Ben Planton has been in the ECE profession since 2006 and has held a variety of professional and volunteer positions. Starting as an assistant teacher working with infants and toddlers, Ben has since been an Infant Toddler Teacher, an Assistant Center Director, and worked for Indiana AEYC's Accreditation Department. Currently, Ben is the Infant Toddler Outcome Specialist with Partnerships for Early Learners, the statewide CCR&R in Indiana, and works on professional development and policy around infant and toddler issues. Since joining NAEYC in 2009 he has been actively involved in moving the organization forward. His work with NAEYC has included starting a chapter of Indiana AEYC, serving on the Indiana AEYC Governing Board, serving on on multiple Indiana AEYC committees, and serving on the NAEYC Affiliate Advisory Council.
Ben's journey towards national-level involvement started when he was awarded a NAEYC Lasting Legacy Scholarship to attend the 2015 NAEYC Professional Learning Insitute. Following this experience, Ben was determined to give back to NAEYC and applied to serve on the newly reconstituted Affiliate Advisory Council. With a background in political science, Ben wanted to bring a grassroots level viewpoint to NAEYC as it went through the reorganization. With a background in both the ECE profession and political movements, Ben has been very interested in the work of Dr. Heckman, the Transforming the Workforce Report, and the Power to the Profession and using research to guide a restructuring of ECE in favor of increasing quality and improving workforce compensation.