The Sandbox: Sharing the Realities of the ECE Workforce
On January 29, five educators from across Montgomery County came together to share their stories. They were here as part of From the Front Lines: Montgomery County Early Childhood Educator Stories Forum, an event hosted by the Alliance with the goal of bringing together stakeholders from across the County to share experiences and strategize around how to collectively support this workforce. These educators brought a diverse set of backgrounds and experiences, but they were united by a shared commitment to the children and families of the County, and a deep belief in their ability to positively influence the future of the children in their care.
What emerged was a powerful mix of dedication and honesty. Each educator spoke with pride about the importance of their work and the passion they feel for their craft. They also spoke openly about the challenges they face that make sustaining this work so difficult: the struggle to hire and retain staff, the lack of reliable care for their own children, and the low wages that plague the early care and education (ECE) system.
Their stories underscored a clear truth: these challenges are not unique to individual educators, but systems-level issues that demand coordinated, sustainable solutions. I was moved and inspired by the narratives I heard, and I’m grateful for the vulnerability and candor of our speakers. The experiences of these educators offer valuable insight into the reality of the ECE system in our County.
Umera Anwar, Owner and Educator at Ms. MiMi’s Family Child Care, shared what first drew her to the field, and the challenges she faces:
“I became an early childhood educator because I love going on a journey of brain development and meeting milestones with children. I get to witness their first words, their breakthrough moments, and that sparkle in their eyes when something is explored.
But here's the truth that breaks my heart. A critical problem facing early childhood educators in Maryland is the lack of a clearly defined infrastructure or educational pathways that support continued professional growth and thus enrollment. There are so many different institutes that offer courses of advancements which confuses and frustrates many educators. Despite the Maryland State Department of Education’s stated commitment to high-quality early childhood education, there is no coherent system that enables educators to further their education, advance their credentials, or build sustainable careers. Without structured pathways and one coherent institutional support, early childhood educators are left without the tools necessary to succeed and remain in the profession. And if early childhood educators are not the experts in their own field of child development, then we are not doing justice to our young generation.”
Debra Brol, Executive Director of Peppertree Children’s Center, spoke about building a nurturing, values-driven environment for children and staff, and the limitations she faces in supporting her workforce:
“In our center our children are taught positive ways to solve problems and to celebrate diversity and create community. However, all our work and dedication for our children is neither valued nor taken into account, since low compensation and benefits have impacted our workforce. In our center I try to offer my staff good benefits. We provide PTO, which includes safe and sick leave and vacation. We pay for 24 hours of continued training each year for each employee. But I cannot pay my staff what they deserve for all the hard work and dedication they do every day and that is not fair.”
For Joanna Lazzaro, an educator at Silver Spring Nursery School, her love for early education is intertwined with the economic realities many educators face:
“When my second child was 6 months old, we came across Silver Spring Nursery School (SSNS), and I fell in love. During the tour, I walked into the 3’s classroom and thought, ‘I would love to work in this classroom one day.’ Now, 4.5 years later, I do! I can only work at SSNS because of my partner’s career. We are financially dependent on his income.”
Karen Trabanino, an educator at Growing Stars Family Child Care, highlighted how lack of access and affordability affects children long before they enter the classroom:
“Many preschoolers enter child care programs without having had any prior exposure to early childhood education due to limited access and affordability. When they arrive, they often struggle with basic routines such as separating from caregivers, following simple instructions, using the bathroom independently, and interacting appropriately with other children. These challenges can lead to increased stress, frustration, and delays in social-emotional and developmental growth. As a result, children begin their early learning experience already at a disadvantage, forced to spend valuable time catching up instead of building new skills. This lack of early access harms not only the children, but also families and educators, and reflects broader systemic issues tied to insufficient funding and support for early childhood programs at the county and state government levels.”
Sylvia Moreno, Center Director at Montgomery Child Care Association Kensington Forest Glen, spoke from both professional and personal experience about the value of high-quality early education, and why it’s imperative to support the ECE workforce:
“I firmly believe that a major reason for my children’s academic and life success is the high- quality early education they received beginning at age two. Being a center director, whose own children attended the program was not always easy. The teachers were so skilled, patient, and experienced that my children consistently settled in and thrived. As a working parent, I never worried—and that peace of mind is invaluable. This is the critical role of the early childhood workforce: because of their dedication and professionalism, parents can pursue their chosen careers and contribute meaningfully to society. For this reason alone, early childhood educators deserve strong and sustained support from the county.”
The stories shared during the forum made clear the essential role that early educators play in Montgomery County. Their dedication and expertise deserve recognition and respect – and investment. The good news is that our community is ready for meaningful change: Nearly 90% of voters in a recent Countywide survey agree that we need to pay ECE educators a fair wage.
Now is the moment to turn that shared belief into action. County leaders must commit to increased investment in ECE, including an additional $16 million in FY27 to expand Working Parents Assistance subsides and serve 1,000 more children. As the Alliance continues to work with community partners to advocate for funding measures that support this critical workforce, we’ll be reaching out with opportunities to get involved. Your support has never been more important as we work together to build systems that help our youngest learners – and the people who care for them – thrive.