I recently attended and presented at a winter workshop for early childhood educators held at Ukiah High School.

The conference was on a Saturday, which meant early childhood educators were giving up a much-needed rest on the weekend.

While at the conference I met the most dedicated administrators and educators of young children. The conference was put on in a very organized way supporting the work of early childhood educators.

In the State of the Union speech, President Obama spoke to the need for more early childhood education and making this education more accessible for families.

After working in the field for 56 years I can tell you any federal funds spent on young children are reflected in the positive outcomes of research looking at the benefits of early education for children and their families.

Let me tell you from firsthand experience, if someone if looking at early childhood education as a career the pay back is in the progress of the children and their families.

Early childhood educators need to be paid equivalent to what elementary school teacher’s make, (which still falls far below the good work done by educators).

Early childhood educators do not get the credit they deserve for the work they do each day.

The truth is as a society we end up putting more money into teen and adult mental health services and the prison system.

If more money was directed towards early childhood education, the payoff is more healthy and productive adults and a better society for all.

Please check out the good work of the Redwood Empire Association for the Education of the Young Child and visit and support child development programs in your area.

Young children are our future and we certainly need to know we as a society have a brighter future for all human beings.

If you can read this article, you have teachers to thank and thank again.

Sue Williams has a master's degree in child development. She lives in Kelseyville, Calif.