NAEYCNEWS
When I joined NAEYC, I immediately had access to a large network, family, and community of early childhood professionals where we could learn together, work together, and( yes) practice the latest fingerplay and“ Tooty Ta” song together. As I progressed in my career, my connections to NAEYC shifted toward higher education and research, and again, I was able to“ find my people.” I shifted from practice to translational research and teacher preparation. Another shift happened when I became more actively engaged in contributing to NAEYC and decided to run for the Board( not once but twice) to serve an organization that had given so much to me. Similar to the sentiments in Beyonce’ s“ Bigger,” NAEYC allowed me to find my place in early childhood education and contribute to an organization with a bigger and greater impact than at the local level. I have grown because of NAEYC while helping NAEYC grow too.
Therefore, when I reflect on 100 years of NAEYC, I believe that we are 100 years strong because each member has found their people and a place of belonging, a place to learn and grow together professionally, and a place to debate, extend, and explore our own curiosities. NAEYC has been a place for us to band together to advocate for our workforce, the children and families we serve, and the early childhood community we hold so dear. NAEYC has been our go-to resource for the latest research-informed practices to improve educator and program quality. Our accreditation is arguably the gold standard that distinguishes early learning programs within their communities. If there is a policy that is harmful or helpful to young children, families, communities, and our workforce, NAEYC is right there advocating for them on Capitol Hill and supporting our local Affiliates.
NAEYC has been the flagship organization in our field— our north star, our champion. But staying true to Sankofa and its emphasis on looking back, it is important to ask: Who is NAEYC?
Before I joined the Governing Board, I imagined NAEYC as a massive early childhood giant with more than a gazillion individuals working nonstop at headquarters. In actuality, there are just a few
80 Young Children
Spring 2026