{"id":6118,"date":"2024-10-22T11:03:51","date_gmt":"2024-10-22T19:03:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.threadalaska.org\/learn-and-grow\/blog\/reflecting-on-impact-alaska-seed-roots-2021-2022-report"},"modified":"2024-12-12T09:50:09","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T18:50:09","slug":"reflecting-on-impact-alaska-seed-roots-2021-2022-report","status":"publish","type":"learn-and-grow-blog","link":"https:\/\/www.threadalaska.org\/learn-and-grow\/blog\/reflecting-on-impact-alaska-seed-roots-2021-2022-report","title":{"rendered":"Reflecting on Impact: Alaska SEED ROOTS 2021-2022 Report"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the dynamic landscape of early childhood education, acknowledging and supporting the pivotal role of early childhood professionals is paramount. The Alaska SEED Retaining Our Outstanding Teachers (ROOTS) Awards, spanning the years 2021 to 2022, stood as a beacon of recognition and support during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we delve into the insights gleaned from the evaluation of these awards, it becomes evident that they have not only met their intended objectives but have also paved the way for greater advocacy and enhancement within the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEarly childhood educators aren\u2019t compensated adequately in comparison to other educators in the field of education and social services. The ROOTS Award helped to provide more equitable wages in 2022.\u201d \u2013 2022 ROOTS Award recipient<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evaluation and Insights<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Collaborating with the Stellar Group, thread<\/strong>, and Alaska SEED embarked on a journey to assess the effectiveness of the ROOTS Awards. These awards, with amounts varying from $500 in 2021 to $3,000 in 2022 aimed to address several critical aspects within the realm of early childhood education:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Retention and Compensation: The primary goal was to decrease turnover rates among early childhood professionals while simultaneously increasing their compensation without burdening parents with additional costs.
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  2. Educational Advancement: Encouraging and facilitating higher education among educators to enhance their skills and qualifications.
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  3. Competitive Compensation: Ensuring that the compensation offered through the awards remains competitive in the broader marketplace.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cThis was an amazing impactful award. It was felt by every single person, and I really hope it continues.\u201d – Alaska SEED ROOTS Award recipient.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    In the report, financial stress emerged as a significant concern among early childhood educators, particularly regarding basic living expenses. A staggering 71% expressed worry about credit card bills, followed closely by 69% who fretted over rent or mortgage payments, and 66% who were concerned about food costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Despite the challenges, there remains a strong interest in remaining in early childhood education. However, the issue of low compensation, coupled with inadequate access to benefits, stands out as a persistent barrier. Alongside financial concerns, various workplace stressors contribute to the overall strain felt by educators in this field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Interestingly, regardless of whether they received recognition or not, early childhood educators unanimously expressed their enjoyment of their profession. Moreover, a striking three in four respondents (75%) view early childhood or school-age education as a viable long-term career path. This sentiment extends across experience levels, with 44% of those in the field for less than a year and 52% of those with 1-2 years of experience expressing a commitment to the profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The evaluation surfaced invaluable themes and recommendations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n