The Choice Our Teachers Make“Love is patient, love is kind,” as it tells us in the Bible verse 1 Corinthians 13. “It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Early childhood teachers show love like this every day.
As educators, we know our work is a labor of love—and that’s been especially true this year while we struggle through COVID-19. Despite all the changes brought by Zoom meetings, new safety rules and remote learning, one thing has stayed the same: teachers love what they do. And holding a job you love is a major step toward having a happy life. I know this because I’ve been on a personal quest for happiness for many years.
My life, like everyone else’s, has been touched by pain, loss and disappointment. I have also experienced love, contentment and joy. Life does ebb and flow. But one thing has stayed the same. I find my happy by serving our youngest children. And I’ve been thinking a lot about the rewards of teaching since this is a special month for our profession. In February, we mark Valentine’s Day as well as “I Love Teaching Week,” a time when we encourage teachers to talk about why their jobs matter to them so much.
This conversation is especially vital right now as many teachers selflessly put their health on the line to teach in-person classes during the pandemic. They really deserve hearts and flowers. But we shouldn’t forget all the teachers who are still giving virtual classes. They, too, are working hard to make sure that our children don’t miss any instruction. And they’ve tried to keep up traditions like giving young students the sweet Valentine’s Day they expect.
Sure, trading candy and cards is out of the question right now. So are hugs and kisses. Yet teachers are still finding ways to mark the occasion. In Portland, OR, one teacher held her yearly Valentine’s Day tea party on Zoom, with everyone sharing snacks and dressed up in their party clothes. In Windemere, FL, elementary school teachers have encouraged the families and children they serve to trade videos with laughs and encouraging words. In Marion, OH, one educator came up with the idea of sending valentines through Google Slides. Each child had their own Google Slide, which said a Valentine for…and their name. The children also had access to all their friends’ slides, so they could go in and find out what everyone else wrote.
These teachers are taking extra steps to be creative since they know Valentine’s Day is a chance for children to let people know just how much they care about them. And it’s important to show kindness, especially to classmates, at this trying point in time. Valentine’s Day is not just about candy and cards, children need to know. It’s about the gift of love we share with our friends, communities and colleagues—one that makes the world a better place.
As teachers, “we choose love,” to borrow some moving words from Michelle Obama. “Our love for our children. Our commitment to leaving them a better world. Our love for our country … our love for our fellow citizens … that’s what we choose.” Despite all the things that make teaching so hard right now, we have the kindness, patience and sense of hope we need to persist. Even amidst a pandemic, we all still love teaching our youngest children. Helping them grow and learn is how we find our happy.
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Vice President of People and Culture
Janie Payne is the Vice President of People and Culture for the Council for Professional Recognition. Janie is responsible for envisioning, developing, and executing initiatives that strategically manage talent and culture to align people strategies with the overarching business vision of the Council. Janie is responsible for driving organizational excellence through strategic talent practices, orchestrating workforce planning, talent acquisition, performance management as well as a myriad of other Human Resources Programs. She is accountable for driving effectiveness by shaping organizational structure for optimal efficiency. Janie oversees strategies that foster a healthy culture to include embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of the organization.
In Janie’s prior role, she was the Vice President of Administration at Equal Justice Works, where she was responsible for leading human resources, financial operations, facilities management, and information technology. She was also accountable for developing and implementing Equal Justice Works Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy focused on attracting diverse, mission-oriented talent and creating an inclusive and equitable workplace environment. With more than fifteen years of private, federal, and not-for-profit experience, Janie is known for her intuitive skill in administration management, human resources management, designing and leading complex system change, diversity and inclusion, and social justice reform efforts.
Before joining Equal Justice Works, Janie was the Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer for Global Communities, where she was responsible for the design, implementation, and management of integrated HR and diversity strategies. Her work impacted employees in over twenty-two countries. She was responsible for the effective management of different cultural, legal, regulatory, and economic systems for both domestic and international employees. Prior to Global Communities, Janie enjoyed a ten-year career with the federal government. As a member of the Senior Executive Service, she held key strategic human resources positions with multiple cabinet-level agencies and served as an advisor and senior coach to leaders across the federal sector. In these roles, she received recognition from management, industry publications, peers, and staff for driving the creation and execution of programs that created an engaged and productive workforce.
Janie began her career with Verizon Communications (formerly Bell Atlantic), where she held numerous roles of increasing responsibility, where she directed a diversity program that resulted in significant improvement in diversity profile measures. Janie was also a faculty member for the company’s Black Managers Workshop, a training program designed to provide managers of color with the skills needed to overcome barriers to their success that were encountered because of race. She initiated a company-wide effort to establish team-based systems and structures to impact corporate bottom line results which was recognized by the Department of Labor. Janie was one of the first African American women to be featured on the cover of Human Resources Executive magazine.
Janie received her M.A. in Organization Development from American University. She holds numerous professional development certificates in Human Capital Management and Change Management, including a Diversity and Inclusion in Human Resources certificate from Cornell University. She completed the year-long Maryland Equity and Inclusion Leadership Program sponsored by The Schaefer Center for Public Policy and The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. She is a trained mediator and Certified Professional Coach. She is a graduate of Leadership America, former board chair of the NTL Institute and currently co-steward of the organization’s social justice community of practice, and a member of The Society for Human Resource Management. Additionally, Janie is the Board Chairperson for the Special Education Citizens Advisory Council for Prince Georges County where she is active in developing partnerships that facilitate discussion between parents, families, educators, community leaders, and the PG County school administration to enhance services for students with disabilities which is her passion. She and her husband Randolph reside in Fort Washington Maryland.
Chief Operations Officer
Andrew Davis serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Council. In this role, Andrew oversees the Programs Division, which includes the following operational functions: credentialing, growth and business development, marketing and communications, public policy and advocacy, research, innovation, and customer relations.
Andrew has over 20 years of experience in the early care and education field. Most recently, Andrew served as Senior Vice President of Partnership and Engagement with Acelero Learning and Shine Early Learning, where he led the expansion of state and community-based partnerships to produce more equitable systems of service delivery, improved programmatic quality, and greater outcomes for communities, children and families. Prior to that, he served as Director of Early Learning at Follett School Solutions.
Andrew earned his MBA from the University of Baltimore and Towson University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland – University College.
Chief Financial Officer
Jan Bigelow serves as Chief Financial Officer at the Council and has been with the organization since February of 2022.
Jan has more than 30 years in accounting and finance experience, including public accounting, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. She has held management-level positions with BDO Seidman, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Pew Center for Global Climate Change, Communities In Schools, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization and American Humane. Since 2003, Jan has worked exclusively in the non-profit sector where she has been a passionate advocate in improving business operations in order to further the mission of her employers.
Jan holds a CPA from the State of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lycoming College. She resides in Alexandria VA with her husband and dog.
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