What becomes possible when the voices, histories, and lived experiences of AANHPI educators are more fully centered in early childhood education?

This panel discussion brings together four contributors to No Single Story: Amplifying the Voices of Asian American and Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Early Educators for a thoughtful conversation about identity, leadership, legacy, and change in the early childhood field.

Through personal and professional storytelling, panelists will explore how AANHPI early educators, higher education faculty, and policy voices are shaping the field while building on the wisdom, resilience, and cultural knowledge of generations before them. The conversation will highlight the rich diversity within AANHPI communities and invite participants to move beyond stereotypes or single narratives to better understand the many histories, cultures, traditions, and lived experiences that influence AANHPI educators’ work.

Together, the panel will examine how identity shapes the way educators show up in classrooms, leadership spaces, higher education, and policy conversations. Participants will reflect on whose knowledge is most often centered in the field, what perspectives may be missing, and how educators and leaders can more intentionally partner with AANHPI educators, children, and families.

Designed for educators, program leaders, and teacher educators, this session offers an opportunity to listen deeply, reflect honestly, and consider how centering AANHPI voices across generations can help shape a more inclusive, culturally sustaining, and responsive future for early childhood education.

Note: No Single Story: Amplifying the Voices of Asian American and Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Early Educators is available for purchase through NAEYC.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Describe key themes from the lived experiences of AANHPI early childhood educators shared by the panelists.

2. Recognize how systemic inequities and dominant narratives affect the experiences and work of AANHPI educators in early childhood education.

3. Reflect on how centering AANHPI voices across generations can inform culturally sustaining, asset-based, and equity-focused practices in early childhood education.