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Hello friends. Let’s chat.
Last month, I invited you to reach out and share some small steps that you’re taking towards something that matters to you. And I want to thank you for doing exactly that. I heard your voices. You shared your passion for the field, your desire to mentor new teachers, your excitement to celebrate women in early childhood education, and your big concerns about funding, curriculum, and the stamina that it’s taking to stay in it.
The uncertainty feels heavy, and it can make even the smallest steps feel weighty. But you still took them. You may wonder, “What did I do?” Well, you offered a behavior guidance tip to a colleague down the hall. You shared a post celebrating your favorite women in early childhood education. You attended an Arkansas Children’s Week workshop to prepare for this month’s celebration. You took so many small steps, and the impact may not be visible today, but it is progress in the right direction.
April is going to be a busy month. Registration for the 2026 AECA Conference opens today. I encourage you to register early and take advantage of one of those payment plan options. There’s even a program bundle available. This year’s theme is “Uniting Our Purpose, Lifting Our Voices”, and our presenters are going to focus on lifting the voices of you, our educators, children and families, the profession, lifting program quality, and the leadership capacity in early childhood.
We’re so thrilled to welcome our confirmed keynote speaker, Amanda Morgan, author of Not Just Cute, as our Wednesday keynote. Arkansas also brings us our fiscal session beginning on April 8th. Funding decisions made during this session will ripple into the lives of children, families, and our workforce. We are watching closely, listening carefully, and continuing to advocate for the resources and the stability that our workforce deserves.
And finally, Arkansas Children’s Week kicks off April 11th through the 17th. This year’s theme is “Learning Comes Alive Outdoors.” Time spent outdoors matters. It improves health, lifts moods, reduces stress, and supports learning in powerful ways. I cannot wait to see your celebration photos. What do you have planned? Are you going to have an outdoor play day for families? A big garden project? A parade? Maybe you’re adding some loose parts to your outdoor play space. I just want to thank you in advance for creating some joyful, meaningful outdoor experiences for children.
No matter what this month holds for you – decisions, celebrations, meetings, classroom adventures…please remember this: your work matters deeply. You’re a part of a community that believes in you and stands beside you. And as always, I’m cheering you on.
Julie Yarberry
President of AECA
Connect with me at president@arkansasearlychildhood.org
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