Dr Marquita Davis On 5 Things You Need to Know to Be a Highly Effective Educator or Teacher
An Interview With Jake Frankel
Don’t be afraid of promoting individual learning paths. It’s pivotal to take the time to understand the unique learning needs of every child — children will show remarkably more engagement when they have materials surrounding them that reflect their interests and cultural backgrounds.
As a part of our interview series about “5 Things You Need to Know to Be a Highly Effective Educator”, I had the pleasure to interview Dr. Marquita Davis.
Dr. Marquita Davis, Ph.D., is KinderCare’s Chief Academic Officer, overseeing the development of KinderCare’s high-quality educational programs, educator professional development, quality and accreditation initiatives, research and evaluation, inclusion services, and public policy.
Marquita has more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education, non-profit leadership, government and philanthropy, including nearly six years as deputy director of Early Learning at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she led the foundation’s multi-state early learning strategy which aims to ensure all young children have access to high-quality, effective and affordable preschool.
Prior to her work at the foundation, Marquita was the executive director of a large non-profit agency. At this same agency, she previously served as deputy director of child development services overseeing several early childhood federal programs, including Head Start, Early Head and Child Care Partnerships. Appointed by two governors, Marquita also served as the director of finance for the State of Alabama, commissioner for the Alabama Department of Children’s Affairs, and Pre-K director for the state of Alabama.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share the “backstory” behind what brought you to this particular career path?
I was drawn to this field because of my belief in serving and supporting young children and their families. Although my mother was an early childhood educator, I didn’t initially choose this path. What we say is the field often chooses you, and indeed it did choose me. My career in educational leadership began in non-profit roles, particularly managing federal programs like Head Start and state Pre-K. My experience in public service expanded when I became the commissioner for the Alabama Department of Children’s Affairs and later the director of finance for Alabama. These roles deepened my understanding of how public policy shapes effective education and public systems.
I later served as deputy director of Early Learning at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where I led initiatives to enhance preschool education across several states, emphasizing the importance of scalable, quality education programs. Joining KinderCare as Chief Academic Officer was a natural step forward, allowing me to leverage my experiences in both the public and private sectors to develop educational programs that are inclusive and outstanding. At KinderCare, my focus is on empowering educators, engaging families, and inspiring children, continuing my lifelong commitment to education as a powerful agent of change.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your teaching career? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I will start with the end in mind…. I have learned that parents are their child’s first teacher, and my responsibility is to engage them in the educational experiences of their child. They learn from me, and I learn from them; it is a partnership. Once in my career, I had a contentious conversation with a parent about their child. What I didn’t know was the parent was exhausted, working long hours, providing care for two small children by herself, and struggling just to show up. Wow! You will be much more successful if you listen and partner with the parents.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?
KinderCare is invested in the expansion of affordable and high-quality education nationwide, continuing to grow its position as a leader in early childhood education and quality care. Like the needs of the families we serve, our business is ever evolving, and we plan to roll out new offerings and programs for families of all demographics that continue to meet and surpass their needs.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the main focus of our interview. From your point of view, how would you rate the results of the US education system?
I think there are both strengths and places where improvement is needed when it comes to the state of education in America. I have personally seen progress throughout my career towards increased accessibility and expansion of early learning programs. I also know that there are still many people who can’t afford these programs, even as they become more accessible. It’s going to require a concerted effort from all of us — private providers, nonprofits, employers, and policymakers — to evolve our current programs into ones that serve all families, regardless of where they are and what their income level is.
Can you identify the 5 key areas of the US education system that should be prioritized for improvement? Can you explain why those are so critical?
The five key areas where we could improve our early childhood education system in the U.S. are child care affordability, workplace child care solutions, diversity and inclusion in early education, educational access, and government and legislative support for education.
The cost of child care is a large barrier for many families and one that disproportionately impacts middle and low-income households. In KinderCare’s recent Parent Confidence Index, we learned that 65% percent of parents believe the government should offset the cost of child care. We also learned that employer-sponsored child care benefits can help improve parent productivity and mental health.
Diversity and inclusion in classrooms helps promote empathy, self-awareness and empowerment for students in a world where social isolation is more common than ever before. Before-and-after school programs only expand opportunities for the benefits of increased diversity in classrooms to come to fruition.
It is vital to improve access to quality after-school programs — like KinderCare’s Champions program — which provide educational and engaging activities in a safe environment.
Lastly, government and legislative support of education reform needs to be improved; we need more things like the Child Care for American Families Act that supports families while encouraging employers to invest in child care.
Can you please share your “5 Things You Need To Know To Be A Highly Effective Educator?”
Highly effective educators must always keep their focus on fostering an environment that is conducive to learning and growth for every student. At KinderCare, our curriculum is a unique blend of research and individualized child care practices. Based on our educational excellence at KinderCare and my personal experience, the five things I think all highly effective educators should know are:
- Don’t be afraid of promoting individual learning paths. It’s pivotal to take the time to understand the unique learning needs of every child — children will show remarkably more engagement when they have materials surrounding them that reflect their interests and cultural backgrounds.
- Building confidence is about understanding. All children are building confidence and forming an identity. As educators, we can make this process smooth and positive by making sure we’re attuned to the diverse cultural, familial and personal contexts of our students. This creates an environment that encourages children to feel comfortable embracing their uniqueness without fear of being misunderstood or judged.
- Embrace collaborations with families. You are a team and engaging with each other ensures families are informed of their children’s progress and are aware of how they can support learning at home. At the same time, educators can stay apprised of any family or home dynamics that may impact a child’s learning in the classroom.
- Empathy is key, especially true for children with unique needs, and educational institutions should take advantage of any onsite resources for educators looking to support these students. At KinderCare, our Inclusion Services team supports educators in understanding and addressing the individual challenges children might face, which enhances their ability to respond with empathy.
- Commit to professional development and growth opportunities. This is key to maintaining educational excellence and is something educators should have the opportunity to participate in regularly. These opportunities enable educators to stay up to date and informed about the latest educational research so they in turn can always provide the highest-level education for all students.
As you know, teachers play such a huge role in shaping young lives. What would you suggest needs to be done to attract top talent to the education field?
Offering valuable professional development opportunities, employing innovative recruitment strategies and providing supportive working environments are key elements for attracting top talent in the education field. These things will attract individuals who are committed to growth and educational excellence in the field, and who are genuinely invested in the work they’re doing.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“If you are afraid, just close your eyes and jump; you will come up for air.” There will be so many times in your life as a leader that you will want to move on to an idea, and you will miss out because you are afraid. If you can push past fear and allow yourself to be vulnerable you will see those opportunities in front of you for growth. Failure isn’t defeat, but no moving in the direction you are called to is defeat…. defeat of your mind and spirit.
We are blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them 😊
Melinda French Gates
How can our readers follow you on social media?
Marquita LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marquita-davis-ph-d-bb623171/
Thank you so much for these insights! This was so inspiring!
