"The moment I decided to follow instead of lead, I discovered the joys of becoming part of a small child's world."
-Janet Gonzalez-Mena
"I had a built in passion that it was important to make a contribution to the world and to fix all the injustices that existed in the world and I wanted to do that through teaching."
- Louise Derman-Sparks
"When I go to these parent meetings and actually see parents learning how to speak to policy makers, learning how to write letters, learning how to tell their story and share their voice; that's what keeps me motivated, regardless of all the challenges going on."
- Sandy Escobido
Everyday I go to work, I look forward to it because I know the services that I'm providing to children, it's to their benefit.."
- Raymond Hernandez MS Ed
"I see early childhood education, all education really; it's a civil rights issue because the right to what we think about in relationship to a childhood; A childhood that leaves you ready for optimum life experiences; A childhood and an education contexts experience through your life cycle that opens up the world to you, that gives you the tools you need to ask questions and investigate things. Those are the things I want for all children..."
- Renatta M. Cooper
"My passion has been evolving through the years; It's an ongoing process; It's like a ripple, you throw a little rock and you have this center...It grows..."
- Leticia Lara LCSW

