Where Have All the Mentors Gone? Supporting the New Generation of Early Childhood Educators

If you’ve walked into a preschool or toddler classroom lately, you might’ve noticed a shift. There’s a good chance the teacher in the room is new to the field—maybe even brand new to working with children altogether. And while that’s not necessarily a bad thing (we need fresh energy and perspectives!), there’s a growing concern that many of these new teachers are entering without the mentorship or modeling that once formed the foundation of quality early childhood practice.

Not long ago, most early childhood classrooms had a mix of experienced and new teachers. You’d learn the best clean-up songs from your lead. You’d pick up classroom management tricks during diaper duty. You’d see what it looked like to handle a meltdown with calm, confidence, and connection. These weren’t things you found in a textbook—they were passed down in real time, in real classrooms.

When I was a brand-new teacher, I was surrounded by a small but mighty group of seasoned educators who showed me the ropes with grace and grit. Marge taught me the value of slowing down and truly listening to children. Lisa had a song or rhyme for every single moment of the day—transitions, waiting, diaper changes, you name it. Janet showed me what it meant to partner with families, and Mary modeled how to hold firm boundaries while still staying soft and nurturing. Their mentorship didn’t just shape my teaching—it shaped my heart for this work. I can’t imagine who I would have become without their wisdom anchoring me.

But now, many programs are struggling to hire—and retain—experienced staff. Burnout, low wages, and the stress of the last few years have pushed many seasoned educators out of the field. What we’re left with is a workforce made up largely of new, passionate teachers...who are trying to figure it all out on their own.

And the impact is showing. We’re seeing more reliance on rigid routines, sticker charts, and behavior management systems that might look organized, but aren’t rooted in child development or developmentally appropriate practice (DAP). It’s not because these teachers don’t care—they desperately want to do well. But they’re left without guidance, support, or time to learn the "why" behind the practices that really work.

At Edulink, we believe that early educators deserve mentorship, training, and a community that helps them grow. New teachers shouldn't be expected to carry the torch alone—they need someone to help light the way.

That’s why we’re passionate about coaching, community-building, and hands-on professional development. We don’t just want to train early childhood educators—we want to nurture them, just like they nurture the children in their care.

Because here’s the truth: high-quality early childhood education doesn’t come from flashy curriculum or fancy toys. It comes from people—people who understand children, who model empathy and patience, and who know how to turn a crying toddler into a curious explorer.

Let’s invest in those people—both the veterans we want to keep, and the new teachers who are just beginning their journey. Let’s bring back the mentoring, the modeling, and the magic.

The future of early childhood education depends on it.