Early educators need more resources, opportunities
The public’s help is needed to break the cycle of poverty
When I was 19 years old, I became a mother to my first child. As a new mother I was excited but also afraid of not being able to provide all that was necessary for my new child. I had just finished my first year in college, and like so many young families, the only realistic option her father and I had was I stay home while he worked and tried to finish school.
As students with a young child, we found ourselves having to apply for public assistance and received food stamps and Medicaid . ... This assistance was our safety net that allowed us to survive. Three years later I had my second child, and it became even more difficult to pay for family expenses on top of preschool for my 3-year-old while caring for a newborn.
I had to get creative to figure out how to cover the high costs of childcare for my daughter. When I was in high school, I had the chance to work in a preschool center, and I realized it was something that maybe I could also do. In order to reduce my costs, I decided to volunteer and work occasionally at the childcare center my daughter attended. Volunteering and working at the center allowed my daughter to attend the preschool at a much reduced rate . ... I continued doing this for several years so my second daughter could also have the opportunity to get an early education. As a single mother, I struggled every day to balance my family and work life. But it was my job at the childcare center in my town of Española that gave me energy and put me on my current professional path.
I had found my calling as an early educator. I really enjoy this work because I am able to connect with families and help young children grow and develop. I always knew I wanted to give back to my community, but living paycheck (to) paycheck makes it difficult to get involved sometimes. Even working full time, I struggled to pay my bills. Every day I feared coming home and finding a utility disconnection letter posted on my door. I had had enough. I decided to go back to school to get my degree in early education and continue to work on this passion I had in life: teaching young children and helping my community.
(Fast) forward several years later, and now my youngest daughter, Claudia, is attending college to become an educator. In November 2016, Claudia had her first child, my granddaughter TeAnna. I love being a grandmother but know too well the struggles my daughter would face. ... Claudia ended up having to work at a public school briefly while taking classes to make ends meet. A short time later she began teaching at the same childhood center I work at.
What a joy it is to work with my daughter and for the two of us to share this calling as educators! Claudia is a single mom, and even though she has help from her child’s father, she still struggles to care for her daughter and work at the same time. The sad reality for early educators like myself and my daughter Claudia is that our families also struggle because of low wages and the lack of benefits such as paid family leave. Early education is a profession that is primarily occupied by women and predominantly women of color. Many women choose this profession because they care and want to make a difference in children’s lives. According to a recent survey published by U.C. Berkeley, early childhood educators in New Mexico make an average hourly wage of $9.66 per hour with no retirement or benefits. These women are often overworked, undervalued and underpaid. How can we contribute to break the cycle of poverty for families and early educators in New Mexico? We must provide the necessary resources and create greater opportunities for families and childcare providers.
As a member of this community I pledge to vote for candidates that value early education and support my community. We all need to hold our state officials accountable to invest in early education and value the work of early educators in New Mexico . ...