Silly wigs, cream pies on faces, and hope

By Dora Esparza, Director of Business Services

On a beautiful October afternoon close to Halloween, I was invited to 1080 Learning Center for their Fall Festival. I was there as an ECE “expert” to talk to parents if they had any questions as a follow up to a parent board meeting I had attended. The assistant director promptly noticed that I was not costumed enough for the event and threw a Styrofoam wig on my head. I trotted outside to be an “expert” as well as I could, putting on my most serious face with this silly giant wig on my head, and somewhere between the cream pie in the faces of teachers and the face painting, I was able to take a calm, deep breath of appreciation.

Amid a pandemic that continues to simmer in the background, the mental health concerns for all ECE staff as we try to get by each day, and the systematic complexities that compound everything, I found a picture of hope, right here on this playground. Hope that we can still find a sense of fun in our work, a passion for serving children and families, and smiles. The dedicated leadership of the director and sense of culture she has built resulted in 100% parent participation in this event. Her sense of fun lead to multiple teachers and administrative staff volunteering to let children throw pies at their faces. Her persistence through vendor cancellations and other mishaps lead to an ice cream truck, jumpy castle, and a sports vendor at the party so that the children had fun activities.

I cannot always express how much I admire and appreciate the directors I work with. I probably dive into coaching too quickly and do not always take the time to simply recognize the work they do. I know and hear often how challenging the job is. How teachers don’t always understand the amount of work and hours that go on behind the scenes to get things to run smoothly. The money out of directors’ pockets for breakfasts, coffees, lunches, and teacher appreciation that nobody will ever know about. The long and sometimes challenging conversations with parents and staff that can push and pull in all directions. But on days like today I am inspired to see the result of the amazing work that directors do. To see staff coming together and celebrating their children and families, and the sense of community that exists in all programs.

When the event was over, the director treated the staff to dinner. As I sat among so many dedicated teachers who passionately spoke about the children they serve daily and their professional aspirations, I marveled at the culture this director has created despite so many challenges in our sector. Prior to COVID, I don’t think I ever witnessed a staff so gleefully building relationships together at 8 p.m. on a Friday night!

For the second time that day, I felt a surge of hope. Hope that we can come back stronger, hope that we can build our fragile system back better than before, and the hope that ECE will come to be valued for the vital industry that it is. It is easy to get dragged down by the challenges that plague our field: low compensation, complex professional development systems, changing rules and regulations, workforce challenges, and what feels like a million other things.

I encourage all of you reading this to pause and breathe. Find the light, the hope, and the passion in your work. Take a moment every day to really see the smiling faces, bright eyes, and genuine smiles of the children you serve and be certain that you are making a difference.