Felicity S. - Early Educator

Felicity, an 18-year-old early educator at Durfee High School, works with infants and children aged 3-5. She highlights budgeting as a major challenge at her center, noting that running a daycare is expensive. Essential items such as breakfast, toys, cleaning supplies, wipes, and diapers quickly add up. When lesson planning, educators often identify materials that would benefit the children’s development. However, due to budget constraints and uninvolved directors, staff members frequently have to pay for these supplies out of their own pockets—despite being full-time students working only part-time at the daycare.

According to Felicity, although the directors are physically present, they often fail to engage with staff concerns. Their repeated dismissal of these issues only deepens the budget crisis, as they overlook critical feedback from those working directly with the children. Felicity shared instances where she and her peers collectively voiced their concerns, only to be ignored. The directors, having held their positions for a long time, seem reluctant to admit gaps in their understanding of the program.

Felicity believes that staff members’ concerns should be acknowledged and validated. She is passionate about providing children with the education and care they deserve, especially because parents place their trust in her and her colleagues to care for their little ones.