Adella Arredondo

Summary

Adela Arondo, a third-year doctoral student and Executive Director of Family and Community Engagement at Denver Public Schools, shares her journey from early childhood education to leadership. Starting as an administrative assistant in the Head Start program, she reflects on the importance of family engagement and early childhood experiences in shaping students' success. Adela emphasizes the need to elevate the early childhood field, advocating for better workforce compensation, and culturally responsive practices to meet the evolving needs of families. Her advice for newcomers is to stay curious, reflect on passions, and pursue roles that align with their strengths.

Takeaways

• 😀 Adela Arondo is a third-year doctoral student and executive director of family and community engagement at Denver Public Schools.
• 😀 Family engagement is crucial for the well-being and success of students across all ages.
• 😀 Adela's career in early childhood education began as an administrative assistant for the Head Start program, influenced by her own experiences as a participant.
• 😀 The Head Start program aims to bridge the educational gap for children from underprivileged backgrounds.
• 😀 Lifelong learning and curiosity have been central to Adela's professional development and advocacy work.
• 😀 Understanding family concerns and providing resources is a vital part of supporting early childhood education.
• 😀 Adela emphasizes the need to address systemic issues affecting early childhood, such as workforce shortages and pay disparities.
• 😀 She believes in the importance of aligning early childhood education's value and funding to ensure accessibility and quality.
• 😀 The landscape of early childhood education is changing, requiring adaptation to the needs of new generations of parents.
• 😀 Adela encourages newcomers to the field to stay curious, reflect on their passions, and seek careers that align with their strengths.

Q & A

What is Adela Arondo's current role?

Adela Arondo is the executive director of family and community engagement for Denver Public Schools and a third-year doctoral student at the University of Colorado Denver.

How does Adela define family engagement?

Adela defines family engagement as critical to students' well-being and success across all stages of life, emphasizing the importance of including family perspectives in district decisions.

What was Adela's first job in early childhood education?

Adela started her career as an administrative assistant for the Denver Great Kids Head Start program shortly after graduating high school.

What personal experiences influenced Adela's passion for early childhood education?

Adela's own experiences as a Head Start participant and being the daughter of immigrant parents shaped her understanding of the importance of early childhood education and family involvement.

What did Adela learn during her time as an administrative assistant?

As an administrative assistant, Adela learned about the Head Start model, observed leadership, and became passionate about family services through her interactions with families.

How has Adela's career progressed within early childhood education?

Adela progressed from administrative assistant to office manager, then to director of family services, and finally to her current role as executive director of family and community engagement.

What challenges does Adela identify in the field of early childhood education?

Adela highlights workforce shortages, pay differentials, and the need for culturally responsive practices as significant challenges in early childhood education.

What are Adela's hopes for the future of early childhood education?

Adela hopes to elevate the field to ensure it is accessible to all families and that early childhood professionals are fairly compensated for their critical work.

What piece of advice does Adela give to newcomers in early childhood education?

Adela advises newcomers to stay curious and reflect on their passions, which will help them find fulfilling career paths within the field.

How does Adela relate the value of early childhood education to broader community issues?

Adela connects early childhood education to workforce challenges and community support, advocating for a holistic view that considers the systemic factors affecting children's education.