native American heritage and embraces her cultural roots.  Coming from a diverse and underserved area in rural Colorado, Kharesa’s life experiences and fire-driven passion for equitable education empowers her to be an advocate for future generations and all educators. She has a community-driven mindset and is an individual who has the desire to make positive impacts on childrens’ lives and helping others.   

As a candidate for the NAEYC governing board, one of Kharesa’s career and professional goals is to improve the education system for all educators and students through expanding access to high-quality education and resources to members of the ECE community regardless of socioeconomic status or geographic location. She is firm believer that where children learn and teachers teach, should not determine if and how a child learns or a teacher teaches.  

Additionally, Kharesa is honored to represent University of Colorado Denver and all educators as a candidate for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) governing board. NAEYC is a professional association that advocates for and supports the advancement of educators through policy and research. Being recognized by peers and colleagues in the early childhood profession is a humbling professional achievement.  `  

One of Kharesa’s crowning achievements is that she is the first person in her family to graduate college. She is proud to accomplish this achievement as a non-traditional student, while working full-time and caring for her daughter and son. Kharesa is grateful for the support of her family and takes pride knowing she will serve as an educational role model for her children and community in the future. 

Watch Kharesa's video candidate statement: