named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Annual Conference
Statewide professional development event offering workshops and networking opportunities for early childhood educators, held biennially at Turning Stone Resort.
Champions for Children Awards
Annual recognition program honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to early care and education, including categories for leaders, supporters, and emerging professionals.
Courageous Conversations Series
DEI-focused discussion series hosted by the NYAEYC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, recorded for future training and follow-up.
Mini Grants
Grant program providing up to $500 to members for projects designed to enhance programs for young children.
New York Early Learning Resources (NYELR)
Web-based platform providing early childhood educators with customizable documents, job board access, and exclusive discounts to support high-quality programming.
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Child Care and Early Childhood Policy Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocacy for early childhood education policy and equityAdvocates at the state level for increased compensation, equitable funding, and expanded access to higher education for early childhood educators. Operates a Public Policy and Advocacy Committee and a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee to advance equitable practices and policies in early care and education across New York State.
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Teacher & Classroom Innovation Grants 1 activity
- Funding member-led projects in early childhood educationAwards mini-grants of up to $500 to members for projects that enhance early childhood education programs, supporting innovation and quality improvement at the local level.
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Educator Conferences & Professional Development Events 1 activity
- Hosting professional conferences and eventsOrganizes an annual conference for early childhood education professionals, with upcoming events scheduled for 2026 and 2027 at Turning Stone Resort. The conference serves as a key professional gathering for networking, learning, and engagement.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Member engagement and communication servicesDistributes a bi-annual printed newsletter to over 2,500 members across New York State, featuring themed editions on early childhood education topics and articles from field professionals. Provides updates on major issues and trends to support professional growth.
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Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
- Professional development and training for early childhood educatorsProvides training and professional development opportunities for early childhood educators, including through a Professional Preparation and Development Committee. Offers learning experiences to challenge biases and support equitable learning environments, supported by evidence from IRS 990 filings and program descriptions.
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Professional Job Board & Career Placement Services 1 activity
- Provision of job and professional resources through digital platformsOperates a job board for early care and learning professionals and maintains a web-based resource platform to support early childhood programs, in partnership with the Early Care and Learning Council.
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Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Recognition of contributions to early childhood educationRecognizes individuals who have dedicated their work, time, and resources to children, families, and the field of early care and education through formal acknowledgment programs.
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Film Festival and Screening Programming 1 activity
- Screenings and panel discussions for professional and public awarenessHosts screenings of documentaries such as "Make a Circle" on the child care system and early educators, followed by panel discussions with professionals in the field to deepen understanding and engagement.
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Child Care Provider Support Services 1 activity
- Support for quality improvement in early childhood programsOperates an Accreditation and Program Improvement Committee to support early childhood education programs in achieving and maintaining high-quality standards. Also administers the New York Early Learning Resources platform, offering early childhood-specific resources, customizable operational documents, and a savings portal with exclusive discounts.
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Educator Training in Equity and Inclusion 1 activity
- Virtual dialogue series on diversity, equity, and inclusionHosts a recurring virtual Courageous Conversations series focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion topics in early childhood education, with sessions used for future trainings and follow-up discussions. Made possible by a grant from NAEYC funded by the Heising-Simons Foundation.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.28M
Contributions & grants$51K4%
Program service revenue$1.21M94%
Investment income$6K0%
Other revenue$17K
expenses
Total expenses$986K
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead17%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$583K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.28M
Cash$857K
Investments$132K
Liabilities$46K
Net assets$1.23M
Liquid reserves12.0 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +10.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRISTEN KERR | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 38 | $97K |
board members · 15
- BETH STARKS — VICE PRESIDENT
- CECILIA SCOTT-CROFF — PRESIDENT
- CRISTINA MEDELLIN — PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION&
- DEBBIE COLLETTE-CROMP — MEMBER SERVICES & PROGRAMS
- DOREY BRIDGE — PRESIDENT- ELECT
- HEATHER SWEET — AT-LARGE
- JEN LONGLEY — GOVERNANCE
- JENNA PETTINICCHI — GOVERNANCE
- JERRY SWEENEY — AT-LARGE
- LYNN LUBECKI — PUBLIC POLICY
- OLIVIA WANG — PUBLIC RELATIONS/MARKETING
- RACHEL AULET-MCGAN — RECORDING SECRETARY
- REESHEMAH BRIGHTLY — DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCL
- RHYA JERROLD — TREASURER
- STEPHANIE DOCKWEILER — ACCREDITATION & PROGRAM IM
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- Chieftess Olufemi Yeshua EL Partner — Chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, contributing leadership to advance equity in early childhood education.
- Cristina Medellin Partner — Chair of the Professional Preparation and Development Committee, leading educator training and development efforts.
- Deborah Collette-Cromp Partner — Chair of the Member Programs and Services Committee, overseeing member support and engagement activities.
- Early Care and Learning Council Partner — Co-administers the New York Early Learning Resources platform with NYAEYC.
- Heather Sweet Partner — Chair of the Accreditation and Program Improvement Committee, providing leadership in program quality enhancement.
- Lynn Lubecki Partner — Chair of the Public Policy and Advocacy Committee, leading policy engagement initiatives for early childhood education.
- NAEYC Funder — Provided a grant award to support the Courageous Conversations series.
- NAEYC Network — Aligns with NAEYC's position statement on advancing equity in early childhood education.
- NAEYC Network — Member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children network, as indicated by the membership link to naeyc.org.
- NAEYC Network — Member organization linked to the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
- NAEYC Network — NYAEYC is affiliated with NAEYC, as indicated by member number requirements for presenters.
- National Association for the Education of Young Children Network — State affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), aligning with its mission to support young children's development and education.
- The Standard Partner — Sponsor of the "Make a Circle" documentary screening and panel discussion event.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care Government — Provides funding support through the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Initiative (PDGB5).
- local chapters Network — Local chapters are part of a coordinated network supported by NYAEYC to provide leadership and professional growth opportunities.
- sshah@nyaeyc.org Partner — Member Relations and Communications Coordinator serving as contact for newsletter advertising and article submissions
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Equity-Centered Systems Reform through Structural and Intersectional Analysismethodology: structural_equity_reformBy embedding diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into all programs and applying an intersectional framework, we produce more equitable early childhood systems because sustained equity requires continuous examination and transformation of structural biases across multiple identity dimensions.
- Evidence-Based Dissemination to Strengthen Field Knowledgemethodology: evidence_based_disseminationBy disseminating research and evidence-based best practices, we increase public understanding and improve practice quality because widespread access to validated knowledge enables educators and stakeholders to adopt effective, field-tested approaches.
- Integrated Field-Strengthening through Education, Advocacy, and Professional Supportmethodology: integrated_field_strengtheningBy combining education, advocacy, and professional support as interdependent methods, we strengthen the early childhood education field because systemic improvement requires simultaneous capacity-building, policy change, and practitioner development.
- Member-Driven Advocacy for Systemic Policy Changemethodology: member_driven_advocacyBy engaging members in public policy advocacy through state and local committees, we advance systemic reform in early care and education because grassroots participation strengthens legitimacy, responsiveness, and sustainability of policy initiatives.
- Professional Competence Development through Standards-Aligned Trainingmethodology: standards_aligned_professional_developmentBy aligning professional development with established standards and minimum competency requirements, we improve educator quality and, consequently, child learning outcomes because structured, comprehensive training ensures consistent skill advancement.