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

April 28, 2025

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.

Head Start funding is under threat, putting families across the nation at risk.

Head Start helps children thrive as learners AND in life – boosting their chances of graduating high school, attending college, securing steady jobs and breaking the cycle of poverty. But if we don’t act now, federal funding could go to ZERO. Programs across the country won’t be able to pay their staff or keep their doors open.

ACT NOW

Victoria Zegler

Add Your Voice

Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) shows up and speaks out for kids. Help us fight to give every child a strong start in life.

899 North Capitol Street NE, Suite 900  Washington D.C. 20002
(800) 243-5075
supportercare@savechildren.org

Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) was created in 2014 as the political advocacy arm of Save the Children, to be the political voice for kids. We work to ensure that the issues critical to children’s lives and futures are given top priority by our elected leaders, building bipartisan support to make sure every child has a strong start in life.

899 North Capitol Street NE, Suite 900  Washington D.C. 20002
(800) 243-5075
supportercare@savechildren.org

Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) was created in 2014 as the political advocacy arm of Save the Children, to be the political voice for kids. We work to ensure that the issues critical to children’s lives and futures are given top priority by our elected leaders, building bipartisan support to make sure every child has a strong start in life.

Top