2021-2022 FLAEYC Executive Board ElectionsElection Overview

Election OverviewPosition Descriptions & Candidate ListingCandidate Profiles

The 2021-2022 FLAEYC Executive Board Election is scheduled to be held October 2-November 2, 2021. Accordingly, we have provided information to help members elect thecandidates of their choice. This packet includes:

The actual ballot will be made available to the FLAEYC membership on October 2.Members can cast their ballot online or by downloading the PDF and mailing to our office.

If you chose to provide a write-in candidate, space is provided on the ballot for this purpose.Please remember that write-in candidates must meet all qualifications, be a member and bewilling to serve.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Chris Duggan, Executive Director, atcduggan@flaeyc.org.

2021-2022 FLAEYC Executive Board ElectionsPosition Descriptions & Candidate Listing

Demonstrated ability and time to provide the vision and leadership required to guide theBoard in positioning the Association for the future;Breadth of knowledge and experience to lead the Governing Board in makingresponsible, mission- driven decisions regarding the Association’s policies andallocation of resources to meet its goals and priorities;Ability to serve as sounding board and advisor to the Executive Director – and conferwith the Executive Committee – regarding the implementation of policies and decisionsauthorized by the Board and in the planning of meeting agendas;Ability to preside at all Governing Board and Executive Committee meetings and theannual Business Meeting; Possess strong interpersonal skills and understanding of FLAEYC’s commitment to anopen, participatory Board culture that welcomes diversity of perspectives and fostersknowledge-based, strategic thinking in building consensus and taking action;Ability to interpret FLAEYC policies and activities and communicate these to membersand nonmembers. This responsibility includes the ability to serve as an ambassador forthe Association and effectively represent FLAEYC through the media, in relation to othergroups, and through the Association’s communication vehicles.Ability to provide leadership by appointing Committees of the Board and advisory groups(in consultation with appropriate officers and staff and with approval of the Board) andserving as an ex officio member of all Committees and Taskforces.

Position Descriptions

President Elect The President Elect must have a broad range of skills and deep understanding of FLAEYC’spurpose, goals, priorities and activities. This includes:

Student RepresentativeThe Student Representative will bring a specific knowledge base and experience to theBoard with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to be an ambassador and/or publicspokesperson on behalf of the organization. The Student Representative is an enrolledstudent engaged in an Early Childhood or related program of study leading to an associate,baccalaureate, or graduate degree at an accredited college or university.

Raquel Munarriz-Diaz Norma Schwartz

Gabrielle Ruiz

Michael Blanco Melissa LaPlant Jennifer Lathem-Walters Teresa McKay Barbara Perdomo

At-Large Board MembersThese members represent the diverse composition of the FLAEYC membership and bringbroad-based knowledge of issues affecting high-quality early learning and the earlychildhood profession. These positions serve to ensure that FLAEYC is a high performance,inclusive organization that reflects the concerns, issues and will of the membership. Theygive time and other resources that will help the Association further its mission and vision.

Candidate Listing

President Elect (select one)

Student Representative (select one)

At-Large Board Member (select two)

2021-2022 FLAEYC Executive Board ElectionsPosition Descriptions & Candidate Listing

RAQUEL MUNARRIZ-DIAZ

Position Applying For: President Elect

Occupation: Senior Partnership Manager, UF Lastinger Center

What are critical issues that you see facing the field of early childhood education? The field of early childhood has come front and center during the pandemic. The inequitable working conditions of early childcare professionals compared to public school teachers has become a major concern. Attention to the workforce serving our young learners is a critical issue. These

professionals need to be compensated and treated with the same conditions we treat all K-12 educators. Early Childcare teachers are working in extremely difficult conditions full of safety regulations, academic pressures, and health scares. Their self-care is key in this time as they try to provide supportive learning environment to the children in their care. We need to take care of our professionals through compensation, but also through improved supports to help them feel valued. We need to take the time to listen to their concerns and address them.

What is FLAEYC's role in address ing these issues? FLAEYC is an advocate and ally for Florida's early childcare workforce. Through summits and focus groups, we are providing a space for professionals to express the barriers they feel. FLAEYC has been and will continue to be responsive to the field and provide resources when needed and will provide a voice for all of Florida's early care professionals. FLAEYC is not only a vehicle to collect and support the voices in the field, but a strategic power to help represent Florida's professionals at the legislative table. FLAEYC can impact systems change.

How does your knowledge, skills and abilities contribute to FLAEYC's leadership in advancing the organization's miss ion and goals? I have been in early childcare for over 32 years. I started my career in the child care center where my granddaughter is currently enrolled. In my career I have served as a teacher assistant, elementary school teacher, curriculum developer, coach, facilitator, professor, coordinator, and currently senior manager. I have worked with all stakeholders in our educational system: state leaders, district leaders, directors, trainers, manager, teachers, children, and families. Although I do have a doctorate in Early Childhood and am National Board certified in Early Childhood, the bulk of my knowledge, skills, and abilities have been obtained through grit and on the job experience. I have worked with other states as well to not only have an understanding of Florida's issues, but issues that our nation shares. I served as a ZTT Fellows and am currently the chair elect for the NAEYC Affiliate Advisory Council. My goal is to continue to learn from the field in order to impact the learning environment for our young learners. My passion is around Communities of Practice. I truly believe in the power of collaborative wisdom and feel we need to bring all voices to the table to learn from each other and make significant changes to our field.

Provide specific examples of how your experiences related to governance and leadership prepared you to be an effective leader of FLAEYC at this time. I am currently the governance chair for FLAEYC and have had the opportunity to work with an amazing committee that supports our organization. I feel I can be an effective leader because I come into the board with humble credibility. I am humble enough to know that I am stronger through the wisdom of every stakeholder, but I also carry credibility in my years of experience. I lead from a place of kindness and integrity. As a Senior Partnership Manager at my center, I ensure the team is valued, heard, and supported. I ensure the working conditions are psychologically safe in order to ensure each member is taking care of themselves and each other. In my tenure in the FLAEYC board, I have attempted to be a source of joy and wisdom to my peers.

Specific to the Board position that you are interested in, please address the skills and experiences you would bring to this position. Leading from the heart is an integral part of my personality. From high school, I found myself leading and sharing my wisdom with others. I was actually Senior Class President and elected Graduate of the year in 1986 (I just dated myself). In all aspects of my life, I feel I have been a leader. Leading to me is when you make your practice public and lift as you climb. In the 17 years I served in the classroom, I was truly a teacher leader not only by role of department chair or reading leader, but through my actions. Teachers knew they could come to me. I always try to be a source of support and wisdom. As my career evolved, my leadership has evolved. I have served in many committees and national organizations. In my current job I have moved from professor to senior manager. My goal is to empower individuals to work collectively to improve the policies and systems impacting our young learners. I have been involved with FLAEYC for almost a decade. I started my work as a board member to my local chapter. I expanded my membership to FLAEYC by joining the board 4 years ago. I have worked alongside many passionate professionals and hope to humbly provide facilitative leadership to our board and organization as we continue to tackle Florida's critical issues.

Personal Statement:

My name is Raquel Munarriz Diaz and I want to be the FLAEYC president elect. I have had the honor of serving as a board member in my local affiliate, South Florida Collaborative and in my state affiliate, FLAEYC. I am currently serving as the Governance Committee chair. I also have the honor of serving the NAEYC Affiliate Advisory board as the chair-elect.

My passion for early childhood advocacy stems from my upbringing. I was born in Puerto Rico and have been raised in Miami, Florida. My parents fled Cuba in 1966 and have played an integral role in my life. My dad’s work ethic has driven me to always find a better version of myself by always striving to help others. Although my mom did not graduate from high school, she instilled in me a passion for education and helped me see my calling as a teacher. As a first-generation college graduate, I have always made sure to carry the lessons and sacrifices my family made for me and my siblings.

In my 32 years of early childhood experience, I have served many roles: teacher assistant, teacher, professor, facilitator, coach, curriculum developer, coordinator and manager. I am currently the Senior

Partnership Manager at the University of Florida Lastinger Center. I have worked with all stakeholders in our educational system: state leaders, district leaders, directors, trainers, manager, teachers, children, and families. Although I do have a doctorate in Early Childhood and am National Board certified in Early Childhood, the bulk of my knowledge, skills, and abilities have been obtained through grit and on the job experience. I have worked with other states as well to not only have an understanding of Florida's issues, but issues that our nation shares.

My goal is to continue to learn from the field in order to impact the learning environment for our young learners and the teachers who serve them. My passion is Communities of Practice. I believe in the power of collaborative wisdom and feel we need to bring all voices to the table to learn from each other and make significant changes to our field. People form the ripples of change that can together change the world. I want to be FLAEYC president in order to help folks cast their stones.

NORMA SCHWARTZ

Position Applying For: President Elect

Occupation: Senior Implementation Specialist, Waterford.org

What are critical issues that you see facing the field of early childhood education? The critical issues facing Early Childhood Education range from systematic issues that have compounded over the course of our industry's history to current issues at hand in terms of the post-pandemic early learning landscape. Systematically our industry has faced barriers in funding,

inequitable practices, and policy, in addition to attracting and retaining a highly-skilled workforce. Today, Early Childhood Education is currently experiencing its ""moment in the sun"" due to the realization that our industry truly is the backbone of the country's economy and the root of tomorrow's workforce. As educators, we know that early learning is a sound investment. However, we are currently facing a climate where this is up for debate. Our industry is on the cusp of getting the recognition it deserves, and policymakers are about to ""put some respect on the check"" as a substantial amount of funding is possibly going to be earmarked for the childcare industry. This moment leads to the challenge of ensuring we continue to advocate, not only for our workforce but for the fidelity of developmentally appropriate practices when the policies are created.

What is FLAEYC's role in address ing these issues? FLAEYC's role in addressing these critical issues also spans the same range of the issues themselves. The critical issues faced on a large- scale throughout the country and at the state level are the same issues FLAEYC has undertaken locally, on the community

level. As an organization, we have tackled public policy, funding, and systematic barriers from Grassroots to Government. Our organization has left no stone unturned. FLAEYC is there to work in lockstep with our members and various organizations to bring forth the critical issues in early childhood education and bring solutions to the table.

How does your knowledge, skills and abilities contribute to FLAEYC's leadership in advancing the organization's miss ion and goals? My subject area knowledge in early childhood education, combined with my dedication to spotlight the importance of early childhood education across different sectors and systems in our state, has contributed to advancing our organization's mission and goals. I have been accomplishing this through my board service and simultaneously building a bench of future advocacy leaders within our Statewide Advocacy Chapter. My ability to convey my enthusiasm for the work and initiatives in our organization across our member-facing events and communicated through my social media presence within our industry and in NAEYC has been instrumental in spotlighting FLAEYC's efforts in advocacy statewide and at both the Annual NAEYC Conference, Public Policy Forum.

Provide specific examples of how your experiences related to governance and leadership prepared you to be an effective leader of FLAEYC at this time. This year I am currently serving as Board Secretary, and in addition to my Board duties, I am also a member of our Executive Committee. I have had the privilege to work alongside the Past President Heather Siskind and Current President Angela Tufts in this position. We oversee overseeing board policies and ensuring good governance practices. Establishing and sunsetting committees and task forces In my former capacity as a FLAEYC Board Member at Large, my priority was to ensure all our members' voices were represented locally and nationally by being actively engaged in our advocacy efforts and ensuring that FLAEYC was visibly represented both in person and virtually in addition to my Board duties that included serving on task forces- and committees

Lastly, I have chaired an Early Childhood Committee and served on the Executive Council on a regional board (Miami Dade County Council PTA/PTSA) that currently serves over 40,000 members. As a result, I have received thorough governance board of directors training while serving on this board. Although the structure differs from FLAEYC, it has provided me with essential insights and protocols on the importance of having technical knowledge on Board governance and the significance of Bylaws.

Specific to the Board position that you are interested in, please address the skills and experiences you would bring to this position. Specific to President-Elect, my role during the first year would be to continue to support the current President Angela Tufts in her efforts, vision, and goals for the organization to continue moving forward according to our organization's strategic plan. I will be entering this role with a shared vision and experience based on our time working together in the Executive Committee. My experiences in different branches of the educational field have equipped me to take my skills and apply them in different settings to achieve positive outcomes. In my second year, I look forward to strengthening our organization following our Strategic initiatives, engaging our members, and inspiring our members to continue to grow professionally as both leaders and educators alongside

collaborative partnerships throughout the state. However, the most important thing I will bring to this position is who I am—Representation Matters. For the early learning community to feel that they belong at FLAEYC, and they have the potential to lead in this space just as much as they are expected to lead in their practice, they have to see someone they can relate to in our positions of leadership.

Personal Statement:

It is an honor to submit this statement in support of my candidacy for the nominating committee’s consideration for the FLAEYC President-Elect position. Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to share why I entered the early childhood field in the first place and why I am so passionate about our teachers, students, and families that rely on high-quality childcare. Growing up, I always understood how grateful my parents felt to have peace of mind while away at work. My brother and I attended an outstanding childcare center in Miami, FL, where we felt safe and happy. The support this early childhood program offered my parents stuck with me as I grew into adulthood and inspired me to work with young children and contribute to this essential field of work. Like many of the families we serve, my parents were both able to learn a new language, continue their education, and carve out a new life for my brother and me, all thanks to having the support of my early childhood teachers. My experiences extending from boots on the ground to the boardroom of different organizations advocating in support of young children contributed to my understanding of how as president-elect, I can continue working alongside FLAEYC leadership to expand its impact. My career these past 18 years has spanned several roles and experiences as a Head Start teacher, site observations in migrant camps in California, working in the early childhood intervention space, and my current role in the education technology sector within early childhood. Every position has allowed me to expand my lens on the strengths and needs of Early Learning at varying altitudes and the direction we are working towards making high-quality childcare accessible to all children. As president-elect, I will continue working alongside FLAEYC leadership with the highest level of commitment just I have demonstrated to achieve our strategic initiatives, engage our members, and create diverse and inclusive spaces for all teachers, children, and families. I have and will continue to always show up for our FLAEYC members beyond the requisite board duties. Whether as a member of FLAEYC invited to participate on panels hosted by NAEYC, as Chapter Leader for the Statewide Advocacy Chapter hosting courageous conversations, engaging with other organizations with shared missions, or participating in social media campaigns, I’m always there for a reason. Represent Matters. For the early learning community to feel that they can lead in this space just as much as they are expected to lead in their practice, they must see someone they can relate to in our positions of leadership within our organizations. Early Childhood Education is on the cusp of some transformative changes; however, it is imperative we know that the solutions lie within each one of us.

GABRIELLE RUIZ

Position Applying For: Student Repres entative

What are critical issues that you see facing the field of early childhood education? A critical issue facing the field of early childhood education is the families lack of knowledge on child development and their role in educating and helping their child develop.

What is FLAEYC's role in addressing these issues? I believe FLAEYC's role in addressing this issue is educating families, educators, and the community on

best practices of child development and helping each of these groups find the resources they need to help their child's development.

How does your knowledge, skills and abilities contribute to FLAEYC's leadership in advancing the organization's mission and goals? My knowledge of being a mother contributes to FLAEYC's leadership by giving the perspective of parents that know little to nothing about early childhood development and the empathy and understanding that must go along with it. Being a student currently learning about early childhood education and also being an educator in the field gives the perspective of the struggles I encounter learning the information and putting it into practice.

I was a manager in retail for over three years and learned the value of building relationships with my employees and customers. I believe these skills carry over to many different areas as I find similarities in giving exceptional customer service to building strong relationships with the children I teach, their families, and the community.

Personal Statement:

My interest in early childhood education began in desperation and at my wits end as a stay-at-home mom. I quickly learned that being a stay-at-home mom was no easy task as I foolishly once thought. As a matter of fact, it was the hardest and under-valued job I had ever had, and I felt like I was failing. In my search for literature on becoming a better parent, I was floored at the information I came across. The ideas were much different than I had experienced growing up in an authoritarian household. I quickly found out the importance of the early years of life and wondered how I was just learning this information after having my third child.

After spending my first year as an assistant teacher of a pre-kindergarten class, I knew I had found my passion. I felt so empowered in a belief that I could have an effect on changing the world, and the key to that was teaching young children. It led me to go back to school to study early childhood education. The more I learn, the more my eyes are open to the beauty of not only teaching, but also learning from children.

This brings me to my interest in joining FLAEYC as a student board member. I would love nothing more

than to not only have an effect on the individual lives of children, but also be a part of the bigger picture in improving the lives of the earliest of learners. I believe my perspective as a mother of four, a student in the field, and a person who has a deep love for educating the young can be of value to FLAEYC. I come to you as someone who does not have all the answers, but someone who has heart, a newfound curiosity of life, and a drive to open the eyes of the world to the importance of early childhood education.

MICHAEL BLANCO

Position Applying For: At-Large Board Member

What are critical issues that you see facing the field of early childhood education? The most significant issue facing the profession is the ability for child care centers to operate as a going-concern. The profession needs to adopt methods seen in other sectors of industry: budgets, internal controls, fee establishment, cost cutting and the like to deliver on their mission- high quality early learning programs.

What is FLAEYC's role in addressing these issues? The FLAEYC can provide seminars and educational resources on how to budget, what are realistic financial objectives, internal controls, accounting and tax deadlines, that would otherwise only be available to centers that have an experienced or savvy CPA available.

How does your knowledge, skills and abilities contribute to FLAEYC's leadership in advancing the organization's mission and goals? I am Florida CPA. I previously worked at Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC), The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and owned my own accounting firm while I owned a successful and thriving preschool center. With the skills I learned at PwC, IRS and my accounting firm, I was able to implement in my preschool business and I believe I can share those skills with other preschool owner/ operators.

I am an owner and operator of a preschool center, an accounting firm and I am used to leading teams, managing project deadlines, understanding constituent groups and delivering on agreed upon deliverables. This experience will allow me to be part of a team and execute on the mission we are charged with in a timely and efficient manner.

Personal Statement:

As a 18 year Certified Public Accountant in Florida, most companies suffer from poor financial management and goal defining, let alone entities, for-profit and non-profit in the early learning education community. I also know how challenging it is to convey financial accounting ideas and tax

principles to owners and operators who have an already massive to-do list.

I started my career at Pricewaterhouse Coopers, was an agent of the Internal Revenue Service, then opened a boutique accounting & income tax practice in Miami, Florida. Also, I was an educator at Becker Professional Education, a division of DeVry University. All the while I was an owner and operator of a leading preschool in Vero Beach, Florida- Kendall Academy.

I strongly believe that I can convey financial accounting and income tax concepts to owners and operators of early learning centers in Florida to aide them in the accomplishment of their goals and objectives.

I would love to be considered for a board position for the FLAEYC.

MELISSA LEPLANTE

Position Applying For: At-Large Board Member

What are critical issues that you see facing the field of early childhood education? High turnover

What is FLAEYC's role in addressing these issues? Advocating for recognition of career field as a need

How does your knowledge, skills and abilities contribute to FLAEYC's leadership in advancing the organization's mission and goals? I have a

passion for the child care field and every child deserves a high-quality education.

Personal Statement:

My name is Melissa LaPlante and I’ve been doing childcare for over 15 years. My interest in FLAEYC came about with COVID. I feel the need to join an advocate group to help people understand the importance of the childcare provider. We are more than babysitters. We are individuals who care about the care and education of younger children.

I’m at a place in my career, in which I want to give more. I feel the call to become an advocate for early childcare. Our career field is one of the most misunderstood careers. We need advocates to help make a change locally and at the state level.

I have much strength in which I can bring to the table. One of those strengths is the ability to actively listen. I believe every idea has the need to be heard and understood. I enjoy getting to know others in the field and learning from others. I have knowledge of child development and continue to learn on a

daily basis. I like to think outside the box to find solutions to a problem. I am committed to helping others. I like to work in a timely manner and get things done. I have computer skills. I had to learn about Zoom during last summer. In the next couple of months, I will be working with a Facebook group to help facilitate a group page dealing with challenging behaviors.

In my current job, I work with others to help develop strategies to deal with behaviors. I work to help my students understand the importance of community service. We do a community service project every other month. I work with colleagues to help understand the current rules and regulations of our job. I keep current with the Florida coalition to ensure my VPK certification.

FLAEYC offers me a venue that I have not traveled down before. I am willing to put in the time, work and effort that the position needs. I’m willing to learn and navigate the needs/demands of the position. I would like to thank FLAEYC for considering me to the Board of Directors.

JENNIFER LATHEM-WALTERS

Position Applying For: At-Large Board Member

What are critical issues that you see facing the field of early childhood education? Effective and successful early childhood education is more important than ever. Critical issues facing our field are related to the rising social and emotional needs of children along with an increased need for wraparound services and providers to appropriately support students. This issue coupled with a shortage of teachers and support personnel without the appropriate educator quality and preparedness have contributed to a crisis

that is exacerbated by a lack of educator training and pay. A lack of parental engagement in school and limited involvement with their children make the effective implementation of mandated policies and programs challenging in the field of early childhood education.

What is FLAEYC's role in addressing these issues? To help address these issues, it is important for FLAEYC to support the professional learning of early childhood educators and focus on best practices promoting improvements in services to young children. FLAEYC should support the professional development and growth of educators and leaders by providing innovative and relevant learning experiences and sharing research on best practices along with current trends in early childhood issues. FLAEYC should also spearhead efforts in advocacy for needed policy changes to address issues and promote early learning. Building relationships with local, state, and federal legislators, systems, and providers is critical to promoting equitable access to high quality early learning for all children.

How does your knowledge, skills and abilities contribute to FLAEYC's leadership in advancing the organization's mission and goals? As the VPK and ESE Pre-K coordinator for Bay District Schools, I have a wide range of knowledge, skills, and abilities that will help support and advance the mission and goals of FLAEYC. My primary roles of coordinating all prekindergarten programs within the school system include partnering with agency personnel and private providers to coordinate and facilitate all procedures related to evaluation, eligibility, and placement of students with disabilities. As a community liaison and partner, I lead efforts to educate the community and families about the services available for early learning. My relationships and content knowledge related to early learning will be an effective springboard to further the mission and goals of FLAEYC.

My 29 years of experience in education are grounded in early childhood and elementary education spanning from Pre-K to 5th grade in ESE and regular education settings. My degree is in Early Childhood Education for students with disabilities from birth to 8 years. I have utilized this knowledge as an effective classroom teacher for 13 years, 6 years as an ESE resource teacher and staffing specialist, and the last 9 years as the VPK and ESE Pre-K coordinator. I am a trainer for several curriculums as well as a framework for understanding poverty. My leadership experiences include serving as the chair of the Early Childhood team for Alignment Bay County focusing on community education and outreach for students. In this role, I have directly developed, coordinated, and facilitated the implementation of numerous campaigns related to early learning. I also serve as a conduit of information and advice as a content expert with my district, FDOE, and several professional organizations. As an effective evaluator of personnel and programs, I have the experience needed to serve as a leader in FLAEYC.

Personal Statement:

I want to be a part of this organization to help build a stronger community of early childhood providers. My skills and experiences as a leader in the field of early childhood learning make me an asset and positive addition to the board of FLAEYC. My roles and responsibilities make me a systems thinker who is solutions oriented and constantly seeking ways to promote the field, professions, and systems of early learning. My knowledge of best practices related to developmentally appropriate early learning, instructional resources, pedagogy, and quality educator professional development will bring a breadth of skills and experiences to the board. I feel it is important for me to move beyond my county lines and assist our state in becoming the leader in Early Childhood policies, practices and professionalism.

TERESA MCKAY

Position Applying For: At-Large Board Member

What are critical issues that you see facing the field of early childhood education? Saving our field - the pandemic has hit everyone hard, open or not open and now more than ever we need HIGH QUALITY and FUNDING.

What is FLAEYC's role in addressing these issues? As a branch of NAEYC we address these issues through supporting our member and colleagues in the field in every way we possibly can - looking for funding, alternatives, ways to keep everyone going both professionally and personally. Understanding their

needs and looking for ways to fill them.

How does your knowledge, skills and abilities contribute to FLAEYC's leadership in advancing the organization's mission and goals? I have been doing this for 41 years, I have seen and gone through many of the changes and hurdles before. Now I hear students and what they are saying and can contribute much to supporting our members.

I was president of an NAEYC chapter for 5 years, chaired the ECE Conference, spoken at numerous conferences, and am an Exchange Leader. My book on Family Engagement Policy is coming in September from Routledge.

Personal Statement:

My desire to serve on the FLAEYC Board remains high and I am even more passionate to serve the members of Florida in the light of the Pandemic. I have followed so many folks on social media talking about the issues they have faced, including not being recognized as true front line workers.

I have held to the standards of NAEYC for 41 years. In my career I have experienced the changes and growth in this field and my passion has grown even deeper. In my capacity as a higher ed instructor, I am passionate about passing the torches of experience, research, and education to our next generation of early childhood heroes.

As a former owner of an NAEYC Accredited program I fully support the value of having all our programs attain the highest levels of quality. One of my passions is to see this field professionally recognized as a valuable part of the education system. I am a believer of high-quality education at every level, and within every program, whether it is private, public, or religious-based. All children deserve quality care and education. It is also essential to embrace all aspects of diversity as we move our field forward. There cannot be quality without embracing diverse children, families, and practices to support each. As we come out of the COVID-19 Pandemic, our providers, children, and families need us more now than ever.

It is also my passion to invite and embrace our colleagues in K-3 as part of our field, and to assist with creating Developmentally Appropriate Practices in these grades. We must truly embrace the vision and mission of DAP ages birth through 8.

I currently serve as a Higher Ed Peer reviewer for NAEYC, as well as a PD and Gold Standard Specialist for the Council for Professional Recognition. I am a full-time Instructor for Penn Foster, and Adjunct Faculty for Rasmussen University and the University of Arizona Global Camps. I was named as one of the Exchange Magazine’s Early Childhood Emerging Leaders for 2019, and have a book coming out in September through Routledge: Effective Family Engagement Policies: A Guide for Early Childhood Administrators.

I am willing and able to serve in the capacity as a FLAEYC board member, as well as meet and work with others who are passionate about young children, families, and quality education and care. Thank you for the opportunity to apply to serve in this capacity.

BARBARA PERDOMO

Position Applying For: At-Large Board Member

What are critical issues that you see facing the field of early childhood education? Although awareness and understanding of the importance of early childhood development in influencing the later success of children in school and their general well-being later in life, there is still much work to do to increase not only this awareness but also the practice of integrating equitable, developmentally appropriate experiences that promote a holistic development.

Equally as important and interrelated is the issue related to the investment in early childhood development where human and financial resources provided to this sector continue to be much less than those provided to what is really considered “formal” education affecting the long-term educational achievement and social welfare of children, especially those from the most marginalized social groups.

Additionally, early childhood education professionals continue to lack the recognition of the critical role they play in society and in their contribution to the foundational building blocks in the learning and development of children.

What is FLAEYC's role in addressing these issues? FLAEYC’s role is to advocate for children on the local, state, and national level through leadership, collaboration, and education.

How does your knowledge, skills and abilities contribute to FLAEYC's leadership in advancing the organization's mission and goals? I believe that my knowledge, skills, and abilities as a leader and early childhood educator can contribute to FLAEYC’s leadership in advancing the organization’s mission and goals by helping to affirm its values and participating in the achievement of its goals. My experiences related to governance and leadership have prepared me to be an effective leader of FLAEYC at this time because I believe strongly in shared leadership and practice this continuously. I encourage my staff to take on acts of leadership and empower them to take on leadership responsibilities that enable them to grow as competent professionals in this field. As a holistic leader and educator, I also value the importance of positive formal and informal mentoring relationships and the mutually beneficial opportunities for growth that these relationships provide. In my practice, I have found that to build these relationships, it is critical that I provide others with concrete feedback, help and encourage staff to engage in reflective practices, communicate ideas, and participate in collaborative decision-making. These experiences allow me to share my journey with others in hopes to inspire them and help them grow as leaders.

Personal Statement:

Do you like fireworks? I personally love watching others around me as they stare in awe at a beautiful fireworks display. I love seeing their eyes glisten with the reflection of all the colorful lights- that is the look every young child should have each time they are learning something new.

I have nearly two decades of experience as a leader in early childhood. I believe young children need a strong foundation to grow and develop in the care of adults who provide them with the space and opportunities to explore, create, and express themselves confidently. My passion is collaborating with families and other professionals in the field to provide such experiences and build positive relationships that support young children, foster their love of learning, and make their eyes sparkle with joy at every new discovery.

What sets me apart is that as a leader, I empower my people, build their self-confidence, lead with kindness and most importantly, I never cease being teachable. I am passionate in advocacy for teachers’ professional growth, and in ensuring that all children, as our “Pre-Leaders of Society,” have equitable opportunities to quality care and learning.

In the five years since I have been working as an early childhood administrator for the Archdiocese of Miami, I have advocated for best practice and the implementation of a developmentally appropriate framework for our youngest learners. I have raised awareness on issues of inclusion, cultural diversity, equity, and the importance of family engagement by increasing opportunities for professional development. Serving on the FLAEYC Board of Directors would afford me the platform to bring awareness of early childhood developmentally appropriate practices across all programs in the diocese, encourage program involvement and further professional development through the resources and support that FLAEYC offers including accreditation support through its alignment with NAEYC.

I humbly thank you for the opportunity to consider me for this great responsibility. I am excited to join forces with professionals that I admire and look up to. I am ready to meet the responsibilities that will be expected of me and look froward to building new relationships and fostering stronger ties in our community on the local, state, and national level.