Educating Young Children Volume 1 – Spring 2025 | Page 11

Michelle: Definitely the teacher shortage and educators’ low compensation. Teachers in the United States work more than teachers in other countries, yet we are paid less and experience greater stress when compared to other working adults. That [ CS: IS THERE BRANDING FOR WOYC THAT SHOULD combination of low pay-high stress is a big issue we’ re facing.

ACCOMPANY THIS BLURB?] There’ s also a significant pay disparity between educators in home- [ TITLE and ] center-based Week of the Young programs Child and ® Is educators Here! in elementary schools. That contributes to our fragmented system. We can’ t do

Join us for NAEYC’ s 2025 Week of the Young Child ® celebration right by children until we have some unified efforts around equitable

April 5 – 11! Our annual event, started in 1971, celebrates early compensation.

learning, young children, their teachers, and families. Learn

NAEYC more: You about spent WOYC time activities as a mentor, proclamations at Loyola, University and daily themes at

Chicago’ s School of Education after graduating. Why was that important to you?

Michelle: I’ ve always been passionate about mentoring and naturally driven to share my experiences, knowledge, and resources with others in the field. Beyond my formal role as a mentor, I’ m often informally approached by general education teachers from other schools, many of whom I’ ve connected with through ILAEYC, to support them in working with students who have challenging behaviors or learning difficulties. When teachers express that they feel unprepared or unsure of where to start in meeting the needs of children with developmental delays, I make it my goal to help them develop a growth mindset and feel more confident in supporting all children. I believe it’ s crucial not only for educators to feel equipped but also for children to receive the support they need as early as possible.

NAEYC: That kind of professional collaboration is one of the tenets of NAEYC. How has NAEYC supported you?

Michelle: I learned about NAEYC through my teacher preparation program, and I joined ILAEYC at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. My participation at the Affiliate level has been very meaningful— especially the chapters of the Affiliate. The members of