Following in her mother’s footsteps as an early childhood educator, Laurin Atkinson has found her own niche in the field – digging into data. Her colleagues were “afraid of data, but I was good at Excel,” Laurin jokes.  

With a passion for continuous personal growth – and the growth of her staff – Laurin shares with host Dr. Lynette Fraga what today’s emerging child care leaders need, and how data can support bold and innovative changes. How can early childhood professionals find mentors? What does it mean to become a better manager? What strategies will improve staff retention? Together, Laurin and Lynette discuss what it takes to confidently take a seat at the table, even in the face of doubt. 

Laurin Atkinson is the Operations Manager for Early Childhood Services at YWCA Metropolitan Chicago. She obtained her B.A. in Psychology from Roosevelt University and earned a Master of Science in Early Childhood Studies with a specialization in Administration, Management, and Leadership from Walden University. With more than 15 years of experience in the early care and education field, Laurin has served in various positions including pre-K teacher, center director, and quality and data analytics coordinator. In her current role, Laurin is responsible for oversight of safe environments, data management, ongoing monitoring, processes, and procedures for the Early Childhood Services team at YWCA Metropolitan Chicago. Laurin is passionate about finding innovative ways to incorporate data-informed decision-making into the work of early care and education to best serve children and families. 

"A Seat at the Table” is an award-winning podcast produced by Child Care Aware® of America, the nation’s leading voice on child care. Listen and subscribe at www.childcareaware.org/TheTable.