Working with young children brings you a new perspective on life. How to be more childlike, how to find your joy, how to live life to the fullest. But does it transfer to adults who leave the sector? In this episode we catch up with Hisham, a former male educator of color (toddler educator) on why he left, what ECE taught him, and some of the transferable skills he has taken from ECE to his new field. 

Nick Terrones (he/him) is a former educator at Hilltop Children's Center and Educator Institute where he has worked with toddlers for the last 10+ years implementing Anti-Bias Curriculum. He now serves as the director of Daybreak Star Preschool at United Indians of All Tribes in Seattle, WA. 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 workforce in ECE.

Mike Browne (he/him) is the Senior Community Engagement Manager for Hilltop Children's Center and 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 and Educator Institute is a reggio-inspired preschool, afterschool program, and equity-focused professional development institute in Seattle, WA, on the traditional lands of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People.

A Knee. A knee can either be used to take a life away or can be used for justice. This week, we were reminded of both. In this special recording, in the wake of the guilt verdict of Derek Chauvin, Nick and Mike provide listeners with some concrete ways that they can introduce this topic into their classroom today. In this hour long Napcast, they share their feelings, their thoughts, and their pure exhaustion from the last 24 hours. Join them as they discusses ways you can chat with children about policing, racism, kneeling, and the significance of this moment. Explicit Language Inside. 

Nick Terrones (he/him) is a former educator at Hilltop Children's Center and Educator Institute where he has worked with toddlers for the last 10+ years implementing Anti-Bias Curriculum. He now serves as the director of Daybreak Star Preschool at United Indians of All Tribes in Seattle, WA. 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 workforce in ECE.

Mike Browne (he/him) is the Senior Community Engagement Manager for Hilltop Children's Center and 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 and Educator Institute is a reggio-inspired preschool, afterschool program, and equity-focused professional development institute in Seattle, WA, on the traditional lands of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People.

With an increased pressure on demonstrating school readiness in standardized, deficit-oriented, checklist models, and time-consuming ways, educators in the USA are often challenged in making authentic connections to marginalized children and caregivers. Educators in the USA are often forced to silence the voices of families in the process. Most assessments for educators in the USA takes the joy out of sharing children's learning and success. Learning Stories, on the contrary, provides an opportunity to do away with all of that. This narrative, formative, strength-based approach towards assessment has the ability to deepen learning that leads to transformational change. In this Napcast, we sit down with Karen Virta from the American School in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to discuss how Learning Stories can connect and engage caregivers. How it can strengthen educators' observation and writing skills. And most importantly, how it can support children in establishing their identity, cultural humility, and sense of belonging in this world. 

Nick Terrones (he/him) is a former educator at Hilltop Children's Center and Educator Institute where he has worked with toddlers for the last 10+ years implementing Anti-Bias Curriculum. He now serves as the director of Daybreak Star Preschool at United Indians of All Tribes in Seattle, WA. 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 workforce in ECE.

Mike Browne (he/him) is the Senior Community Engagement Manager for Hilltop Children's Center and 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 and Educator Institute is a reggio-inspired preschool, afterschool program, and equity-focused professional development institute in Seattle, WA, on the traditional lands of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People.

Nick and Mike are emotional dudes. We cry. We are tender. We are joyful. We get hangry. Despite wearing our emotions on our sleeve, it still takes some intentionality on our part. Intentionality with our actions, words and activities in order to support  young children’s ability to identify emotions, to increase their vocab, to think beyond emotional stereotypes, and ultimately to be confident in expressing themselves.

Nick Terrones (he/him) is a former educator at Hilltop Children's Center and Educator Institute where he has worked with toddlers for the last 10+ years implementing Anti-Bias Curriculum. He now serves as the director of Daybreak Star Preschool at United Indians of All Tribes in Seattle, WA. 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 workforce in ECE.

Mike Browne (he/him) is the Senior Community Engagement Manager for Hilltop Children's Center and 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 and Educator Institute is a reggio-inspired preschool, afterschool program, and equity-focused professional development institute in Seattle, WA, on the traditional lands of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People.

Childcare doesn’t just consist of educators. They include home attendants who provide support to children with dis/abilities, house cleaners who are keeping our houses and programs safe and clean, nannies and all the other essential workers. Today with Stacy Kono, we shine a light on the forgotten part of our industry and what we can do to support and uplift them. Please note, this episode was recorded in December 2020. 

Nick Terrones (he/him) is a former educator at Hilltop Children's Center and Educator Institute where he has worked with toddlers for the last 10+ years implementing Anti-Bias Curriculum. He now serves as the director of Daybreak Star Preschool at United Indians of All Tribes in Seattle, WA. 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 workforce in ECE.

Mike Browne (he/him) is the Senior Community Engagement Manager for Hilltop Children's Center and 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 and Educator Institute is a reggio-inspired preschool, afterschool program, and equity-focused professional development institute in Seattle, WA, on the traditional lands of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People.

Returning for Part 2 of 2, we resume our chat with Ciera, Director of DEI at the Bertschi School. In this episode we ask, what is it like being a Black woman in white spaces? How can we take these social movements and turn it into actual change? What does our institutions and organizations needs to do and consider first before engaging with communities of color? If you haven't listened to part 1, go back and listen! Join us for more Black Woman Wisdom.

Nick Terrones (he/him) is a former educator at Hilltop Children's Center and Educator Institute where he has worked with toddlers for the last 10+ years implementing Anti-Bias Curriculum. He now serves as the director of Daybreak Star Preschool at United Indians of All Tribes in Seattle, WA. 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 workforce in ECE.

Mike Browne (he/him) is the Senior Community Engagement Manager for Hilltop Children's Center and 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 and Educator Institute is a reggio-inspired preschool, afterschool program, and equity-focused professional development institute in Seattle, WA, on the traditional lands of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People.

“Every place in America will represent a corner of hell for a Black woman.” In this Napcast, we chat with Ciera, Director of DEI at The Bertschi School on ways we can Institutionalize our Anti-Racism work. Dropping knowledge and wisdom on how White Supremacy lives and ways we can combat it, we reflect on what it takes to be liberated. Join us for part 1 or 2 where we reflect much more deeply on this historic opportunity to finally pursue real and lasting change. Explicit Language Inside: Parental Advisory

Nick Terrones (he/him) is a former educator at Hilltop Children’s Center where he has worked with toddlers for the last 10+ years implementing Anti-Bias Curriculum. He now serves as the director of Daybreak Star Preschool at United Indians of All Tribes in Seattle, WA. 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 workforce in ECE.

Mike Browne (he/him) is the Senior 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 equity-focused professional development institute in Seattle, WA, on the traditional lands of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People.

In this episode, we are joined once again by Amir Gilmore (he/him), Assistant Professor in Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education at Washington State University, who also joined us on Napcast Special Episode #1 titled "Is America Anti-Black?" In the aftermath of the insurrection on the United States of America's capitol building, we gather to discuss the insurrection and how we can approach this topic with young children. Join us as we talk about politics, democracy, white supremacy and more through the eyes of three male educators of color. #BlackLivesMatter. Explicit Language Inside: Parental Advisory

Nick Terrones (he/him) is a former educator at Hilltop Children’s Center where he has worked with toddlers for the last 10+ years implementing Anti-Bias Curriculum. He now serves as the director of Daybreak Star Preschool at United Indians of All Tribes in Seattle, WA. 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 workforce in ECE.

Mike Browne (he/him) is the Senior 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 equity-focused professional development institute in Seattle, WA, on the traditional lands of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People.

Language isn't something we often think about and because we don't think about it, we often take it for granted. And when we take it for granted, we aren't cognizant of the ways it can be used as an instrument of oppression. In this episode, we examine our language, the power of language, and how this world can be represented in an unlimited number of ways. This live session of Napcast, delivered at the 2020 virtual WAEYC conference, we chat with early learning professionals across the state on ways we have weaponized language to suppress culture, identity, and souls. 

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 a former educator at Hilltop Children’s Center where he has worked with toddlers for the last 10+ years implementing Anti-Bias Curriculum. He now serves as the director of Daybreak Star Preschool at United Indians of All Tribes in Seattle, WA. 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 workforce in ECE.

Mike Browne (he/him) is the Senior 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 equity-focused professional development institute in Seattle, WA, on the traditional lands of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People.

Am I Black enough? How do I claim my Native heritage? Am I Latinx worthy? These are the questions many bi and multi-cultural children ask themselves. Returning for Part 2 of 2, we continue our conversation with Miriam (she/her), an Afro-Indigenous early learning professional in Seattle, WA. In this episode we take an even deeper look at connection, identities, the language of colonization and what we can do to support the Native community. To hear part 1 of our conversation, go back to Episode 13. 

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.

To support Napcast, please visit our homepage at: https://anchor.fm/hilltopcc or email us at [email protected]

The Hosts:

Nick Terrones (he/him) is a former educator at Hilltop Children’s Center where he has worked with toddlers for the last 10+ years implementing Anti-Bias Curriculum. He now serves as the director of Daybreak Star Preschool at United Indians of All Tribes in Seattle, WA. 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 workforce in ECE.

Mike Browne (he/him) is the Senior 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 equity-focused professional development institute in Seattle, WA, on the traditional lands of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People.