Parent Spotlight – Mariah Roady’s advocacy stems from role as “mama”

Mariah Roady’s journey into ECE advocacy started when her daughter was born, and she suddenly had a lot of questions around finding appropriate and affordable child care for her family. At home in Kansas City with her family, Mariah now serves as the Development Director at a high-quality early learning center, earlystART, and has the

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Parent Spotlight – Jessica Baker is an ECE mental health advocate!

Jessica Baker is a mom of 2, mental health therapist and ECE advocate from Palmyra. She came to her journey of ECE advocacy as a participant in the Missouri Parents as Teachers program with her two children. Read Jessica’s story below! How did you become an advocate for early childhood education?  I became an advocate

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Parent Spotlight – Dona Hamilton understands ECE as a mom AND provider

Dona Leah Hamilton is a mother of two turned child care provider from Sedalia, Missouri. After struggling to find quality child care options in her rural community for her own children, she took the leap to start caring for children in her home. Dona is now working to advocate so that all Missouri children have

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Provider Spotlight – Tiffany Brinton helps kids get One Step Ahead!

Tiffany Brinton tries to help her kids enter kindergarten One Step Ahead in St. Joseph, Missouri. Her facility, One Step Ahead Early Learning Center, provides high-quality, comprehensive child care and early education for children from 6 weeks through school age. After serving in the field as an owner and director for many years, Tiffany is

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Provider Spotlight: Betty Dudley Care for Her Community

After spending decades working in the public school system, Co. Pastor of Tabernacle of Grace Ministry Betty Dudley realized a need in her community and opened her Group Home child care,  McDudley Care LLC. Betty takes great pride in serving children and families in her community of Columbia, and talks about the care and support

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Parent Spotlight: Amy McDonald

Meet Amy McDonald, ECE advocate and foster mom champion! Her work in ECE is centered around support families and providing resources to unify families.

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