Championing Early Childhood Education: Shirley’s Inspiring Experience at the NAEYC Public Policy Forum
At St. Matthew’s Weekday School, we believe that early childhood education is the foundation for a lifetime of learning, growth, and success. This past February, our very own Shirley Smith had the incredible opportunity to attend the NAEYC Public Policy Forum in Washington, D.C., where she joined hundreds of early childhood educators and advocates to ensure that the voices of teachers, families, and young children were heard on Capitol Hill.
Her experience was nothing short of inspiring!
Shirley on Capitol Hill: A Voice for Early Education
The NAEYC Public Policy Forum is a powerful annual event where early childhood educators, policymakers, and advocates come together to discuss challenges, share solutions, and push for stronger public investment in early learning.
For Shirley, this was an important opportunity to represent educators, families, and children who rely on high-quality early childhood programs like ours. Over the course of three days, she attended policy discussions, advocacy training sessions, and face-to-face meetings with lawmakers who play a key role in shaping early education policies.
One of the standout moments for Shirley was her personal meeting with Senator Tim Kaine.
“Senator Kaine met with us personally, and I was amazed at how deeply he understands the early childhood community. His son is an early childhood educator, and it showed in the way he listened. His questions were insightful, and the 30 minutes flew by!” – Shirley
In addition to this incredible meeting, Shirley and her team spoke with an aide from Congressman Don Beyer’s office, advocating for stronger funding for early childhood programs—equal to the investment given to K-12 education. They also were able to visit the office of Senator Mark Warner.
Why Shirley’s Advocacy Matters
At WDS, we see firsthand the impact of high-quality early learning experiences on young children. Research consistently shows that early education prepares children for academic success and fosters emotional and social growth, setting them up for a bright future.
But early childhood educators face real challenges—from limited funding to workforce shortages—that can make it difficult to provide the level of care and learning that every child deserves.
Shirley, along with hundreds of other passionate advocates at the forum, brought real stories and data to the table to help policymakers understand the critical need for investment in early education. One key takeaway from this year’s forum was the release of NAEYC’s newest workforce survey, which highlighted how insufficient funding continues to burden educators and families, making it harder to maintain and expand access to quality early learning programs.
By standing up and speaking out, Shirley made sure that our school, our educators, and our families were represented at the national level—and that lawmakers heard loud and clear why early childhood education must remain a top priority.
Bringing the Lessons Home
Shirley’s experience at the NAEYC Public Policy Forum will help us continue strengthening our programs, supporting our educators, and ensuring that our families have a voice in the future of early education.
What’s Next?
We will continue to stay engaged with local and national early education initiatives.
We encourage families to stay informed about policies affecting early childhood education.
We invite our community to celebrate Shirley’s leadership and show support for early childhood educators everywhere!
Join Us in Celebrating Shirley!
We are so proud of Shirley for representing our school, our educators, and our children at the highest level. Her dedication to advocacy is a shining example of the passion and commitment that makes St. Matthew’s such a special place.
Let’s give her a big thank you for her work in ensuring that early childhood education remains a priority!
Shirley’s journey to Washington, D.C. was just the beginning—the future of early childhood education starts with all of us!
