I dreamed of making New Mexico a beacon for early childhood education

Story: Nina Quintana, SCAN State Manager, New Mexico

New Mexico (April 28, 2025)

I spent a decade working directly with families as an early childhood educator. Throughout those 10 years, I saw firsthand how child care impacts kids’ development and ensures caregivers can go to work without worrying about their children’s well-being. 

It didn’t take long for me to realize how hard it is to live on an early educator’s salary, though. Every teacher should make a dignified wage for the amazing work they do, and every family should be able to afford high-quality early learning programs. Because every child deserves to be cared for.  

That’s why I started volunteering with SCAN. Still teaching at the time, I dreamed of making New Mexico a beacon for early childhood education. Now, I have the privilege of working for this incredible organization and pursuing the goal I set so long ago. 

But Head Start is in trouble – and if we don’t step up to protect it, working families will lose their access to child care. There’s so much work left to do, but together, I know we can secure a brighter future for generations of children.