Community Voices - July 13, 2026

Leadership is often described as something we do in formal roles: directing a program, supervising a team, chairing a meeting, solving a budget problem, or guiding an organization through change. Those responsibilities matter, of course. But the longer I work with early childhood leaders, the more convinced I am that leadership is not something we put on when we arrive at work.

We are the same person as leaders that we are in the rest of our lives—with children, spouses, friends, colleagues, families, and communities. The setting changes, but our way of being travels with us.

Do we listen before we respond?
Do we notice what is already strong?
Do we make room for someone else’s idea?
Do we help possibility become practical?
Do we offer courage when someone is not sure they have enough?

These are leadership questions, but they are also life questions.

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I am the director of Interlaken Preschool, a small, one-classroom schoolhouse in Seattle, Washington. Our vision is to be a place for community connections, where relationships are at the heart of everything we do. It is a magical place that has become my second home. Over the years, I have seen our community face many things, and no matter what hardships we encounter, it seems somehow, our community comes together to support one another. We believe that children are born with an innate desire to care for one another, and we are a community that helps to bolster this character trait. This story is about our how our community cares and shares love for one another.

Family events in our program always feel very special. I find myself standing in front of a group of people saying how this event or that event is my favorite, but in the end, I realize that it is only my favorite until the next time we come together. Family events can be a lot of work, but I enjoy every part! We have room parents who are amazing planners who like to organize and get volunteers in place. Our advisory board focuses on fundraising but is very involved and supportive of most of our events. Every step of the way, leading up to an event, is a chance to connect with the families and share perspective. We use these an opportunities to think together about the experiences we want for the children and the families in our program.

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To fully help you understand that moment, I must explain my past. After that, I will share where I currently am now and my plans for the future.

When people learn that I run a Reggio Emilia-inspired childcare with a strong nature focus, they often envision that I had a childhood spent in the woods, embarking on daily adventures and skipping rocks in the creek. Similarly, when they hear about my gardening and nutrition goals for the children in my care, they picture me growing up with hands-on gardening experiences. However, both images are quite far from reality.

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