The energy at UMass Boston was boisterous, joyful, and electric as more than 200 early educators gathered for the 2025 Early Educator Leadership Forum. Hosted by Early Education Leaders, the annual gathering was a celebration of the power, potential, and purpose of early educators as changemakers. From thought-provoking keynotes to powerful storytelling, the event showcased what happens when educators lead the way with bold ideas and reimagining what’s possible in early childhood education.
As participants checked in, grabbing coffee and pastry to fuel for the day, we asked what they were most looking forward to. Answers ranged from “Sharing new ideas and learning new ones!” to “Connecting with other child care providers” to “Hearing all the stories.”
The Leadership Forum formally opened with a powerful welcome from Dr. Anne Douglass, founding executive director of Early Education Leaders. Framing the Leadership Forum as “the only convening dedicated specifically to cultivating the leadership of frontline early educators,” Douglass acknowledged the field’s current challenges—funding threats, systemic inequities, and political attacks on marginalized communities—but emphasized the strength and resilience of the workforce.
“You have agency. You have power. And today is about harnessing that power together,” she said.
The morning featured keynote reflections from three graduates of Early Education Leaders’ programs whose leadership journeys embodied the Leadership Forum’s theme of changing the world.
Christina Lopez, longtime educator, advocate, and president of the Maryland Association for the Education of Young Children, described the Leadership Forum as a “grown-up circle time”—a space of belonging and affirmation. “Even if you fall flat on your face,” she said, “you’re still in forward motion.”
Latrelle Nicholson, a Pennsylvania-based DEI trainer, shared the anti-bullying curriculum she developed through Leading for Change, grounded in kindness as a core strategy for equity:
“Even though systems fail, we don’t have to.”
Sarah Roebuck, executive director of three early childhood schools in Maryland, took the stage in a dress made from headlines celebrating early educators—an embodiment of her belief that “We are not aspiring leaders. We are already leading.”
She offered five core lessons from her leadership journey, including: “This is a fight for justice,” and “Don’t delay because you’re afraid.”
Following the morning session, participants engaged in breakout sessions showcasing Change Projects—practical, innovative ideas and strategies to improve early care and education at every level. Presenters were graduates of leadership programs offered by EEC’s Professional Development Academy and the Metro Boston Professional Development Center, and the Essential Leadership Model, which trains program leaders on continuous quality improvement through one of the state’s Early Childhood Support Organizations. Presenters and participants also came from Leading for Change programs offered in partnership with Neighborhood Villages, undergraduate and graduate academic programs at UMass Boston, the Maryland Early Childhood Leadership Education Program at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and the Pennsylvania Key via Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development & Early Learning.
After attending a session on Change in Early Education, Howard Gardner, the John H. and Elisabeth A. Hobbs Research Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, who attended the Leadership Forum for the first time, offered a positive review.
“We’re living in a time where there are lots of disputes around the world. We’re also living in a time where artificial intelligence is going to take over much of education. I think people who are in the sector need to really think deeply about these issues,” he said, adding that the Leadership Forum was “a great step in that direction.”
The afternoon concluded with a powerful and emotionally resonant panel discussion moderated by Christina Lopez, featuring:
- Nicole Johnson, doctoral candidate and architect of Cambridge’s universal preschool program
- Giane O’Connell, family child care provider and advocate
- Ana Teresa Farias, training coordinator and former preschool educator
- Jessica De Jesus Acevedo, doctoral candidate and family child care business owner
Their discussion redefined leadership not as a title or hierarchy, but as love, affirmation, and the courage to show up fully.
“Leadership starts with empowerment,” said Jessica De Jesus Acevedo, reflecting on her research with family child care programs in public housing. “I’m here to be the leader I didn’t see.”
Giane O’Connell shared how her childhood experiences as the youngest in a large Brazilian family shaped her path:
“You don’t need a title to be a leader. We need to speak up and stick together—for policies that reflect our lives.”
Ana Teresa Farias emphasized inclusive leadership:
“We all can grow. We don’t need to step on others to make space. There is room for everyone.”
Nicole Johnson offered a passionate call to affirm cultural identity in early childhood education:
“Cultural affirmation changes who a child can become. We need to stop asking educators of color to prove they belong. They hold so much knowledge—and we need it.”
When asked what seeds they would plant for the future, panelists offered visions of:
- Cross-sector partnerships and sustainable policies
- Stronger support systems for family child care
- Sustainable, equitable funding
- A workforce that’s valued, resourced, and seen
As the session closed, Douglass captured the essence of the panel in one phrase: Leading is love. “Leadership isn’t about authority or hierarchy. It’s about love and affirmation. And today, you showed us what that looks like,” she said.
Throughout the day, participants offered enthusiastic reviews of the sessions.
The Leadership Forum ended with a collective call: Plant seeds. Make space. Speak up. Lead with love. You are not alone in this work. Together, this community is changing the world—one step at a time.
