No One Is Coming to Save Us: Episode Summary – "Putting Early Childhood Educators First"

Episode Release Date: September 26, 2024
Host: Gloria Rivera
Produced by: Lemonada Media in collaboration with Neighborhood Villages

Introduction

In the episode titled "Putting Early Childhood Educators First," Gloria Rivera delves deep into America's pressing childcare crisis by highlighting innovative solutions that prioritize early childhood educators. The episode spotlights Rhiann Alvin, an early education and childcare expert who has transitioned from policy advocacy to hands-on leadership in the field.

Background: Rhiann Alvin and NAEYC

Rhiann Alvin brings decades of experience from her tenure at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a prominent professional association dedicated to early childhood educators. During her nine-year leadership at NAEYC, Rhiann played a pivotal role in doubling federal childcare development funding from $2.8 billion to $5.2 billion in 2018 and was instrumental during the pandemic, advocating for $50 billion in ARPA funding to stabilize the childcare sector.

Rhiann Alvin [04:40]: "NAEYC is the professional association for early childhood educators. NAEYC is to early childhood educators as the American Academy of Pediatrics is to pediatricians."

Despite her significant contributions, Rhiann grew increasingly frustrated with the systemic issues plaguing early childhood education, particularly the undervaluation of educators. This frustration catalyzed her decision to create a tangible solution: Bryn Mawr Early Education and Preschool.

The State of Early Childhood Education

Gloria sets the stage by emphasizing the critical role of early childhood educators in shaping young minds. However, the sector is marred by low wages, lack of benefits, and insufficient recognition, which hinder the ability to attract and retain quality educators.

Gloria Rivera [01:19]: "We talk a lot about valuing early childhood educators and how crucial it is to the healthy development of young children. This idea of taking care of the people, taking care of our children by investing in them, offering benefits and a livable wage. An idea that unfortunately isn't happening enough."

Bryn Mawr Early Education and Preschool

Founding and Locations

A year ago, Rhiann took a bold step by founding Bryn Mawr Early Education and Preschool, initially launching in Lorton, Virginia, followed by a second center in Washington, D.C. These centers aim to deliver high-quality care while ensuring educators feel valued and supported.

Rhiann Alvin [02:31]: "We've put so much energy and effort and dollars into the systems and structures around early childhood education. But the number one driver of whether or not we're going to deliver on the promise of quality is early childhood educators. Like period. Full stop."

Business Model and Partnerships

Bryn Mawr's innovative business model focuses on achieving economies of scale by operating multi-site programs. This approach allows for the distribution of administrative and operational costs across locations, making it financially viable to invest significantly in educator wages and benefits.

In Lorton, Virginia, Rhiann partnered with a developer and investors willing to accept lower returns to transform a century-old maximum-security prison into a vibrant preschool center. The D.C. location benefits from a contract with the State Department, which covers occupancy costs, enabling Bryn Mawr to allocate more funds towards employee benefits.

Rhiann Alvin [16:12]: "For Lorton, it was a developer. It was investors who are willing to have smaller returns than what typical private equity requires."

Operational Challenges and Solutions

Opening the first center in Lorton posed significant challenges, including renovating an old prison facility using historic blueprints and securing multi-million-dollar funding. Rhiann recounts the emotional and logistical hurdles she overcame, from acting as the receptionist to managing operations daily.

Rhiann Alvin [12:28]: "It is multi. Millions of dollars I had to raise for the Lorton site. Yeah."

The second center in D.C. was operational within a week after the previous provider vacated, thanks to a skilled team transition and the support of local partners.

Rhiann Alvin [13:17]: "We had one week to load and train our staff and then we started serving children again that following Monday."

Investment in Educators

At the heart of Bryn Mawr’s mission is the prioritization of early childhood educators. The organization offers:

• Competitive Wages: Aligning salaries with public school teachers to ensure educators are compensated fairly.

  Rhiann Alvin [18:53]: "I very first go in and see what the salary scales are for public school teachers. And then I say, okay, can I come close to matching that?"

• Comprehensive Benefits: Including generous health insurance, matched retirement plans, and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

• Work-Life Balance: Implementing a four 10-hour workday model to promote better work-life integration.

• Professional Development: Providing incentives for further education and career growth within the field.

Rhiann Alvin [09:33]: "We’re trying to pay wages and salaries that are like at least at the bottom of what early childhood educators going into the K12 system could make."

Student Diversity and Family Engagement

Bryn Mawr emphasizes inclusivity by enrolling children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. The Lorton center, located along a heavily gentrified and immigrant-rich corridor, serves children ranging from those with childcare subsidies to full-fee-paying families. This diversity fosters social capital and creates a rich, inclusive learning environment.

Rhiann Alvin [22:45]: "I really wanted to try to make that happen. And I'm so proud of what we've been able to do with that. We take Virginia childcare subsidy. We have Department of Defense families that get childcare Aware of America money. We have full fee paying families. And then we also have a scholarship program through a very generous partner."

Validation and Success Indicators

Bryn Mawr’s success is reflected in the positive feedback from both families and staff. Rhiann shares an email from a satisfied parent whose son is thriving at Bryn Mawr, highlighting the exceptional environment and high standards of care.

Rhiann Alvin [27:29]: "We knew there was something special about Bryn Mawr, but it was lovely to hear from someone who was in and out of schools all across the area and I wanted to make sure you all received the feedback as well."

Additionally, internal surveys indicate a high sense of belonging among families, with an average score of 4.8 out of 5.

Rhiann Alvin [28:44]: "If your family feels a sense of belonging at Bryn Mawr, then we're doing something right."

Feedback from educators also underscores the supportive and nurturing work environment Bryn Mawr fosters, ensuring staff feel valued beyond their professional roles.

Educator Testimonial [29:34]: "This is the most amazing place I've ever worked. I've been in the field for decades. I will never work anywhere else. The people here are so caring."

Future Plans and Growing the Model

Looking ahead, Rhiann is focused on scaling Bryn Mawr while maintaining the integrity of its unique business model. She emphasizes the importance of not compromising on core values during expansion and seeks to replicate the success in diverse settings, including tribal lands and rural communities. The key challenges include maintaining operational excellence, securing sustainable funding, and continuing to attract and retain top-tier educators.

Rhiann Alvin [31:17]: "We have to be relentless about the operating model of Bryn Mawr and staying true to why we started, who we want to partner, and never compromise our ideals in how we do that."

Conclusion

Putting Early Childhood Educators First serves as a compelling narrative on how innovative business models and unwavering dedication can address systemic issues in early childhood education. By focusing on fair compensation, comprehensive benefits, and creating an inclusive environment, Bryn Mawr Early Education and Preschool exemplifies a feasible path towards valuing and empowering the educators who are foundational to nurturing America's youngest minds.

Gloria Rivera encapsulates the episode by emphasizing the necessity of such experiments in the childcare sector to foster environments where both children and educators can thrive.

Gloria Rivera [33:37]: "Rhiann has not figured it all out yet. Bryn Mawr with its business model and priorities is an experiment. But Rhiann is doing something. And as Bryn Mawr expands or as the model replicates, that's more children in high quality programs with staff who feel valued."

Key Takeaways:

• Early childhood educators are pivotal to the quality of childcare and education but are often undervalued and underpaid.
• Innovative business models, like that of Bryn Mawr, can create sustainable ways to fairly compensate and invest in educators.
• Achieving economies of scale through multi-site operations and strategic partnerships is essential for financial viability.
• Diversity and inclusivity in student populations enhance social capital and educational outcomes.
• Continuous feedback from families and staff is crucial for validating and refining the childcare model.
• Scaling such models requires maintaining core values, securing sustainable funding, and adapting to varied community needs.

By spotlighting Rhiann Alvin's journey and Bryn Mawr's pioneering approach, the episode underscores the urgent need for systemic change in America's childcare landscape and offers a beacon of hope through actionable solutions.