NAEYCNEWS teachers, and families we serve— despite efforts to dismantle this work. We were in community. We re-imagined. We stayed on mission.
› I expressed my intention to operate from a strengths-based approach to acknowledge and draw upon the collective experiences, perspectives, and knowledge that contribute to these conversations. Along with other Board members and NAEYC staff and leadership, I’ ve engaged in multiple conversations, webinars, and initiatives with our Affiliates, Interest Forums, and members to build upon and gather expertise and knowledge. These efforts have helped to center community and belonging within NAEYC. I supported and provided my expertise as the NAEYC staff, Board, and professionals across the country revised and published our updated“ Early Childhood Program Standards” and“ Code of Ethics for Early Childhood Educators” position statements. We were in community. We re-imagined. We stayed on mission.
› Lastly, I reflected on how my action would be to demonstrate through my leadership, teaching, and scholarship the practices, policies, and experiences that are high quality and equitable. During my two years as president, I have kept quality and equity at the center of my multiple roles and responsibilities. All of my columns have provided insights on how we can maintain quality and equity. I asked and pushed for the highest quality and equitable outcomes for all of the decisions we made as a Board and as NAEYC leaders. I am most proud of how we have drawn upon our 100-year legacy of resiliency, strength, and community despite these turbulent times. As Beyonce sings in her song“ 16 Carriages,” our legacy is one of the most important things we can leave and be remembered by. We were in community. We re-imagined. We stayed on mission.
In closing, I asked in my first column,“ Are you ready?” My answer was I am ready. I was ready to listen, be joyful, learn, grow, groove, laugh, teach, converse, debate, analyze, evaluate, deliberate, celebrate, soar, and reflect with you. As I reflect over the past two years, I have done each of these things with our members, Affiliate leaders, Interest Forum leaders and members, policy leaders, NAEYC staff and leadership, our Board members, and our NAEYC stakeholders. It has been such a remarkable experience serving as your leader and supporting the efforts of NAEYC CEO Michelle Kang, who has consistently demonstrated through her visionary leadership her commitment to a NAEYC that thrives and is a safe and professional space for those of us who serve, care for, and educate young children.
So as I transition to past president, you will be in such good hands with a dynamic new leader: Dr. Nadia J. Jones, who will be your next Board president. We also have new Board members who are eager and ready to represent our NAEYC membership and take us to new heights. I have no doubt that under Nadia and Michelle’ s leadership— along with the support of our NAEYC Board and staff— we will be in community, we will re-imagine, and we will stay on mission.
My final question to each of you comes from the Maasai community:“ Kasserian Ingera: And how are the children?” Let’ s continue, my NAEYC friends, to seek their response of“ All is well.”
Onwards and upwards in early childhood education!
Copyright © 2026 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. See permissions and reprints online at NAEYC. org / resources / permissions.
54 Young Children
Summer 2026