Melissa Perry

This is one of a series of blogs featuring first-person accounts from early educators across Massachusetts.

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My name is Melissa Perry. I currently reside in Salem, Mass., and I am newly employed at the Salem YMCA. I’ve been in early childcare education for just a little over 12 years.

To ensure any level of job satisfaction, this field requires a love of children. The most important benefit of being a childcare worker is the satisfaction of knowing I am providing quality care in the preschool setting where children can learn and practice the language and skills they will need to develop and grow.

I am proud to be a part of a group of individuals who do what they do because they love the job and the students, not because of the desire for a dollar. I am proud to be in a position where I am a mentor for those who need it, or a much-needed, positive authority figure to help guide the way. I like being part of something that people can’t possibly understand until they set foot in a classroom and teach.

No theory, textbook, or study can truly define what teachers do each day to make an impact. One ‘superpower’ I have told my children I have, is that I’m like an octopus. Some days I can do a lot of things at the same time. My children refer to me as a teacher/doctor (I’m good with fixing boo-boos).

To further my own education in Early Childhood, I studied at Quincy College right out of high school. I have completed many trainings and courses throughout my years. I recently completed my Child Development Associate course (CDA). And by being employed in the field I am able to continue to sharpen my skills and continue to grow.

I also admire how managers in my program have acknowledged the growth and professionalism of their staff. I have been offered a supervisory position, and I have extended education because I was offered the opportunity to take a supervision and administration course.

Policymakers should know that child care workers, preschool teachers, teacher assistants, social workers, and community health workers are just some of the many women and men who work with our young children to ensure their healthy development. Through our everyday work and interactions with the children and families, we have the opportunity to transform a child’s development, but we often do not receive adequate pay, training, support or incentives. There are so many things policymakers could do to better support this workforce, such as:

• developing job descriptions and competences for roles within the early childhood workforce
• ensuring that all members of this workforce, regardless of their role, have the opportunity to learn and grow
• offering in-service training programs and other opportunities for skill building

My favorite children’s book is “All The World” by Liz Garton Scanlon. It’s a Caldecott Honor picture book that is awesome and has great illustrations. It’s very poetic and implies that the world is all of us, and we need to take care of it.