We're more than just an educator. We're researchers, therapists, party planners and activists. We might say we are educators to our friends and family. But we’re not. We play so many different roles for young children which is why being in ECE is so fun. It’s why we are so proud. It’s why we never want to leave. In this episode, we chat about our personal growth in ECE. How we came to find our voice, our confidence working with children and adults. Ways we can develop our own teacher and professional identity and what systems can do to support us as we continue to thrive. 

Napcast is a podcast designed to help you learn on the go, hear another perspective, spark debate, agree incessantly, and honestly, remind you that you’re not alone. We live in a complex world, so allow us to challenge your orientation with words, thoughts, advice, and the perspective of two male early childhood educators of color.

The Hosts:

Nick Terrones (he/him) is an Educator at Hilltop Children’s Center where he has worked with toddlers for the last 10+ years implementing Anti-Bias Curriculum. He’s a Los Angeles raised Mexican-Native-American with a passion for equity, plants, the ukulele, and raising awareness to the need of a gender-balanced workshop in ECE.

Mike Browne (he/him) is the Community Engagement Manager for Hilltop Educator Institute. He’s a New York raised, Afro-Caribbean, former collegiate athlete, working towards dismantling White Supremacy and forms of oppression in our society.

Hilltop Children's Center is a reggio-inspired preschool, afterschool program, and professional development institute in Seattle, WA, on the traditional lands of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People.