This is a series featuring the Early Childhood Policy Pathway Fellows and their experiences in their 20-month fellowship positions. To learn more about the Fellowship, visit our website.
What drew you to work in early childhood?
I have always wanted to work with children, although what that has looked like has changed over the years. I started babysitting for my neighbors during middle school and in college worked part time at a child care center. I loved working with toddlers and preschoolers, seeing their personalities develop and seeing how much they grow and learn over such a brief period of time.
I transitioned into being a preschool teacher, and became interested in early childhood mental health, early intervention, and the intersection of these with early education and care.
What projects have you been working on at your host organization, and what have you learned from working on these projects?
I have worked on a variety of projects, several of which started when I joined Strategies for Children, which allowed me to be involved from the beginning and see the projects evolve.
I’ve learned SFC’s approach to relationship building, connection, and the overall collaborative process of defining what role SFC plays, how we can support and amplify the work being done, and who else should be involved.
One particular project I have worked on is FY’27 state budget advocacy. This has been such a learning opportunity. I have tracked our early childhood budget priorities, and I have been in conversations with legislators and state advocates about our budget requests. I have gained an appreciation for how complex and nuanced the process is. There is so much happening behind the scenes that you have to ensure you are having conversations to get the right information and that you’re communicating and coordinating with partners, so everyone is on the same page.
How has your relationship with your host supervisor impacted what you have learned?
Having Marisa Fear and Amy O’Leary as supervisors has been an amazing opportunity. They both bring so much knowledge and varied perspectives on Massachusetts’ early childhood landscape. I’ve learned about the importance of understanding the policy context and the historical context and relationships behind different programs, policies, and initiatives.
I know that they are very supportive of my learning and growth, especially when it comes to answering my questions, helping me connect the dots, or navigating the best ways to communicate and share information.
What are some of the persistent challenges that you’ve seen in the early childhood system in Massachusetts?
One persistent challenge is around revenue and funding. Even when a program or grant is in place and the intent is there, there may not be enough funding to support progress and growth.
For example, the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grant has been a tremendous value add and support for the early education and care system and its providers. However, it has been level funded for the past several years, so most new programs are unable to access it. At the same time, C3 has been used as a strong workforce support, but in order to strengthen wages, benefits, and other workforce supports, there needs to either be an increase in funding for C3 or an additional revenue source.
What are some emerging solutions that you’re seeing?
There have been a number of innovative emerging solutions, that if we were able to scale and sustain, could have a great impact. This includes the Family Child Care (FCC) Capacity Pilot Program, the Employer Child Care Innovation Fund, the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative, and loan forgiveness and scholarships for early educators enrolled in higher education programs.
What are some long-term solutions that should happen?
Two important solutions are improving family affordability and strengthening the workforce. As states like New Mexico and New York implement universal child care, we should see if there are lessons learned or aspects Massachusetts should consider as it moves toward universal child care. How, for example, can programs like the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative be used as a lever and model for achieving universal child care?
How has your fellowship experience informed your career goals?
I have explored different opportunities, connected with people, and been in spaces that I would not normally have access to. The work and what I have learned so far have helped me to understand the type of work and environment I want to be in long term.
What advice would you give to young professionals who are interested in early childhood policy?
There isn’t just one way to get involved in early childhood policy, and everyone’s journey looks different in terms of how they get involved. Understanding the level and type of policy you are interested in is helpful in deciding whether you want to work with a state agency, legislative office, or nonprofit, and this self-awareness can shape the experiences that you have.