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Elsa Jones: Early childhood professionals are "essential" and must defend equity
Summary
In a keynote for the Office of Early Childhood's Women in History webinar, Elsa Jones urged attendees to claim the profession's importance, cited long'running contributions by organizations such as the Children's Defense Fund and Head Start, and warned that recent policy moves threaten diversity, equity and inclusion.
Elsa Jones delivered the webinar's keynote, telling early childhood educators that their work is essential and rooted in a long history of advocacy. Introduced by Commissioner Beth Bye, Jones framed her remarks around three prompts: reflect on the past, assess the present and think about forward movement.
Jones highlighted historical milestones for advocates and programs that shaped the field: the Children's Defense Fund (50th anniversary cited in the talk), Head Start (described as marking 60 years) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children's upcoming centennial in 2026. She said those organizations and the pioneers who led them provide a foundation for current efforts to protect children and families.
Warning of current policy pressures, Jones said there are active efforts that risk rolling back access and supports for young children and families. "Knowledge is power," she said, and urged participants to recognize attempts to weaken institutions that advance quality and equity in education. She framed the outcome of such cuts as harming children's social, emotional and cognitive development.
Jones used a Children's Defense Fund story to emphasize children's vulnerability and voice. Recounting the CDF logo'origin story drawn by a 5'year'old, she said "Children's tiny lifeboats are always so small and in need of protection as they navigate their way through our world," and used that image to argue for advocacy and family engagement.
Her remarks wove professional reflection with practical guidance: cite mentors, center families as children's first teachers and uphold the profession's code of ethics. Jones asked attendees to notice bias against women'dominated professions and to "come boldly claiming" their role and value. "You're essential. I am essential," she said, urging educators to affirm that identity publicly.
Jones named research on anti'bias education and credited scholars who developed goals for identity, diversity, justice and activism in early years programming. She asked educators to recover and teach the diverse histories of the field, including contributions by women of color often omitted from standard accounts.
The keynote closed with an appeal to action: protect comprehensive services, sustain programs that support families and children from birth through early elementary grades, and use education, hope and action to make measurable differences.
