Childcare Challenges: Dilemmas in Daycare

In this week’s episode Tashienna O’Connor sat down with Deon, a program assistant at an after school program in east Harlem. After school programs face some unique challenges, one of the main ones being that students who struggle with reading and maths often need to spend a lot of extra time catching up on academic work and doing homework, and not being able to do the other activities which includ...

This episode Tashieanna was joined by Ramon Spencer, who has worked in Youth and Community Development for over 16 years. They discuss the differences between youth programs available in New York and other states, New York's relatively decent funding not being appropriately allocated, and problems caused by after school care being an extension of the school environment and curriculum. Kids and...

In this week’s episode host Tashieanna O’Connor sat down with Ishmael Jackson, a former Teacher’s Assistant from the Bronx in New York who now works in a correctional facility for juvenile offenders in Michigan. Ishmael’s experience in under resourced special needs classes in the Bronx contrast quite a lot with his experiences since getting to Michigan where even schools have more resources, and y...

On this week’s episode of “Childcare Challenges: Dilemmas in Daycare” your host Tashieanna was joined by 3 dynamic guests. Tina Butz, Denise Cressman and Ethel Bergen are long time carers from Pennsylvania who have seen massive changes in the field. Starting out in the 90s and going through funding cuts, economic downturns, covid and increased administrative burdens and the consequences of these o...

On this week’s episode of “Childcare Challenges: Dilemmas in Daycare” your host Tashieanna sat down on a call with Alan Troy, a former education worker who left the field in 2020. Alan was a school aid worker who started out in the lunch room and moved on to other roles, many not strictly part of his job, and Alan’s perspective of the education field, and what drove him out are very valuable. His...

In this episode of Childcare Challenges: Dilemmas in daycare your host Tashieanna O’Connor got on a call with Jennifer Heywood, a recently retired teacher with 30 years of experience in New York’s educational system. In this fascinating and free ranging conversation they discuss pay-parity for teachers, what it was like during lockdowns and how the burdens of paperwork and admin prevent teachers f...

In this episode your host Tashieanna O’Connor is talking to Mr X, a teacher’s assistant from the Bronx in New York City. Mr X has been in the field for a decade and his passion and commitment is inspiring, so listen in and learn what he believes are critical challenges for childcare and education and how they can be overcome. He has a strong focus on parental engagement and believes that spending...

This episode your host Tashieanna O’Connor sat down with Romario Falconer, who has recently started as a teacher at a childcare center in New York. Romario has fascinating perspectives on the industry and the conversation covers a ton of topics, including his methods for engaging with families to include them in their child’s curriculum, including fun family events and the challenges involved in g...

In this episode your host Tashieanna O’Connor sat down for a conversation with Tone Dorsey, an inspiring young social worker specializing in getting foster kids into, and through, a college education. He shares about challenges from lack of funding for the various programs and difficulties getting students with difficult backgrounds and issues like food insecurity to focus on their educations, des...

In this episode Tasheianna O’Conner sat down for a fascinating chat with Eva Bermúdez Zimmerman of Childcare for Connecticut’s Future. In the frank, sometimes sad, but also positive discussion they covered the importance of early education and childcare on children, families and even the economy, as money spent on early education has huge financial benefit later in life as children grow into adult...

In this episode, your host and Childcare Professional Tashieanna sat down with Jessica. Jessica has had children in Tashieanna’s care and has been open about her struggles as a working mom. And the struggles are real despite the fact they are a two-parent home with two incomes. Tune in and learn about the struggles that people face even when they may seem fortunate as financial and social challeng...

Have you ever wondered about what it’s like to run an in-home daycare? In this episode Tashieanna tells her story. Starting from her experiences as a mom looking for care for her own children, to the challenges of moving from New York to Connecticut. From starting a daycare in the early 2000s and the many positive steps taken in the years since to make child care a more sustainable career thanks t...

In this episode Tashieanna sat down for a glass of wine and a session of truth telling with one of her clients, Aaliyah. Aaliyah is a parent of twins, a single mom and has experience with Childcare Centers and At Home Childcare services so has a depth of knowledge and insight into the impact of childcare costs on families, and the strain that financial struggles place on childcare services. Sit do...

Join us as we delve into the pressing issues facing early educators and daycare services today. "Childcare Challenges: Dilemmas in Daycare" explores the myriad struggles that educators encounter, from low pay and inadequate health care to uncertain retirement and collecting payment. Rising costs, limited openings, and an overtaxed industry are pushing families to seek alternative childcare...