We are thrilled to be welcoming Nicole Criner back to the Idaho AEYC Team!

Previously serving on staff as our External Relations and Development Director and then most recently on our Board of Directors, Nicole Criner comes to the role of Executive Director with knowledge and experience. She is truly a champion of Early Education already and we can't wait to support her vision for Idaho AEYC's future.

An Idaho native and proud Boise State University alumna, Criner brings an exceptional blend of nonprofit leadership, higher education advancement, and corporate communications experience to Idaho AEYC. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications, a Certificate in Leadership and Human Relations, and a master’s degree in Leadership. 

Idaho AEYC was thrilled to welcome Early Learning Collaborative (ELC) leaders from across the state to Boise for the annual ELC Symposium from October 3-4. The event brought together passionate educators, community partners, and advocates to share ideas, celebrate achievements, and strengthen Idaho’s early learning system. Attendees participated in interactive sessions, learned about innovative programs, and exchanged strategies and resources to better support children and families. The symposium was a true celebration of the progress being made in communities across Idaho to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn and grow. 

Beth Oppenheimer Announces Departure as Executive Director of Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children

BOISE, ID — February 21, 2024 — After 13 years of dedicated service, Beth Oppenheimer has announced her decision to step down as the Executive Director of the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC).

(Part 2 of a three-part series.)

The need for affordable and high-quality early childhood education options in the Wood River Valley isn’t critical just for working parents or rapidly-developing young brains; it is a requisite for the entire community’s economic and societal health, according to local and national experts.

From a developmental perspective, a mountain of research shows that having fundamental language and social emotional skills before entering kindergarten can set the trajectory for the rest of a child’s life.

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In case you haven’t heard, the state of child care in Idaho is in a precarious state. If you’re a working parent of a young child, there’s a good chance you’ve struggled to find affordable, reliable child care. If you’re a child care provider, it’s likely you struggle to hire and retain the staff to operate at a capacity that keeps your business solvent. We simply don’t have enough child care openings to accommodate every family who needs care. This affects workforce participation — placing financial strain on working parents — and limiting the pool of candidates. The worst part is that child care access in Idaho is going to get much worse, before it gets better.

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