Educating Young Children Volume 1 - Summer 2025 | Page 11

also began taking on leadership roles and special projects, seeking to have an impact beyond her classroom’ s four walls and 20 children. When the district sought an early childhood coordinator in 2022, she got the job.

[ CS: IS THERE BRANDING FOR WOYC THAT SHOULD Today ACCOMPANY, Linda is the THIS director BLURB of early?] childhood education for the Saint Louis Public Schools. She liaises among 2,100 children, their

[ TITLE ] Week of the Young Child ® Is Here! families, and 125 early childhood educators. Here, Linda reflects on her Join work us, the for ways NAEYC NAEYC’ s 2025 supports Week of her the, and Young how Child she advocates ® celebration for educator April 5 well-being – 11! Our annual. event, started in 1971, celebrates early learning, young children, their teachers, and families. Learn NAEYC: You transitioned to a district position after 16 years in the more about WOYC activities, proclamations, and daily themes classroom. What was that like?

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Linda using: I really the hashtag loved being # WOYC2025 a classroom. Your teacher voice. helps I taught elevate virtually early

during childhood the COVID-19 education pandemic in our communities, then taught, for states another, and nation year after. we returned in-person. But when this position came open, I was drawn to the idea of building relationships with teachers and families and the central office staff.

I’ d been in the district, so I knew the system. Still, it was challenging to move from thinking about one classroom to thinking about the whole system. I had amazing mentors who guided me in the jump from the classroom to the central office. My mantra was,“ It’ s a marathon, not a sprint.”

NAEYC: Your constituency is very large. How do you ensure that you’ re meeting the needs of children, families, and educators?

Linda: It’ s important that I’ m visible and responsive. I visit our pre-K schools to get a temperature check of what’ s going on in the classrooms: Is professional development working? Are we being culturally responsive? These walkthroughs help inform district-level decisions. They also help us identify teachers who are outstanding in a particular area or who may need additional supports.