Three Consequences, Three Supremes, Thanks!

Systems. Tangled, complicated, messy systems. I have struggled to understand how the world of early childhood has become so big, so regulated, and so exciting all at the same time. Three consequences of my experience as a learner in this tiny learning community......

The first consequence of learning with a small group was having to be genuinely interested in what early childhood programs look like in different states. My colleagues were forced, by the sheer numbers to learn about what early childhood looks like in Minnesota. I know much more about Louisiana than I ever thought I would. In order to provide feedback to one another, we worked with what we had. 

The second consequence of working in a caring community is the comfort level we have with knowing what we don't know and being able to express that without concern. It would be impossible to have a deep understanding of early childhood initiatives in all fifty states. We don't need to know it all to be effective advocates. Find your strengths and work from there. 

The third consequence is about harmony. It will be imperative for early childhood professionals to sing the same song,  no matter where we live. We need to sing a song that reflect what we know to be true about what kids need, what families need, and what the field of early childhood needs. The three of us have different jobs but speak the same language. Together, we tell a powerful story.

I appreciate the support that I have gotten from this tiny team. Your support makes me feel powerful. Being a Minnesotan helps me feel like a leader.  My goal is to use a body of work, combined with my new learning to be a leading voice in advocating for early childhood programs that provide support and parent education to families. It's time. I'm ready. I am excited to lead. Bring. It. On.

A Long List of Issues

For the next few weeks, I will build a case study and develop a support system for an imaginary family. I have two families I am working with that will serve as inspiration for the class assignment. Both of the families struggle with poverty, unemployment, mental health issues, and lack of support. If either one of the families were to find out they were expecting a baby with special needs, they might just crumble under the weight of the enormity of the situation. Here is a brief outline of the fictitious family you will come to know through the assignments in the next few weeks.

Joe and Ann have been married for two years. Ann has two sons from a previous relationship, ages 10 and 6. Joe has a daughter from his first marriage, she is 4 years old. Joe and Ann live in a remote corner of the county. Joe is underemployed as a picker on an apple farm. The work is seasonal. Ann stays home with the children alone without transportation. They share one cell phone that Joe often takes with him in case his truck breaks down. Ann will deliver a new baby prematurely. Winter is coming and the prospects for employment are dismal.

Tell the Story!

The strategy that I find particularly useful to influence the political will is storytelling. Dr. David Walsh, a friend and colleague of mine has a saying "Who ever tells the story defines the culture" that I use often. The story all over the nation is about large percentages of children coming to school not ready to be there. This story is a tough one for me to swallow. I went to kindergarten in the fall of 1965. I had never been in childcare, I had never been in preschool. On my first day, my mom pointed me in the right direction to the bus stop. She was holding my little sisters hand and had my baby sister on her hip. My big brother and sister were in middle school. I was ready. Every single one of my classmates was ready. Kindergarten was a wonderful place to learn to get along with others, follow a routine, and learn the basics of being a good student. I was ready for kindergarten because kindergarten was designed for a five year old.

In order to move the social, economic, and political will of the country, policy makers tell a story that links the future work force to skills children learn in preschool. Enough of the narrative is true enough to inspire new policies and influence the political will. Undoubtedly there will be intended and unintended consequences of the story. The story has already begun to change kindergarten from a place to learn to learn to a place where learning is measured.

The part of the work that appeals to me is storytelling. Telling the story about what kids need from their early childhood experiences. To tell a story about play, and imagination and their important role in wiring a brain for learning. To tell a story about the kinds of classrooms that kids need and the teachers in them. The kinds of stories that reclaims early childhood for children. I have a body of work and experience behind me now that makes me a force to be reckoned with, a force for children and their parents to advocate for a childhood that children and the adults who love them can enjoy.

Stories Move Policy

I can hardly watch testimonial videos from parents without crying. I get as emotional as they do when they talk about the difference Head Start made, not just in their child's life, but in the family. The stories families tell are the way we evaluate our work. When families have a great experience in our classrooms, they talk about it. Even if the story is not connected to my classroom, I can relate to them and feel validated by them as an early childhood professional. Personally, as a parent, I get choked up because even though my children's early childhood experience as a long time ago now, I remember it as a tender time. I was so thrilled when another teacher saw the uniqueness and wonder in my small child. As a parent, it takes a great leap of faith to drop off a small child with someone else. When it goes well, when a teacher loved my child, he or she became "family" to me.

Parent involvement matters to children. It speaks volumes to children to see parents attending school. School matters and nothing says that more powerfully than making time for it, even as adults. For families, showing up at school to partner with the staff for the best possible outcomes for a child is essential. When we care for the children we share, the early childhood field is strengthened. Partnering with families helps us understand the child and the context of that child's childhood.

I testified in the Minnesota Senate this week. I always carry family success stories with me. Stories help public policy come to life. Stories also inform when policy and practice causes friction. Stories make policy better. Stories connect the work we do in classrooms to the work done in Capitol cities all across our nation.

When we invest in early childhood programs as a way to give children a hand up out of poverty, the dollars are well spent. When we add parent involvement, engagement, or education to the formula, we compound the investment. That's what I told twenty eight senators this week. I know it's true.

Five Years From Now....

In five years, George here will be in first grade. Early Childhood will look very different in the U.S. because of the decisions we make as a nation in the next year. I believe we are on the cusp of making great strides in our investment in early childhood. Fueled by our anxiety about the achievement gap, public opinion is changing towards placing greater value on educating not only small children, but their parents as well.

Most of us agree that Congress is a mess. It's just a year until election day when we will elect a new Senate. In order to look more favorable to constituents, politicians will seek something, anything to work together on to prove to the American people that they can reach across the aisle and govern. I think early childhood is where they will meet. My own Senator, Al Franken was kind enough to ask me and a University of Minnesota researcher to work with his staff to consult on a bill to include parent education as a requirement of a preschool scholarship. I was thrilled.

Finally, you have certainly all heard of Art Rolnick by now. His work has been fundamental in convincing business leaders that an investment in early childhood is an investment in growing the economy because of the rate of return on each dollar invested. Business leaders have noticed and responded. Note the Chamber of Commerce's six action steps listed below, cut and pasted from their own website. Many of us can see the roots of policy we are dealing with today in the action statement. It's time. The situation is ripe for change. I hope the early childhood community is ready! I know I am!

Six Actions the Business Community Can Take

• Support a mixed provider delivery system
• Encourage alignment between the early learning system and the K-12 system
• Promote early learning policies as part of the economic development agenda
• Encourage the inclusion of early childhood data in the statewide longitudinal data system
• Encourage your state to adopt a Quality Rating Information System
• Encourage business organizations and networks to adopt a policy position in support of public investments for effective, high quality early education programs

For more information on action items, as well as a summary of the economic evidence behind investments in early childhood education, please visitwww.uschamber.com/icw.

Nice to Meet You!

I work in a state funded parent education program called ECFE. I love it there, always have from my first experiences their as a mother nearly 29 years ago to today. I see magic happen at ECFE with parents who do better when they know better, with children who see a community of caring adults support them in their journey of childhood. Since the day I enrolled to now, years later as the coordinator, I have embraced an advocacy role. Over the years, I have come to know and work with legislators, policy makers, and parent and provider groups on behalf of early childhood.

A specialization in Early Childhood Public Policy and Advocacy seemed designed for my life. It seems obvious to me that we work with the least likely population to hire a lobbyist. I have been trying to politically organize toddlers for years with no luck. Their parents are sleep deprived and doing what is necessary to get through the day, the list does not often include advocating for better programming. And then, this....

In 2011, I was named the Minnesota Teacher of the Year. I was the first teacher from early childhood to win the award in it's 47 year history. The spotlight was immediate and hot! It seemed like the whole country was talking about early childhood. The field is hungry for advocates who are practitioners. I see lots of research advocates, Art Rolnick, a colleague and friend comes to mind. I see lots of public policy advocate groups at the Capitol on lobby day, Think Small, Minniminds, and the United Way are just a few of the dozens in Minnesota. The world needs practitioners, teachers to have a voice in shaping policy on behalf of small children and their parents. 

Meet Minnesota's Early Childhood Champion, Governor Mark Dayton. I hope to learn how to work more effectively in an arena that values research and policy briefs more than a spectacular finger puppet collection. Sometimes you choose a direction your life will take, sometimes though, life chooses you for a role. Three goals: 

• I am working on a piece of public policy now that would bring a piece of digital media to our preschool screening program. I have much to do and will continue to work on the project.
• I would like to learn all I can about vocabulary, influence, positioning, and policy development from this course. I bring finger puppets and charm to the table, that might not be enough. 
• I would like to get a sense of how early childhood initiatives are rolling out in other states. Looks like I will know much more about Louisiana in eight weeks.          

Life is telling me to advocate my heart out while the whole world seems to be talking about early childhood education. I need to elevate the idea of parent education while the iron is hot. I am ready!

Thank You, Champions!

You have supported me, and I thank you. When I struggled so hard to figure out the new Blackboard system, you were there for me with kind words and suggestions. You are good teachers! When I needed someone to post on their blog early, you did so I could not worry about homework when I was traveling. Friends do that kind of stuff, thank you. When I posted fun pics, you supported me and congratulated me, that meant a lot to me. When frustration knocked me off my feet, you gave me your contact information or reached out to me on my Facebook page. Friends do that, thanks! Even when I was snarky, Melissa reminded me that we are cut from the same cloth. She also helps me translate "Southern English"! 

I hope I have been a good colleague for you too. I have tried to spell your names correctly and hopefully been encouraging to you. I believe we all do very important work on the planet. Together we can elevate the field by elevating ourselves professionally. I hope you have felt that kind of support from me. I have offered my snarky brand of humor when I thought it would help. I have been honest and true. 

I wish for you lots of time outside to play! We live in a beautiful place and I hope that we always take time to enjoy our surroundings. That's my Matt in the background of this picture. He is crazy about me and I am crazy about him. I wish that you all know love, messy, wild, blissy, crazy love. Keep working hard toward your goals. I am excited to see what becomes of each of you. That will mean that we need to keep in touch with one another. 

Katy Smith

Licensed Parent Educator

ECFE Winona

(507) 494-0920

5100 W. 9th Street

Winona, MN

Find me on Facebook!  KatySmithWinona

or Twitter KatyMN12

I am out to make the world a better place for children to grow up. I feel better knowing you are all out there doing the same! If I ever find myself in your neighborhood, I will hit you up for lunch and a great conversation! And if I ever find out that you came to Minnesota without looking me up, you will buy lunch! Be well! Thanks for all you do for children. Don't forget to be nice to yourself too!