Shaneil “PJ” Yarbrough

Q: What is your favorite part of your position?

A: When I started as an early educator, every day brought about new developments, funny moments, and sometimes, unexpected challenges. That’s one of the many rewarding aspects of being an educator: it teaches you to embrace the unexpected parts of life and accept the things you have no control over. I enjoy helping other early educators realize that working with children can teach us just as much as we can teach them.

 

Q: What motivates you to achieve success in your career? 

A: I entered a Head Start classroom at age three. Over forty years later, school is still my favorite place! The safety, security, structure, and success I experienced while attending school are gifts that I want to make available to all children.

 

Q: Describe a challenge you've overcome in your career.

A: Early in my career, I faced racial discrimination which included harassment, insults, and being treated unfairly. Standing up for myself and having hard conversations with supervisors and colleagues helped me to overcome racial tensions in my career.

 

Q: What led you to your career path?

A: The impact that educators had on me made my decision to be a teacher one that I made at age 9.

 

Q: What has been a defining moment in your career?

A: There have been many, however, one was my first position which required me to teach teachers (adult learners) instead of children. I had never imagined teaching as anything outside of an elementary classroom. That position and the ones that followed have extended my reach as a teacher greatly as educators leave my classroom to return to their students.

 

Q: What opportunities for growth do you think women have in your field?

A: I think as educators, we must commit to being lifelong learners. There are always new skills, concepts, practices, and processes to equip us to be better. While we are learning and applying these things, I would love to see early educators especially be properly compensated for their knowledge and expertise!

A: So many people have influenced my career. Mrs. Hunter, my fourth-grade teacher, showed me what was possible as she was my first black teacher. Mr. Bishop, my sixth-grade teacher (the first male), showed me kindness and visited me while I was in the hospital. High school was filled with parent-like role models who were much more than teachers (Mrs. Coston, Miss Jackson, and Mr. Wright). In college, Mrs. Sutton was a motivating mentor and helped me to discover my passion. After becoming a teacher, across the hall was Mrs. McDaniel, the epitome of an educator who beamed with excitement every day. Finally, then the Assistant Executive Director of a preschool agency, Mrs. White, approached me and challenged me to develop a proposal to speak on the national level. It was accepted and I have been presenting for fifteen years.

A: 99% of the early care and education workforce are women. With that in mind, we must support, respect, and build up one another. If that means providing or asking for help, we must see ourselves in everyone who has accepted the calling (and hard work) of shaping and molding the lives of children. Each of us is valuable and deserves to be treated – and compensated – as such. Then it will be even more of a joy to love what we do and do what we love; positively impact the lives of young children!