When we talk about changing the world, it’s easy to picture bold movements or sweeping reforms. But some of the most powerful shifts begin quietly: around a circle rug or at an art table, in the hands of a teacher guiding young learners through their very first discoveries.
Early childhood education is where the seeds of empathy and curiosity are planted. By preparing educators to create spaces that honor identity and invite exploration, Pacific Oaks helps ensure those early lessons extend far beyond the classroom, shaping communities that grow more just and more humane over time. In this blog, we’ll explore how the work of early childhood educators becomes a catalyst for transformation and why investing in these earliest years is one of the most powerful ways to create lasting social change.
The Ripple Effect of Early Childhood Education
The person you become is greatly shaped by the first five years of your life: the words you first heard at home, the relationships that made you feel safe, the games and stories that sparked your imagination. These early experiences leave lasting imprints on how you learn and how you connect with others.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, “In the first few years of life, more than one million neural connections are formed each second—a pace never repeated again.”
The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child notes that the architecture of the brain is built over time, but the most critical period is in the earliest years when experiences, relationships, and environments combine to form the foundation for all future learning and behavior.
As the executive director of Early Childhood Education programs, Judy Krause, Ed.D., emphasizes this impact: “In the first 5 years, 90% of our brains are developing, and so much happens during that time.”
For example:
- Studies show that early vocabulary exposure directly correlates with later literacy and academic achievement.
- Executive function, which includes the ability to focus, follow directions, and manage emotions, begins forming in early childhood. This is strongly influenced by consistent, responsive caregiving and structured play.
- Social-emotional skills like empathy, resilience, and self-regulation begin to take shape during these early years, forming the foundation for how children relate to others and manage their emotions as they grow.
Research shows that every dollar spent on early learning education returns roughly $8.60 through better life outcomes. At Pacific Oaks College, the mission extends well beyond economics; the ECE programs foster social justice, equity, and lasting systemic change.
These early years are more than just reciting the ABCs. This is when core identity development happens. That’s why Pacific Oaks emphasizes developmentally appropriate, child-centered learning.
Philosophy in Action: Social Constructivism and Play
For many students, the most memorable learning moments aren’t found in textbooks or tests but in the co-construction of knowledge. At Pacific Oaks, learning is rooted in social constructivism, a learning theory that emphasizes active engagement and collaboration. “We learn through hands-on exploration, experimentation, self-discovery, and through play,” Dr. Krause says.
The inclusion of social constructivism at Pacific Oaks is a continuation of the legacy of Betty Jones, Ed.D., who spent 50 years researching child development. Dr. Betty Jones, a legacy figure at Pacific Oaks, championed this model with her motto: “Play’s the thing.” That spirit continues to shape Pacific Oaks classrooms today, where curiosity, creativity, and community remain at the heart of learning.
Why Family and Community Engagement Is Essential in Early Education
A child’s learning doesn’t happen in isolation. The lessons picked up at home, the support offered by a community, and the guidance of a teacher all intertwine to shape growth. This triangle of support—family, community, and educator—is woven into every student’s training at Pacific Oaks.
For many families, early childhood education serves a dual purpose: it supports children’s cognitive and emotional development while also providing the childcare that makes workforce participation possible. According to the Center for American Progress, 67.8% of children under the age of six have all available guardians in the workforce.
Pacific Oaks prepares future educators to understand this dual role by training them to see the whole ecosystem around a child. Throughout the program, students learn how to bridge classroom learning with real-world family dynamics and community resources. Courses are designed to develop culturally responsive, inclusive, and family-centered teaching practices.
“We really work with our students on how to work within the community, and how to work with families,” Dr. Krause says. “When you’re working with children, you’re not in a silo with just those kids in your class.”
Orlando Saiz, Ph.D., the director of Research at Pacific Oaks, calls this the “theory of connectiveness,” which is the belief that educators must be deeply rooted in the communities they serve. When families, educators, and communities are aligned, children thrive.
Agents of Change: Embedding Justice in Curriculum
Pacific Oaks College is home to the nation’s only Doctor of Education program focused specifically on Early Childhood Education, a distinction that reflects the institution’s deep commitment to transforming classrooms and communities.
The institution’s mission extends far beyond academic training. “We want all of our graduates to go out and be agents of change,” Dr. Krause says. “That’s one of the things that we charge them with at commencement.”
To prepare educators to become change agents, Pacific Oaks weaves equity and justice into every layer of the curriculum.
One example includes revisiting legacy frameworks, such as the antibias education model developed by a Pacific Oaks graduate in 1989. Today, students not only revisit and study this legacy model, but also analyze current research and debates to carry that legacy forward in ways that meet the needs of children and families now.
At every level, Pacific Oaks empowers graduates to leave with both the skills and the conviction to create lasting impact, whether in their own classrooms, their communities, or the broader field of early childhood education.
From One to Many: The Ripple Effect of Leadership
The impact of Pacific Oaks faculty and alumni reaches far beyond the institution, often through groundbreaking work on a global level. For example:
- Professor Yolanda Carlos partners with South African educators through Globe Talks, hosting quarterly international discussions on early childhood trends.
- Professor Jorge Ramirez collaborates with California State University, Los Angeles, to train teachers in developmentally appropriate practices.
- Alumnus Eric Nelson began the Outdoor Classroom Project so that schools throughout the United States could have outdoor learning environments.
These are not isolated stories; they represent a powerful ripple effect. If one Pacific Oaks faculty member has around 35 students a semester, and each of those students goes on to influence dozens of children and families, the reach quickly multiplies into hundreds of lives touched in just a few short years.
Over time, this compounding effect creates a cycle of change: educators shaping children, children shaping communities, and communities reshaping the future.
How Pacific Oaks Supports Educators for a Lifetime
While early education is a rewarding profession, it can also be demanding. At Pacific Oaks, future educators discover their purpose and build the confidence to pursue it, with a community standing behind them every step of the way.
Here, students at Pacific Oaks don’t just learn from faculty; they lean on them. “We’re the person in their corner,” Dr. Krause adds. “We give them the skills and support they need to get them to that next step.” Each student is paired with both a faculty and academic advisor, receiving personalized guidance for both coursework and career development.
This support extends beyond graduation. Dr. Krause recalls one alumna who reached out years after completing her degree: “She told me, ‘I’m in a funk and just needed to talk.’ We talked it through, and she left saying, ‘OK, I can do this.’”
At a recent Head Start conference, Dr. Krause was greeted by more than 50 alumni who came to share how far they’d come. “Some of them had been my students 25 or 30 years ago,” she says. It was a full-circle moment, showcasing the full impact built at Pacific Oaks.
Take the Next Step in Your Early Childhood Education Journey
At Pacific Oaks College, future educators don’t just prepare for a career. They find a calling to create classrooms where every child feels included, every family feels connected, and every community feels stronger because of it. Here, future educators don’t just prepare for a career. They find a calling. The work may start with circle time and storybooks, but its impact lasts a lifetime. If you feel called to nurture that kind of change, Pacific Oaks is here to walk alongside you on the journey.
Fill out the brief form below, and discover how you can become a transformative early childhood educator at Pacific Oaks College.
