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Hello friends.
As we step into March, I’ve been doing a little reflecting. Not just on the work we do every day, but on the dreams that we carry alongside it. March is often a month when we celebrate big impact, big movements, and big moments in Women’s History. But today I want to bring it a little closer to home.
When we look at the women and leaders that we honor this month, their impact didn’t begin with something big. It started with a decision, a small step, a quiet “yes” to something that mattered. Think about Rosa Parks; one decision, one moment that helped spark lasting change. Or Maya Angelou; she didn’t write her life’s work all at once, but one page at a time. And even in our own field, Lilian Katz, who reminded us that great teaching doesn’t happen all at once; it grows through reflection, curiosity, and a willingness to keep learning one step at a time. Or Magda Gerber, who showed us that the way we care for and respond to children in everyday moments is what truly shapes their development. Small, intentional interactions, day after day.
That’s what I see in each of you. Not just big milestones, but the daily moments. The way you sit beside a child that needs comfort, the way you encourage a colleague down the hall, the patience that you choose with families, even on the hard days. Those aren’t small things. Those are the seeds of something much, much bigger.
And here’s what I want to gently remind you of this month: while you’re pouring into others, don’t forget to invest in yourself. Growth doesn’t require a complete life overhaul. It starts small. Maybe your next step looks like signing up for a training, speaking up and sharing an idea, taking a few moments to reflect on your own practice, or how about giving yourself some rest without any guilt attached to it? Small steps taken consistently lead to lasting and meaningful change.
And as your President, my hope isn’t just that we grow as an organization. It’s that each one of you feels supported in growing into the best version of yourself. So this month I will leave you with this: what’s one small step that you’re ready to take towards something that matters to you? As always, I’m cheering you on.
Julie Yarberry
President of AECA
Connect with me at president@arkansasearlychildhood.org
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