Elon's Greatest Invention... Hidden in South Memphis?

Tech legend Jeff Brown recently traveled to the industrial zone of South Memphis to investigate what he believes will be Elon's greatest invention ever... Yes, even bigger than Tesla or SpaceX.

One way to appreciate teachers: These schools provide their day care

CARLY FLANDRO of Idaho Education News and VALERIA OLIVARES of The Dallas Morning News
May 07, 2024

NAMPA, Idaho (AP) -- When Christina Zimmerman returned to teaching last year after maternity leave, she grappled with postpartum depression that she says could have led to quitting her job.

But her school's onsite day care made all the difference, as she knew her daughter was just a few classrooms away.

"I can be mom and teacher in the same breath," said Zimmerman, who teaches fourth grade at Endeavor Elementary in Nampa, Idaho. "I've dreamed of teaching since second grade. Truthfully, it's all I've wanted to do, but I also want to be there for my child."

In states such as Idaho and Texas, where funding for early childhood education is limited, some schools are spearheading initiatives to provide quality, affordable child care. It's a teacher retention tool as much as it is a way to ensure youngsters are prepared when they enter kindergarten.

Some districts are transforming donated spaces -- a former recycling center or house -- into day cares for staff and, in some cases, for first responders in the area as well. Others are incorporating child care on their campuses.

The schools hope parenting teachers don't have to choose between career and motherhood, as the education workforce remains predominantly female.

___

This series on how the child care crisis affects working parents -- with a focus on solutions -- is produced by the Education Reporting Collaborative, a coalition of eight newsrooms, including The Hechinger Report, AL.com, The Associated Press, The Christian Science Monitor, The Dallas Morning News, Idaho Education News, The Post & Courier, and The Seattle Times.

___

Women are more likely than men to leave their careers to care for children, data shows. On top of that, teachers' salaries aren't keeping up with inflation, according to the National Education Association, even as child care costs have become more untenable.

Dropping out of the workforce can be an attractive option for educators with young children, which adds to retention challenges already facing schools.

"If we're going to support our community, ... we need the very best teachers in the classroom," said Tabitha Branum, superintendent of Richardson schools, north of Dallas. Her district runs two day cares, with goals of opening more.

"This is one of the strategies that we have in place to attract and retain the very best of the best," Branum said.

In 2022, district leaders nationwide reported increased staff vacancies; most administrators -- 63% -- cited the pandemic as a cause. Last school year, nearly 1 in 4 teachers said they were likely to quit their job due to stress, disillusionment, low salaries and heavy workloads, according to a RAND survey.

School-sponsored child care can mitigate that stress.

The devastating feeling of dropping off her three-month-old daughter Gracee with a caregiver each day still haunts Heather Yarbrough, even 14 years later.

She cried every day for weeks, but didn't have the option to quit her job as an elementary reading specialist in Nampa.

Yarbrough and her husband, both educators, needed two incomes to get by financially. Over time, she realized having a career was healthy for her and her family.

That brought her to a eureka moment: "Why do we have to choose? There's got to be a better way," she said.

Now Endeavor's principal, she spearheaded an on-campus day care. Funded through a combination of grants and parent fees, the program is in its fourth year. It's become a recruitment and retention tool for the district, which doesn't pay teachers as much as neighboring districts.

A dozen of the school's 30 teachers use the day care.

Child care for school employees has trickle-down benefits for students, said Van-Kim Lin, an early childhood development researcher at nonprofit Child Trends.

The kids can build stronger relationships with educators, counselors or other staff members because turnover is minimized and children are on campus at younger ages.

"This is a great strategy by which you can ... support both children, families and then also on the flip side, districts and their workforce," she said.

As Molly Hillier, an instructional coach at Endeavor and mother of a child in the day care, put it: "It benefits students because if you have happier teachers, ... they can pour that into the kids."

The school's teaching staff is predominantly young and female, and it had become routine for teachers to drop out of the workforce to care for their infants or to move on to less stressful or higher-paying jobs. In Nampa, teachers start out earning about $44,000 and top out at about $69,000, compared with a range of about $47,000 to $86,000 in the nearby Boise School District.

But now, "Nampa School District right now can offer me something nobody else can," Zimmerman said. "That time with my child is invaluable -- it's worth its weight in gold."

When Texas school counselor Kelly Mountjoy decided she wanted to start a family, she wondered if she could handle working and being a mother.

Three children later, she and her husband considered expanding their family by one more. However, the costs would add up: She was already paying more than $1,200 a month to send one of her kids to day care. So they hesitated.

"It's just so impossible to pay child care with that many kiddos," said Mountjoy, who works at Parkhill Junior High in Richardson.

But now, the district offers teachers subsidized child care for only $350 a month. That made all the difference for Mountjoy, who could save roughly $1,700 a month between her two youngest children.

"We could have another kid like we had wanted to," Mountjoy said. "We could afford it."

Texas school officials, frustrated with failed legislative attempts to fund teachers raises, recently began unfolding strategies to recruit and retain teachers. Large districts with bigger budgets offered higher pay, while others experimented with four-day school weeks or other benefits to sweeten the job.

"We may not be able to pay every teacher what we should be able to," said Branum, the Richardson superintendent. "But what if we could create a compensation package that took a little stress off of them?"

Richardson has a starting salary of $60,000 -- above the state average of about $53,300 -- but is also in the highly competitive Dallas-area market. So now RISD offers employees a health clinic for acute care with a $10 copay, no insurance required, and free counseling -- plus the help with child care.

The district runs two child learning academies, Little Eagles and Little Mustangs, that serve more than 120 children starting at 6 weeks old until age 3, when they become eligible for the district's pre-K program.

With more than 134 children on the district's wait list as of the end of April, Branum said they're considering at least one more center that could open as soon as next year.

Mountjoy said the perk gives her peace of mind because she knows her children receive high-quality attention.

"I know that my kids are taken care of really well," Mountjoy said. "They know the kids individually and know their strengths and where they struggle." ___

Randy Schrader of Idaho Education News contributed.

___

The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Continue Reading...

Popular

First at-home test kit for cervical cancer approved by the FDA, company says

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators have approved the first testing kit that allows women to collect their own sample at home before shipping it to a laboratory, according to a medical device company.

'DA POPE!' Leo XIV's Chicago roots unleash spate of holy humor

A Chicago-born cardinal walks into a conclave. The rest of the joke tells itself.

Do This Before Potential Tariff Announcement on May 15th - Ad

While the market whipsaws on every Trump tariff headline, Larry Benedict's readers have had the chance to quietly bank gains as high as 100%-sometimes in a single day. His 3-green-arrow system spots massive swings before they happen. The next setup hits May 15.

Lyft Is Executing Well But Analysts Caution About Uber And Waymo Competition

Lyft stock rises on $1.45B revenue, $750M buyback plan. Needham reiterates hold, Goldman Sachs upgrades to buy with PT of $20. Strong growth despite competition.

Two dolls instead of 30? Toys become the latest symbol of Trump's trade war

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump's has taken aim at a number of foreign goods, from European wines and car parts from Mexico to . Lately, the president's wandering ire has found another rhetorical poster child: toy dolls.

Elon Musk Drops Stunning Bombshell? - Ad

Behind closed doors, Musk revealed a game-changing breakthrough technology that could shake the tech world & crush major companies. Why is no one talking about it? Luckily, we had a man on the inside - watch now to see the details & how to profit!

Trump Admin Cuts $11 Billion In Health Funds — Local Governments Fight Back

Local governments sue the Trump administration over the abrupt termination of $11 billion in CDC pandemic preparedness grants.

Air traffic controllers briefly lose radar access again at Newark airport

The air traffic controllers directing planes into the Newark, New Jersey, airport lost their radar Friday morning for the second time in two weeks.

What's Better Than Drinking Award-Winning Beer? - Ad

Owning stock in the brewery that makes it. That's Westbound & Down's story. They blend gold-medal beer with elite dining, creating a brand customers seek. No wonder they're Colorado's most-awarded brewery and are retail partners with Whole Foods. And 1,835% distribution growth's just the start.

Why Barrick Gold Stock Is Trading Lower

Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE:GOLD) shares are trading lower by 4.5% to $19.08 during Wednesday’s session.

Musk's Ex-Wife Opens Up About Why Life With Elon Was So Difficult

Justine Wilson recently shed light on the complexities of their marriage and the challenges she faced being married to the Tesla CEO.

A New Gold Discovery in Red Lake? - Ad

Two new gold anomalies just lit up the maps. They sit right beside a restart-ready mine-and follow the exact fold pattern that's made Red Lake world famous.

US Treasury secretary says trade war with China is not 'sustainable'

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Treasury Secretary said in a Tuesday speech that the ongoing against China is unsustainable and expects a "de-escalation" in the trade war between the world's two largest economies.

Did Donald Trump — or ABC News —choose who would interview the president? Why does it matter?

NEW YORK (AP) — During a contentious in his interview with ABC News' Terry Moran this week, President brought up — from his perspective — how Moran had gotten into the White House in the first place.

This Coin Could Surge Like Bitcoin Did Back in 2013... - Ad

A new coin is emerging in the crypto world. And investing in it now could end up like Bitcoin or Ethereum during their first bull runs.

Gold's Historic Surge Unlocking Value in These Mining Stocks

Surging gold prices have amplified the profitability of global gold mining companies. Here are some stocks to consider.

Biggest Dividend Payout in U.S. History: $1 Trillion up for Grabs! - Ad

Trump just launched a $1 trillion National Investment Fund to replace income taxes and send direct payouts to Americans. You could claim up to $21,307--before the first public checks go out. This is historic. Act now to be first in line.

Trump's Autonomous Vehicles Stance, Bezos Vs. Tesla, And More: This Week In Mobility

Autonomous driving & EV have seen significant developments this week: Trump's change of heart, Bezos-backed startups, & Tesla's declining sales.

Rocket Lab Stock Is Shooting Higher Thursday: What's Fueling The Launch?

Rocket Lab USA Inc (NASDAQ:RKLB) shares are trading higher Thursday after the company announced it was selected by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc (NASDAQ:KTOS) to provide a hypersonic test flight for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).

This Intercept Stopped the Gold Sector Cold - Ad

114.26 g/t over 10.6m. That's not a typo. And it wasn't deep exploration-it was in an active mining zone.

China's Chip Breakthrough Without ASML Makes Chamath Palihapitiya Take Stock Of Beijing's 'Formidable' Nature: 'America Can Win If…'

Former Intel executive William Huo highlights China's breakthrough in producing 5nm chips without EUV technology, sparking concerns from Chamath Palihapitiya that the U.S. risks losing its technological edge to China without urgent innovation.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Asks,'How Much Did Majorie Taylor Greene Make When She Bought The Dip?'

"Just how much did Marjorie Taylor Greene make when she bought the dip?" Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez asks in the caption of a YouTube video calling for a ban on Congressional trading.

Elon's Greatest Invention... Hidden in South Memphis? - Ad

Tech legend Jeff Brown recently traveled to the industrial zone of South Memphis to investigate what he believes will be Elon's greatest invention ever... Yes, even bigger than Tesla or SpaceX.

Swiss leader says Trump administration foresees 'privileged' talks with 15 countries on US tariffs

GENEVA (AP) — The Swiss president says Switzerland is among 15 countries with which the United States plans to conduct “privileged” negotiations to help reach a deal in the wake of sweeping U.S. tariffs on dozens of countries that have shaken global markets.

Odyssey Marine Exploration Stock Surges On Continued Momentum: What's Going On?

Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. (NASDAQ: OMEX) shares are trading higher Thursday, extending the momentum from a major intraday spike driven by reports of a forthcoming U.S. executive order favoring the deep-sea mining industry.

Brace Yourself for Jeff Bezos' "Amazon Helios" - Ad

Amazon delivers 20 million packages a day... powers some of the most popular websites... delivers medication to half of the U.S. population... and even produces award-winning films and TV shows. But a Wall Street legend -- twice featured on 60 Minutes -- predicts that "Amazon Helios" will be bigger than all of those... COMBINED.

Bitcoin Breaks $97,000: Could A 'Synthetic Halving' Power A Run To All-Time Highs?

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) has broken the $97,000 level in Thursday trading, and commentators predict an even more explosive move to the upside may be brewing.

Applied Digital (APLD) Secures $150M Preferred Equity Deal: What's Going On?

Applied Digital shares are trading higher by 14% during Thursday's session. The company announced it had entered into a Preferred Equity Purchase Agreement with select investors.

50 Major Companies That Will Likely Fail to Survive Trump's MAGA Economy - Ad

50 major companies that will likely fail to survive Trump's MAGA economy. Many have 5-star ratings. Most are "buys" per Wall Street. But they're dead companies.

Warren Buffett's Favorite 'Single Best Measure' For Equities Flashes Buying Signal As US Stocks Rebound

Warren Buffett's favored "Buffett Indicator" suggests U.S. equities may be undervalued, signaling a potential buy opportunity as stocks rebound.

What's Going On With VeriSign Shares Friday?

VeriSign reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings on Thursday after the market closed.

No.1 Opportunity for 2025 [Take Action Now!] - Ad

Starlink's potential IPO Could Be the Biggest in History--Silicon Valley insider James Altucher has uncovered a way to profit BEFORE the IPO--with as little as $50. Musk's $180B giant is set to launch--will you miss out? Claim your spot before it's too late.

A bushel of fruit and vegetable motifs give decor a healthy farmstand vibe

Interior designer and stylist Jonny Carmack has a “fruit room” in his Danbury, Connecticut, home. Colorful faux produce bedecks every inch, from the cherry-shaped ceiling fixture to a strawberry side table and a bunch of other juicy gems in decorative forms.

Is Norfolk Southern 'making it right' after Ohio derailment? New lawsuit adds to doubts

Norfolk Southern began making promises to East Palestine, Ohio, soon after its train in February 2023, saying it would after five tank cars of vinyl chloride were intentionally burned, sending up a huge black plume of smoke that spread more toxic chemicals over homes, schools and farms.

Nvidia Is About to Shock the World: July 23rd - Ad

Jeff Brown, the tech legend who picked shares of Nvidia in 2016 before they jumped by more than 22,000%, is warning everyone to... Mark this date on your calendar: July 23rd! That's when Nvidia could help send shares of this Elon Musk supplier skyrocketing higher.

Submarine designers in Connecticut say they'll strike on May 18 if contract deal isn't reached

GROTON, Conn. (AP) — About 2,500 workers at Electric Boat shipyard in Connecticut plan to strike on May 18 if a tentative contract agreement is not reached with the submarine builder, the union president announced during a rally Thursday.

Mike Pence Says Trump Comeback 'Unrivaled' In Modern American History But Only Return To Values Of First Term Will Ensure President's Legacy

Mike Pence praised Trump's early second-term achievements but warned that abandoning conservative principles—especially on Ukraine and tariffs—could threaten both America's future and Trump's legacy.

You Can Take a Stake in Elon's xAI Before June 1st... - Ad

Elon Musk's private AI firm xAI may have just leapfrogged ChatGPT and Google's Gemini--building what experts call the future of AI. For the first time, you can take a stake starting at $500.

US And Ukraine Sign Mineral Resource Deal

U.S. and Ukraine sign deal for U.S. access to mineral resources, after tense negotiations between Trump and Zelensky. China remains key bottleneck.

Trending Now

Information, charts or examples are for illustration and educational purposes only and not for individualized investment management This message contains commercial elements, such as advertising. We only send these offers to those who have opted in to our newsletter. Past performance is not indicative of future results. For these reasons we strongly suggest trading in a DEMO/Simulated account. The information provided by us is for educational and informational purposes only. We make no representations or warranties concerning the products, practices or procedures of any company or entity mentioned or recommended and have not determined if the statements and opinions of the advertiser are accurate, correct or truthful. If you use, act upon or make decisions in reliance on information contained or any external source linked within it, you do so at your own peril and agree to hold us, our officers, directors, shareholders, affiliates and agents without fault.

Copyright trendadvisor.net
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service