My journey as an early childhood educator started the day I enrolled my son, Anthony, in a Head Start program. I was a young mother, unsure of many things but certain of one: I wanted my child to feel safe, loved, and supported. What I didn’ t know then was that his first classroom would also become the place where I discovered my own purpose.

“ Every morning, I watched my son walk into his classroom with a light in his eyes— a light sparked by teachers who greeted him with warmth, patience, and genuine joy. I saw how he blossomed under their care, how he learned to trust his voice, how he transformed from‘ I can’ t’ to‘ I can.’ That transformation didn’ t just change him; it changed me. It showed me the profound impact early educators have on children’ s lives, especially during the years when their brains are rapidly building the foundation for everything that comes next. I wanted to be part of that mission. I wanted to help shape future leaders— our‘ brain builders’ as I lovingly call them.

“ Coming from a background of poverty, I understood deeply what it meant to feel unseen or underestimated. Education became my pathway forward, and I was determined to use it to open doors for others. Over the past 25 years, I have earned my CDA [ child development associate credential ], my associate degree, and eventually my bachelor’ s degree. Each step was fueled by the belief that children deserve educators who see their potential long before they see it in themselves.”

— Kashonda Lawrence, New Haven, Connecticut

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