The only possibility for change to happen is for our profession to develop a strong organization with effective strategies, tactics, information, and help from people who have the know-how and especially the time and money to help us. It is great to say we should be making $80,000 (sorry, but really not going to happen except maybe for some boutique school for the rich!), or to say we should organize ourselves, but frankly I don't believe we will ever do this effectively without help and resources. I know there is some good work being done in some places but it is nowhere near enough and it is too fragmented. First step--collect information. Where do you go to get accurate information on wages/salaries and benefits both nationally and by state and county/city? Does the info separate out small centers from larger schools, daycares, and home care (and for-profit from non-profit, as well as, religious from non-religious). How does free public preschool fit in--both in terms of the economics, access for children, and educational quality? Second step--disseminate the information directly to everybody.
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Mark Hattler
Ascension Day School
Norfolk VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-09-2019 06:10 PM
From: Mark Hattler
Subject: Compensation
Having been in early education off and on since 1986, I have a lot of thoughts on this issue. As the Director of a small, high-quality center, I can say that the economics of early education is so ridiculously crazy-difficult it is a wonder that any center is able to stay afloat. For those of us in the trenches, working hard for kids and families, very few of us make anything close to a livable wage. But for how hard it is now, I wonder if people understand just how much harder it is going to become for good centers to survive with some of the changes that are being proposed for the near future. And respectfully, the idea that we somehow might make $80,000 with benefits is a waste of time to suggest and arguably hurts our profession more than it could possibly help. There is not the space to explain in detail here but I would love to see the business model/operating budget you are developing. The good news is that over the last 30 years, we have learned how to do early education right by kids. The bad news is that the places doing this are in jeopardy of disappearing for good. People have been talking about the need to organize for a long time--but that requires time and money--neither of which we have.
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Mark Hattler
Ascension Day School
Norfolk VA
Original Message:
Sent: 09-07-2019 03:52 AM
From: Robert Gundling
Subject: Compensation
Hello Janine,
I can sense your commitment and passion for your work with young children. I am finding how important it is for me to take responsibility for advocating for increased compensation for everyone working in the field of Early Childhood Education. This has led me to be more accountable for my actions and the language I use when talking with government officials, members of the business community and colleagues about the importance of appropriate compensation. For example, I am engaged in study to master business practices that contribute to having the figures available to tell my story. I learned sustainability and growth of a business requires a profit margin of between 14 - 40%. I am applying this to my work to develop an Operating Budget that reflects what is required to operate a high quality ECE program. This information is valuable as I advocate for higher compensation because I can state what it costs to operate a high quality infant/toddler program where infant/toddler teachers earn $80,000 plus benefits, including retirement so that they can focus on their interactions with the infants and toddlers. When questioned about this, I have the figures to document how I arrived at this figure. Brain Research and Neuroscience provide evidence of the importance to have highly qualified teachers working with infants because of the opportunity to ensure the wiring of the brain is as strong as possible during the first 3 years of life.
I wish you continued success and hope you persevere in getting the compensation you deserve in work that is so critically important to the future of this country.
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Robert Gundling, Ed.D.
Better Futures LLC
Senior Consultant
Washington, DC
Original Message:
Sent: 09-06-2019 12:11 PM
From: Janine Militzer
Subject: Compensation
I have been back working in the early childcare setting for the past two years. I work in an infant room. I love my job. What I don't appreciate is in this line of work we as teachers do not get properly compensated for our hard work. As a result there are unqualified teachers that are getting hired because they are willing to work at a lower wage. I am frustrated! I am tired of working with teachers that don't care about actually teaching and helping these children develop into a healthy adult. That's is why I love working with the infants. I can make a difference in their young lives. We as teachers play an important role in helping these children grow and develop. What we do will effect the overall future of our world. That's a tall order. Don't you think we should be getting better compensated. It would help our world in the long run.
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Janine Militzer
W Milwaukee WI
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