CAEYC

Overview

Every young child in Colorado will have access to high quality early care and education. CAEYC Leading the Way

Mission and Goals

CAEYC, a professional membership organization, serves and acts on behalf of early childhood educators through advocacy, leadership and professional development.

  • To promote high quality developmentally appropriate, accessible early childhood care and educational services for Colorado children from birth to age eight
  • To offer professional development opportunities to early childhood educators.
  • To advocate for improved compensation, working conditions, and recognition for individuals in the early childhood profession.
  • To educate and influence policymakers, elected officials and the public at large to achieve the mission and goals of CAEYC.
  • To cooperate with local, state, and national organizations and agencies working with and for young children.

Value Statements

CHILDREN: Early years are the foundation for life. Each child is unique and has individual special needs and learning communities. All children have an equal opportunity to a safe, nurturing, healthful, learning environment.

FAMILY: Parents are their children’s first teachers. The uniqueness and diversity of each family is honored. Professionals partner with families in promoting growth and development of children.

STAFF AND PROGRAM: Staff development opportunities are accessible to all professionals. Early childhood professionals are appropriately compensated for their valuable work.

COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY: Communities and systems support, value and respond to the needs of young children and their families.

History

In the summer of 1967, some 15 individuals interested in preschool children got together to discuss the need for a statewide professional organization concerned with the education and welfare of young children. The possibility of forming an affiliate group of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) was presented. The group decided to think about this, to talk with others and to look into requirements for becoming an Affiliate. A date was set in October when the discussion could continue, with additional people invited to attend.

At the October meeting it was discovered that 10 or so people would be attending the November National Conference of NAEYC in Chicago. The Colorado delegates met in Chicago to make plans for a statewide meeting to be held in Boulder on the first Saturday in December.

Child care centers, colleges, and interested people from across the state were notified of the meeting. Over 100 people attended. Following a panel presentation of highlights of the NAEYC Conference, a proposal was introduced to organize an Affiliate. Not only was this approved overwhelmingly, but plans were formulated on that day to fulfill national affiliate requirements.

On the second Saturday in January 1968, in spite of a terrible Colorado snow storm, 21 determined people met, wrote a beginning set of bylaws and elected officers. Thus Colorado AEYC was on its way!

Colorado AEYC is the only affiliate of NAEYC with a few local chapters scattered around the state.  In 1991, the organization voted to restructure and form local groups under the state affiliate with formal policies and procedures.  Currently there are 15 State Chapters called District Groups under the state affiliate.

Past Presidents

2009-2011 Laura Presley-Reynolds
2007-09 Linda Meredith
2005-07 Deanna Zerr
2003-2005 Shirley Ritter
2001-03 Debra Lawrence
1999-2001 Tami Havener
1997-99 Janet Humphryes
1995-97 Liz Grams
1993-95 Muffy Stright
1991-93 Dona Kelley
1989-91 Debby Jump
1987-89 Carol Piernot
1986-87 Linda Sondalle
1985-86 Linda Adams
1984-85 Judy Cattell
1983-84 Donna Chitwood
1982-83 Susan Martin
1981-82 Sandra Panetta
1980-81 Ruth Andrade
1979-80 Carolyn Topping
1978-79 Pat Baker
1977-78 Avis Jorgenson
1976-77 Bobbie Counihan
1975-76 Alicita Hamilton
1974-75 Carol Carper
1973-74 Marcia Oreskovich
1972-73 Jackie Yamahiro
1972 Judith Kuipers
1971-72 Norma Heimgartner
1970-71 Bruce Gardner
1969-70 Gerald Brudnell
1968-69 Joan Smith