Skip to main content

NAEYC

  • Join/Renew
  • Login
  • Shop
  • Our Work
    • For Educators

      Find resources that help you in your programs.

    • For Families

      Find research-based resources, tips and ideas for families—from child development to reading, writing, music, math, and more!

    • For Faculty and Students

      Search an ECE degree directory, explore professional standards, and join our community of practice.

    • For Advocates and Policymakers

      Engage with our policy agendas, advocacy resources, and current initiatives.

  • Resources
    • Books

      Learn about and purchase the best books and resources to support young children's learning and development.

    • Young Children

      Stay up to date with research-based, teacher-focused articles on birth to age 8 in our award-winning, peer-reviewed journal.

    • Educating Young Children

      Read NAEYC's new member-exclusive magazine for early learning community and practice! (Access past issues of TYC here.)

    • Professional Development

      Enhance your career and improve your knowledge, skills, and practices with our online training.

    • Topics

      Explore key early childhood topics such Developmentally Appropriate Practice, play, and math.

    • Blog

      Stay up-to-date on issues in early childhood education and hear perspectives from a wide range of educators.

    • Position Statements

      Learn about NAEYC’s informed positions on significant issues affecting young children’s education and development.

  • Events
    • Annual Conference

      Discover the latest research and best practices, and engage with our diverse community of professionals!

       

    • Professional Learning Institute

      Ignite and fulfill your professional development goals!

       

    • Public Policy Forum

      Join us at the members-only event and build your advocacy skills, expand your networks, and advance federal and state early childhood policy.

    • Week of the Young Child

      Celebrate young children and their families with hands-on activities encouraging movement and healthy lifestyles through music, food, and art. 

    • Sponsor with NAEYC

      Find a sponsorship opportunity that’s right for you and help support early childhood educators, parents, and other professionals.

    • Trainings & Webinars

      Deepen your professional knowledge wherever you are with NAEYC’s exciting webinar series and online and face-to-face training opportunities.  

  • Accreditation
    • Early Learning Program Quality Assessment & Accreditation

      Discover the benefits of early childhood accreditation, learn about the simplified process, find support and resources for your program or login to the accreditation portal.

    • Early Learning Accreditation Portal

      Login to the Early Learning Accreditation Portal to take charge of your accreditation process.

    • Higher Education Accreditation

      Explore accreditation of early childhood higher education programs, discover the accreditation system standards, and view a list of accredited programs.

    • Accreditation Research Databases

      Access accreditation data on early learning and higher education program characteristics and quality for research purposes.

  • Get Involved
    • Learn about Membership

      Join your professional membership association, explore local Affiliates, and access unbeatable member benefits.

    • Advance your Career

      Explore jobs in the Career Center and find higher education and professional development opportunities.  

    • Become an Advocate

      Develop grassroots efforts advancing early childhood in your community with these tools and resources.

    • Join our Communities

      Say HELLO and discuss, network, and connect with our interest forums and online communities. 

    • Align with Us

      Support our mission and reach the NAEYC audience through your advertisement, conference exhibit booth, or sponsorship.

    • Leadership Opportunities

      Become a leader in your professional association.

  • About Us
    • People

      Read about NAEYC’s leadership, mission, values and beliefs, and strategic governance.

    • Partner

      Become an organizational or corporate partner to inspire early childhood education at the local and national level.

    • News and Updates

      Stay current on all things related to your professional association, from book releases to policy updates.

    • Careers at NAEYC

      Join NAEYC’s team and help us advance the education of young children across the country.

    • Donate

      Support access to high-quality early childhood education programs and opportunities and resources for educators.

    • Contact Us

      Contact us with your questions-- we're here to help!

  • Search

Popular Searches: DAP; Coping with COVID-19; E-books; Anti-Bias Education; Online Store

Yohana Quiroz: Candidate Statement

Members in a workshop

You are here

Home / Yohana Quiroz: Candidate Statement

My name is Yohana Quiroz and I am submitting my application and a personal statement to be considered for the student position on the NAEYC Governing Board. I have over two decades of experience in the nonprofit and early care and education arena, currently as member of the executive team as Chief Operations Officer at Felton Institute, one of the oldest and largest non-profits in San Francisco, CA. Founded since 1889, Felton serves clients across the life spectrum; we provide early care and education, family support, mental health, justice and aging services to over 11,000 at-risk and vulnerable clients every year.

I am a first-generation college student and earned my undergraduate degree in Child and Adolescent Development (with an emphasis on Early Childhood Education) from the San Francisco State University (SFSU) and my masters in Organization & Leadership in Education from University of San Francisco. Currently, I am pursuing an EdD in Educational Leadership at the San Francisco State University and will begin Fall, 2018. I am eager to be part of a platform that will allow me to leverage my own personal narrative, community commitments, academic achievements, and leadership roles. I consider the opportunity to be part of the NAEYC Governing Board representing a student, a place where I can continue to influence an educational movement of educators, leaders, administrators, and scholars committed to improving the conditions of our youngest learners, while also strengthening my network of other educational leaders to create coalitions and support systems change. I have devoted my career to impactful leadership in an organization that is purposeful, and mission driven to impact the fields of early care and education, human development and mental health services.

Over the last two decades, my focus has been on closing the opportunity gap, increasing equity, and access to social services with a social justice framework to underserved populations in San Francisco CA. I’ve been linking theory to practice, and practice to theory. My current position as Chief Operations Officer at Felton Institute, provides me with invaluable experience to witness firsthand how children participating in publicly funded programs [most who are predominantly low-income children of color and cared for by a workforce who is also predominately woman of color], have a much better chance of a leveled playing field; but in order to fulfill this promise, their individual needs must be identified and provided from the beginning, at the earliest stages of development. When this promise is fulfilled, children then have the best chance of thriving and reaching their fullest potential. Unfortunately, across the nation many of these programs that serve these families, are inadequately funded and face daily challenges with the increase number of mandates set forth by the Raise to the top, Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). Most ECE programs cannot pay their educators a living wage, hire qualified staff or provide adequate benefits. These programs may also experience high levels of staff turnover and struggle just to stay afloat. This problem is only magnified in high cost counties such as the San Francisco Bay Area. These systematic challenges place a huge burden on programs in being able to offer high quality services to low income families. This firsthand knowledge has had a profound effect on me and instilled a passion for advocacy, leadership, social justice and a focus on systems change. My belief is that leaders in education must have the pedagogical, business, and vision to link the theories and practices needed to navigate the political, legal, organizational, economic, and interpersonal dynamics in which our field currently operates.

My areas of expertise include:

1. Leadership— Through servant leadership, I take ownership and drive activities from inception to completion by monitoring, providing oversight and mentorship. My aim is to ensure that the vision, mission and core values of the organization are put into practice in all aspects of day-to-day operations.

2. Development and Execution of Strategic Plan—I can work in partnership with teams to develop the strategic and operating plans. This includes development, deployment, monitoring progress, and course corrections as needed.

3. Business Acumen and Financial Soundness—I work to understand the drivers of the organization which enables the organization to make intelligent timely business decisions through analysis. I can employ sound fiscal controls by effectively managing the agency’s resources to ensure the financial health of the multi-million-dollar budgets I am responsible for managing.

4. Business Development—My business development expertise and out-of-the-box creativity has allowed me to recognize and evaluate growth opportunities well. My goal is to create opportunities for sustainable services rather than one-time initiatives.

5. Change Management – Using data and identifying gaps have enabled me to recognize the need for change. Therefore, I can strategically and effectively marshal the resources needed to gain the buy-in needed to execute change while helping all stakeholders (internal and external) understand, embrace and navigate the change(s).

6. Service Delivery and Operations—Innovative and efficient when it comes to the oversight and delivery of programs. This includes oversight and management of multi- disciplinary, integrated, two generation service delivery programming.

7. Fund Development—Have led donor identification and cultivation and written small/large size grants.

8. Stakeholder Relations—Responsible for creating and sustaining sound, open relationships with major stakeholders including private donors, city, state, federal contracts, community partners, and school districts.

9. Advocacy – Ensured we use our collective voice to raise awareness on the importance of ECE and demand that our policies align with the research and best practices to support underserved communities.

In my leadership roles I have very successfully maneuvered the delicate balance between dedication to mission, the need for bold entrepreneurial initiatives, and the application of sound business management practices. In this experience, I have created new and innovative programs, extending from inception of an idea, to developing and implementing the programs and providing the ongoing supportive structure. Having the opportunity to bring my unique perspectives, experiences and skill set to help fulfill NAEYC’s vision and mission, would be an honor. I am hopeful that you will find me to be a stellar candidate and a catalyst for change needed to execute the organization’s mission.

Read bio

Watch video

Topics: Professional Development, Professionalism, Leadership

NAEYC Governing Board

  • Board Service
    • Application/Nomination Process
    • Code of Ethics
    • Background Screening
    • Board Position Descriptions
  • Current Board Members
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn

Become a Member

Support our efforts to secure a bright future for young children, educators, and families.
Join or Renew

Support NAEYC

Donate to help NAEYC advance a strong and dynamic early childhood profession and connect educators to cutting-edge resources.
Make a Donation

Find Your Affiliate

Connect with professionals in your community at conferences, networking events, advocacy efforts, leadership opportunities and more!
Connect

Get updates from NAEYC

Get updates from NAEYC

Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube LinkedIn Pinterest

About

  • Mission & Strategic Direction
  • Our Work
  • People
  • Careers @NAEYC
  • Contact Us

Your Early Childhood Career

  • Early Childhood Career Center
  • For Faculty & Students
  • Advance your Career
  • Higher Ed Programs Directory
  • Professional Development
  • Power to the Profession

Resources and Favorites

  • Books
  • Young Children journal
  • Teaching Young Children magazine
  • For Families
  • Hello—online community
  • Shop
  • FAQs

Get Involved

  • Annual Conference
  • Professional Learning Institute
  • Public Policy Forum
  • Week of the Young Child
  • Interest Forums & Online Communities
  • Become an Accredited Center
  • Trainings and Webinars

Take Action

  • Volunteer
  • Advocate
  • Partner
  • Sponsor
  • Advertise

Membership

  • Benefits
  • Join or Renew
  • Membership Options
  • Families Membership
  • Contact Us
  • Support
  • FAQ

Site Name

© National Association for the Education of Young Children
1401 H Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005 | (202)232-8777 | (800)424-2460 | [email protected]
  • Home
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Policy
  • Blog
  • Careers at NAEYC
  • Support
  • Contact Us