Fifteen months ago, Gabby Jauch relocated to Columbia to begin her career as a preschool teacher at the University of Missouri Child Development Lab (CDL). Although new to the role, Jauch has extensive experience in early childhood education.
While she is not a researcher, Jauch works closely with early childhood researchers and regularly interacts with parents and child care providers. This experience gives her valuable insights into the challenges faced by families and caregivers. So when the opportunity arose to apply for a fellowship with Kids Win Missouri, a statewide organization focused on child well-being advocacy, Jauch was eager to participate. The application was promoted through the MU Center for Excellence in Child Well-Being, and she was recently selected for the Year 3 cohort of the Early Care and Education Leader Fellowship, which began in 2022.
“I did some reading about Kids Win Missouri’s mission and the fellowship’s goals,” Jauch shared in a statement to the Tribune. “It was everything I had been searching for in advocating for early childhood education. I am so grateful to have a supportive supervisor and department, Human Development and Family Sciences, within the university to make this happen. I’ve already learned so much about advocating for early childhood education and can’t wait to continue growing my skills and stepping outside my comfort zone.”
The fellowship aims to raise awareness of the child care crisis and its long-term effects on child development, particularly among policymakers and lawmakers.
Jauch, who has worked in early childhood education across four states, understands the urgency of the situation. “I believe real change will only happen when the nation recognizes the value of early childhood education and invests in it,” she stated.
While she celebrates the increased funding for child care providers passed by lawmakers earlier this year, she also acknowledges the challenges in its implementation.
“I have heard stories from both providers and parents who rely on these payments,” she said. “Some early childhood education facilities that depended on the subsidies have filed for bankruptcy, taken out second mortgages, or closed their doors entirely.”
Due to payment backlogs, some child care providers have stopped accepting families receiving subsidies, forcing parents to seek alternative care options.
“I can’t imagine the mental burden that decision brings. I do not envy the administrators or individual home providers who must navigate this reality to keep their doors open,” Jauch reflected. “What was meant to be a supportive subsidy has, in some extreme cases, caused serious harm to those who needed it most. It’s unfortunate that the backlog has negatively affected those it was designed to help.”
When the new legislative session begins in January, Jauch will have opportunities to advocate for families and child care providers.
“I will focus on sharing my experiences as both an educator and parent to highlight the issues facing Missouri and the nation,” she explained. “Building relationships with legislators is crucial for advocating on behalf of parents and providers regarding the impact of new bills on early childhood education. Kids Win does an excellent job of supporting their fellows and empowering us to seek and advocate for change.”
Jauch aims to push for better communication with lawmakers to improve the backend system, allowing data to be accessed easily and streamlining the subsidy process.
Community Education and Support
While most of Jauch’s role focuses on state-level advocacy, she also aims to educate the community on the importance of early childhood education.
Recently, the CDL launched a new initiative called Project Construct, which uses a play-based approach to education that follows children’s interests. Jauch noted this method has led to fewer behavioral issues and significant improvements in educational development.
“I am an educator at heart and have already connected my work to the community in several ways,” Jauch said. “I reached out to my local library to discuss sharing the project work the teachers are doing at the CDL.”
Her role allows her to influence future educators, as multiple university courses require students to complete practicums and observations at the CDL. Witnessing early childhood education majors connect theory to practice in real classroom settings is one of Jauch’s favorite experiences.
“The brain develops rapidly during the first five years of life, starting in utero. As early childhood educators, we understand this and work to form connections in the brain,” she explained. “The skills taught during these early years foster children’s autonomy and self-confidence. Not only are we transforming the lives of these young children, but we are also contributing to the economy by enabling families to stay in the workforce.”
Many parents fear job loss if they cannot find alternative early childhood care.
“In many areas, there is a child care desert, with limited spots in early childhood education programs. When care is available, families often face the dilemma of choosing between work and staying home due to the high costs,” Jauch added. “There are numerous challenges in operating an early childhood care or education facility, not to mention the needs of the students.”
“As a parent, I empathize with the stress of finding quality child care and affording it,” she concluded.
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