Kayla Gardner, M.S.Ed (she/hers), is a proud lifelong Wisconsinite and early childhood champion. She spent the first part of her ECE career as an infant & toddler teacher, and now works at Wisconsin’s NAEYC affiliate, WECA, as an Engagement Specialist & TEACH Early Childhood® Scholarship Counselor. 

With her early educator experience close to her heart, Kayla is passionate about advancing policies that bolster the well-being and success of the ECE workforce. She loves engaging brilliant ECE professionals in advocacy and policy work and helping them find their voices! Whether that is though leading virtual engagement forums or advocacy trainings, helping providers find their elected officials, preparing providers to attend legislative visits, or curating data specific to a region, Kayla aims to empower ECE providers to share their stories and expertise with policymakers to drive change for a nation that supports all children, families, and early educators. 

Kayla received her B.S. in Human Development & Family Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and later completed her M.S.Ed in Early Childhood Education Policy from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater as a part of the inaugural cohort. She believes in the importance of including the voice of current ECE practitioners in policy decisions and loves empowering people to develop their stories and share them with policymakers.