Ellie Richter is from St. Charles and has worked as an Early Childhood Language Pathologist for 13 years. Now a mom to a five year-old son, Ellie is using her professional and personal passion for quality early care and education to serve as an effective advocate for children and families, and is determined to elevate the voices of caretakers and providers in discussions about state policies. Read Ellie’s story!
How did you become an advocate for early childhood education?
I have worked in the field of early childhood speech pathology for the past 13 years, and when the opportunity to be a parent fellow with Kids Win Missouri presented itself it felt like a great opportunity to learn more about advocating at the state level.
Why do you think it’s important to be advocate as a parent?
Advocacy is an important job for all parents. The act of sharing our stories with each other and our representatives holds the potential to build and strengthen communities with the resources that we actually need.
Why should Missouri invest more in child care and early education?
We have the opportunity as a state to improve and become a leader in child care and early education by using readily available, evidence-based research that shows the immediate and long term benefits – on family systems, health and wellness, economic growth and development, as well as crime reduction.
In one sentence, what does the ideal child care and early education system look like for Missouri families?
To me, ideal child care and early education is accessible, affordable, and high quality for all families across the state where where providers are supported, respected and compensated.
What is one thing you’ve learned about advocacy that you’d like to share with others?
Through this process I’ve learned the importance of communicating with our representatives regularly.
Way to go, Ellie! Thank you for doing this important work!