Nicole Lazarte's Story

I am the first generation born in the United States; my parents are from Bolivia. I grew up in a low-income setting, with English as a second language, and a few other adverse childhood experiences. For me, school was my safe place. In my later childhood years, my mom set up a home daycare and I helped out after school with the children. After high school, I began working part time at a child development center which later turned into a full time job. I worked in preschool, and slowly worked down the age groups trying to be proactive in my work with the children. Once I was fortunate to become a lead teacher, I realized how many things were out of my control outside of the four walls of my classroom.

I reached out to my director who was active in my local NAEYC affiliate to see what I could do. I knew I wanted to fight for my little ones but also for myself as an educator. She connected me to my affiliate, which I am now acting as Member at Large as the Advocacy Chair. Through my NAEYC affiliate, I learned what was being done in my community and how I could take part. I worked with the past advocacy chair to create our Advocacy Leadership Training Program. It’s designed to help other educators, like myself, who want to start being active in advocacy but don’t know where to start. It gives them a crash course in advocacy and ends with their participation in NAEYC’s Public Policy Forum. To see myself at the table was one thing, but to help empower others to see themselves there has been something better.

Through my journey as an educator, an active member of my affiliate, and an advocate, I’ve had many opportunities to connect with other early childhood professionals who were passionate about the work and inspired by the call for action. I have been fortunate to create connections and relationships with people in all walks of life and learned so much from them. They have inspired me to work on projects in my community. They have provided resources and support when I have goals. They have inspired me to aim high and apply for roles that allow me to have a bigger impact. I would have never applied for things such as the NAEYC Governing Board on my own – I thought, what could I contribute as “just an infant teacher?” But I’ve learned I have so much to give, and I know my colleagues and peers do as well. 

It has been so refreshing to be in a space within my professional organization where I am surrounded by like-minded people who are always willing to help uplift each other and work towards a common goal. I am so grateful for everyone I have met, the opportunities I have had, and the opportunities I will help create for others.

Jerletha McDonald's Story

For me, it’s all about relationships.

• It started when I met Dr. Karen Walker at a policy forum in Austin, Texas. She heard me speak about family child care. From there she invited me to attend a Dallas AEYC Board meeting, before I knew it, I was serving as an Affiliate Board member representing Family Child Care. I went on to win a leadership award and scholarship to attend a TXAEYC conference. 
• From there, I attended NAEYC’s Professional Learning Institute, where my mentor Raquel Washington introduced me to Marica Cox Mitchell at NAEYC, who then sent me an invitation to participate on the Power to the Profession workgroup representing Family Child Care! 
• I went on to attend my very first NAEYC Public Policy Forum in Washington, DC, where I gained knowledge, tools and resources on how to use my voice and presence to advocate for myself and my profession.
• I also had the amazing opportunity to attend NAEYC’s Equity Leadership Summit, where I learned to define my “why.” For me, that’s "helping women of color in family child care achieve economic mobility!" 
• Moving forward, I had the privilege of providing opening remarks and introducing Mrs. Marian Wright Edelman herself at NAEYC’s Annual Conference advocacy rally in Washington, DC. I also had the opportunity to attend a meeting at the White House to advocate for funding along with other ECE leaders.

All of these opportunities that NAEYC provided me helped prepare me to be the leader that I am today. I truly believe that providing people with resources and opportunities creates POWER! I am a shining example of that. 

I take everything I learn on my journey as a leader in the field of Family Child Care – from my leadership work at my own organization ADFW Family Child Care Network to the work I have done with the National Association for Family Child Care, and so much more! 

Stepping into my power has come naturally to me in some ways; and in other ways, I have confronted real challenges. Am I leading by example? Am I doing the right thing? When it comes to policy, when do I accept compromise? How do I not compromise on my values and beliefs? But NAEYC has given me the space and confidence to use the gifts I already have to navigate these questions, and to help me grow. And I’m all about the mindset shift from fixed to growth. In fact, I teach Family Child Care Executives this all the time! 

We have to change the narrative. All of us early childhood educators – working in centers and homes and schools! We are here to provide high-quality early childhood education and care while unapologetically moving our own families up the economic ladder. The Early Childhood Workforce across the nation are doing amazing things in the field and their voices and stories must be told! Let's talk about and uplift them! 

I am thankful to NAEYC for investing in me and providing me with opportunities to grow professionally and thrive. In turn, I will continue to invest in my fellow family child care executives, making sure they have the tools and resources they need to thrive, because when they thrive, we all thrive!