Amanda Medeiros

My name is Amanda Medeiros, and I work at the Lowell Collaborative Preschool Academy.

I have worked in the field of early education and care for eight years, and I love what I do. I help children learn to express their feelings and learn that it is okay to feel different emotions. I help them grow and become independent. I always support families as well. I am here for the parents just as much as I am for children. It can be hard when parents see their children growing, so I help them adjust and understand that it is all normal.

What I’m most proud of as an early educator is seeing children make progress. I love when I hear a child express themselves, especially when I know that is difficult for them. I see children go from not being able to hold a crayon to writing their name in full. It is very rewarding.

To grow professionally, I am taking college classes and working towards my associate degree. I have my own children, and they are at the age where I can dedicate myself to working towards my own goals. I hope to one day be a center director and help more families and children in their journey of growth.

Policymakers should understand how dedicated teachers are. I am passionate about educating young children because they can learn so much before they get to elementary school. That’s why our jobs as early educators are important! We are not just daycare providers. Our work is not as easy as people think. The perception is that we are babysitters, but the reality is that we work hard, and this should be recognized and valued! What we do is important and necessary for each and every child we educate.

My favorite children’s book is “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Share” by Mike Reiss. It’s a book about sharing and it’s silly, so it makes it fun for the children. It begins:

“Edward was
a frightful boy
who wouldn’t share
a single toy.

“Even with his sister, Claire,
Edward simply would not share.”