The pandemic has undoubtedly had an impact on early childhood education. The continuing public health crisis has made an already stressful and challenging job even more difficult.
It is not surprising to find directors and teachers feeling stressed out, overworked, and underappreciated. It can feel very isolating in a building where stress is coming from all directions. You have parents worried about the health and safety of their children, teachers who feel underpaid and overworked, and Temple administration and lay leaders (with declining Congregational membership), who are more than ever looking toward ECE programs as a source of income.
What has been a bright light and a source of nurturing support are the private forums and webinars offered by ECE-RJ. They are places where members can go to be with others who are having the same experiences and experiencing the same feelings and emotions. They are places to share, vent, and find an empathetic ear. This is not the time to go at it alone. We all need each other.
If you are looking for a network of early childhood educators to provide guidance and support, ECE-RJ is the place to be. I’d love to share more about ECE-RJ and how we can support the work that you do. Feel free to reach out!
Tricia Ginis
Executive Director, ECE-RJ
tginis@urj.org
