A FUTURE VISION
Improving early childhood education in Wyoming UW Associate Lecturer and Early Childhood Outreach Network Director Nikki Baldwin works with a young child named Carter Carlisle.
By Jason Harper
University of Wyoming Senior Lecturer and Wyoming Early Childhood Outreach Network (WYECON) Director Nikki Baldwin is a passionate advocate for early childhood education. She not only inspires future educators in her role at UW, but has also worked tirelessly to help lay the foundation for an improved early childhood education infrastructure in Wyoming. 14 • Education@UWYO 2020 Edition
“Families, young children and early childhood educators in Wyoming have experienced the negative impacts of a lack of funding and disconnected or nonexistent systems of support for too long,” says Baldwin. “Research has long recognized how vital early experiences are in shaping children’s lives, and now leaders in Wyoming acknowledge that we must create a new vision for
supporting our youngest children, their families and those who care for and educate them.” Student achievement is closely linked to the knowledge and skills of their teachers. Baldwin’s aim is to improve the knowledge and abilities of future and current early childhood professionals throughout the state, so their students might experience greater
