By Janna Rodriguez
BlackPressUSA interviewed Janna Rodriguez, an advocate, educator, and champion for early childhood schooling. She’s the founder and proprietor of Progressive Daycare Corp in Freeport, NY, the place she has created a nurturing, bilingual, and inclusive setting serving kids of all talents.
Janna leads advocacy efforts by means of organizations together with the CDA Council, NAEYC, Small Enterprise Majority, Childcare Changemakers, and the CSEA/VOICE Union, the place she represents hundreds of household childcare suppliers throughout New York State.
Her efforts be sure that kids—particularly these from underserved communities—have entry to a robust academic basis and a brighter future.
Q: What ought to mother and father think about when enrolling their youngster in an early childhood schooling program?
A: Mother and father ought to first think about this system’s philosophy and whether or not it aligns with their values and objectives for his or her youngster. It’s not nearly discovering care—it’s about discovering an setting that nurtures the entire youngster: bodily, emotionally, socially, and intellectually. Search for packages which have developmentally acceptable practices, a robust concentrate on security and emotional well-being, and educators who genuinely perceive youngster growth. Accreditation and employees {qualifications} matter, however so does observing how academics interact with kids day by day.
Q: Out of your perspective, how ought to a mother or father resolve which early childhood program is finest for his or her youngster?
A: Choosing the proper program is a private choice. Mother and father ought to go to a number of packages, ask questions on curriculum, ratios, and communication, and watch how their youngster responds throughout a go to. The perfect program looks like an extension of the house—heat, welcoming, and attuned to every youngster’s distinctive wants. Belief your instincts. An early childhood program ought to empower your youngster to be curious and assured whereas additionally supporting you as a mother or father.
Q: We stay in a multicultural nation. How does the early childhood schooling group guarantee it’s reflective of that actuality?
A: High quality early childhood packages should honor variety. At our program, we deliberately create a bilingual setting and have fun completely different cultures by means of music, artwork, and storytelling. This isn’t an occasional themed week—it’s woven into our day by day interactions. Illustration issues; kids ought to see themselves and their friends mirrored in books, toys, and the individuals who look after them. Past the classroom, early childhood professionals want continued coaching in cultural competency to foster true inclusivity.
Q: You’re very efficient at making the case that we have to do a greater job of valuing the early childhood schooling workforce. How do you see issues proper now? What’s going properly and the place do hurdles nonetheless exist?
A: We’ve made progress in elevating conversations about early schooling, particularly because the pandemic uncovered its important position in our economic system. Nevertheless, many educators nonetheless face low wages, restricted advantages, and societal undervaluation. What’s going properly is that advocacy is rising; educators are organizing, unions are strengthening, and policymakers are listening. The hurdle stays translating consciousness into sustainable funding and coverage modifications that guarantee educators obtain skilled pay and respect for the essential work they do.
Q: You acknowledge that individuals of colour usually tend to face disparities in inexpensive childcare. How do you assist on this regard? What extra do you suppose others must be doing to assist?
A: As a Latina educator and advocate, I’ve skilled these disparities firsthand. Our program prioritizes entry for low- and middle-income households and participates in packages just like the youngster care help program in New York to make care inexpensive. Past our personal lecture rooms, I advocate for systemic change by means of my position in childcare organizations and lobbying efforts, pushing for elevated subsidies and equitable insurance policies. Others might help by difficult biases, supporting minority-owned early childhood packages, and urging leaders to handle racial inequities in funding and licensing.
Q: Profitable schooling outcomes require mother and father to construct on and broaden classes taught in early childhood schooling. How can mother and father advance what you and your workforce attempt to educate at your program?
A: Partnership with mother and father is important. We encourage mother and father to learn day by day with their kids, ask open-ended questions, and permit for unstructured play at dwelling. Consistency issues—when households mirror the routines and constructive habits steerage we follow in our program, kids thrive. We additionally present digital instruments and weekly lesson plans so mother and father know what we’re specializing in and might reinforce these abilities by means of on a regular basis actions like cooking, nature walks, and household conversations.
Q: Please share an instance of a scholar who’s benefited significantly from their time in your early childhood program. How do you know they have been excelling? What made it such a constructive expertise?
A: One youngster joined us with vital developmental delays and struggled socially. Via individualized consideration, collaboration with specialists, and a nurturing setting that constructed confidence by means of play, this youngster flourished. Inside a 12 months, they have been speaking extra clearly, forming friendships, and demonstrating problem-solving abilities we hadn’t seen earlier than. The success got here from teamwork—educators, therapists, and oldsters aligning across the youngster’s strengths and wishes. Watching that transformation reaffirmed why high-quality, inclusive early childhood schooling is life-changing.
