From Gloria Davis, SCC-CAAEYC President
It is time to celebrate, appreciate, recognize, and grow!
I am humbled to lead an outstanding group of resilient early educators as we move beyond survival of the pandemic to opening our hearts to transform the futures of all children and families. I am appreciative as I serve the second year of my presidency with colleagues’ bravery, thoughtfulness, and collaborative efforts.
Together we will continue to build on our organization’s most significant assets by maintaining relationships and making new connections. In addition, SCC-CAAEYC keeps the flexibility necessary to respond to the needs of the early childhood education community through our professional development, webinar, workshops, and advocacy. Finally, we are dedicated to nurturing, growing, and developing early childhood leaders. Studies show that investments in high-quality early childhood education save taxpayer dollars, make working families more economically secure, prepare children to succeed in school, earn higher wages, live healthier lives, avoid incarceration, and contribute to society.
We are just coming off celebrating the Week of The Young Child, honoring and validating our youngest learners and families with five fun-filled themes each day. A special thanks for celebrating the Week of The Young Child at our local region, state, and national levels.
We still have more to celebrate! Earth Day is on April 22 every year. The day inspires us to act toward protecting the environment and focus on the need for conservation. We can teach our young learners how to make this world a better place now and for future generations. Earth day is recognized as the largest civic event in the world.
Teacher Appreciation Week will be celebrated in the first week of May. Teachers have such a significant impact on the lives of our children. Since 1984, the National PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) has designated a whole week to honor the women and men who lend their passion, skills, hard work, and dedication to educating our children. A million thanks to all the excellent teachers in the lives of children as we celebrate, appreciate, and recognize your accomplishment with young children helping them find joy in learning.
Lastly, we want to continue to grow the field of early childhood education by strongly advocating and supporting a robust and diverse universal preschool system inclusive of both school and community-based providers.
Gloria J. Davis, M.A., President
Southern California Chapter
California Association for the Education of Young Children (SCC-CAAEYC)