For many NAEYC members, leadership does not begin and end in the classroom. It evolves through connection, advocacy, and service. Whether you’ re early in your career or a seasoned professional, serving on your NAEYC Affiliate Board offers an opportunity to deepen your influence and expand your contributions to the field. Board service also allows you to explore where your skills and passions align best. Affiliate Boards have many committees you can serve on, and they offer other volunteer roles.

“ Some of the most rewarding opportunities in my career have come from saying yes— even when I wasn’ t completely sure I was ready,” said Amanda Waters, business manager with the Oklahoma Association for the Education of Young Children( OKAEYC) and a previous OKAEYC Board member.“ You don’ t have to have all the answers to make a difference. You just have to care enough to show up and be willing to grow.”

Affiliate Boards play a critical role in shaping the direction of early childhood policy, professional development, and community engagement at the state and local levels. By serving, you become part of a collective voice that advances high-quality early learning for all children.

“ In our day-to-day work, we forget that we are a part of a larger field,” said Audrey Rowland, past president of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children.“ Getting involved with the Affiliate through Board work or committee work is an opportunity to reconnect with that community. It provides opportunities to build relationships with people in the same field but doing different work, and there is meaningful advocacy that can impact our profession.”

18 Educating Young Children

Fall 2026