News

July 2, 2026

Trying Together Names TT’s Toy Box Owner as June Advocate of the Month

Trying Together has selected Natika Proctor, owner of TT’s Toy Box in McKees Rocks, as its June advocate of the month.

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TT’s Toy Box is an early care and education program that also offers after-school and summer camp programs.

Proctor was recommended as Advocate of the Month by Larette McCoy, who works for Pittsburgh Area Community Schools at Sto-Rox Primary Center, because of her commitment to adding support at her program for children with developmental delays and disabilities.

She was also cited for her presence at community events, personal investment in her work, sending her staff to local events, engaging local legislators, leading with kindness, working well with parents, and being a community leader.

“Natika does an amazing job championing joy in her program, whether it’s preschool graduation or the yearly kids’ ‘prom,’” said Valerie Williams, Trying Together’s kindergarten transition program director. “Natika is constantly thinking of new ways to connect with the community, welcome families, and foster joy and play in her school community.”

Proctor said she became an advocate because she was a single mother of three children who believed that the care they were receiving wasn’t adequate. She said that TT’s Toy Box aims to provide a quality education for every child and family who pass through its doors.

“We advocate for every child’s right to learn, grow, and succeed,” she said. “We are committed to supporting your children and families by fostering inclusion, promoting equality, and also ensuring access to resources that help each child to their fullest potential.”

News

May 28, 2026

Trying Together Names SmartKids Child Care & Learning Center Owner as Advocate of the Month

Trying Together has selected Donna Shriver, owner of SmartKids Child Care & Learning Center in Washington, as its May advocate of the month.

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Shriver, a long-time advocate for early childhood education, celebrated 30 years of providing high-quality child care in April. This past year, she partnered with Early Learning PA and state Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-46th) for an event at SmartKids and worked with Washington County commissioners on the Washington County Proclamation on Child Care.

“I didn’t become an advocate for children by accident,” she said. “I became one because I saw what was at stake. Early on, I realized that child care isn’t just about supervision – it’s about shaping lives. It is where confidence begins, where curiosity is nurtured, and where a child feels safe, valued, and cared for.”

But she said she also witnessed the struggles that families have in finding child care, how educators work tirelessly but do not get the recognition they deserve, and that children need more support than they receive.

“When we invest early on in a child’s life, we change their future,” she said. “Advocacy, for me, is a responsibility – a way for me to speak up for people who can’t speak up for themselves. It’s a way to push for better standards, better support for educators, and better access for every family.”

News

April 24, 2026

Trying Together Names Project Destiny Director as Advocate of the Month

Trying Together has selected Gwen Marcus, the director of Project Destiny, as its April advocate of the month.

Project Destiny provides a safe place where youth and families can find resources and get involved in support groups or cultural and educational programming. It aims to heighten children’s expectations and promote cultural awareness, respect, and physical, emotional, and social growth.

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Trying Together Kindergarten Transition Program Director Valerie Williams said that Gwen frequently gets involved in numerous activities – including sending children’s artwork to state legislators, attending Trying Together’s UnConferences, staff training, engaging with Hi5!, and partnering with community organizations to build broader connections.

“Gwen always shows up!,” Williams said.

Marcus said she became an advocate for early childhood education because she wanted to see change for early childhood educators, caregivers, and children.

“To be honest, I was a little hesitant at first,” she said. “I thought my voice wouldn’t make a difference. But the more I talked to advocates, I realized I wanted to be part of the change. Classrooms were closing, parents were struggling to pay for services, and it was becoming difficult to maintain staff – and the staff who stayed were finding it difficult to make ends meet.”

She said that in the years since she has made the decision to become an early childhood advocate, she has challenged elected officials to do right by early childhood educators.

“I also challenge early childhood educators, families, and community partners to raise their voices and start advocating for the future of our scholars, our community, and for the quality of our care for our future leaders, which they deserve and should receive,” she said.

Hear why advocacy is important to Gwen:

News

March 11, 2026

Trying Together Names Latrobe Kinder-Schull Site Director as Advocate of the Month

Trying Together has selected Erin Schellenberger, site director of Latrobe Kinder-Schull, as its advocate of the month for March.

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Schellenberger is a long-time early childhood education champion who has 15 years of teaching experience and two years as a site director. She has been actively involved with Trying Together’s SWPA ECE Leadership Council, demonstrating her commitment to growing as a leader and early childhood education advocate.

“She continues to seek opportunities to make meaningful connections and learn new ways to strengthen her advocacy for the field,” according to a statement from Trying Together’s Policy Team regarding Schellenberger’s selection as advocate of the month. “We deeply appreciate our partnership with Erin and how she consistently shows up as a voice for children, families, and educators. We consider her one of our strongest ECE champions and look forward to her continued engagement in leadership opportunities.”

Schellenberger, who is involved in the SWPA ECE Leadership Council, said that ECE advocacy has long been important to her.

“Advocacy in early childhood education means being a voice for young children who cannot always speak for themselves,” she said. “It is about standing up for their needs, supporting families, and ensuring that every child feels safe, valued, and understood.”

She added that advocacy also involves collaborating with colleagues, community partners, and policymakers to create learning environments and policies that honor each child’s background and provide them with the strongest possible start in life.

Schellenberger started her work with the Leadership Team following a recommendation from her organization’s executive director, Eva Wood. Through the role, she has traveled to Harrisburg to meet with legislators and advocates for issues affecting early childhood education.

“I am encouraged that our state has begun to recognize the child care crisis and has included child care employees in the state budget,” she said. “While this is an important first step, there is still significant work to be done to recruit and retain qualified early childhood professionals. Sustainable investment and continued policy reform are essential to strengthening the field.”

Schellenberger said she remains committed to using her voice to influence state policy, promoting access to high-quality learning and protecting the rights of children, families, and educators.

“Advocacy is not a one-time effort, but an ongoing responsibility, and I will continue to encourage those around me to speak up and take action in support of our profession and the children we serve,” she said.

News

February 18, 2026

Trying Together Names Solid Foundations Academy Owner as Advocate of the Month

Trying Together has named Beth Rupert, owner of Solid Foundations Academy, as its February 2026 Advocate of the Month.

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The Advocate of the Month award goes to providers who demonstrate exceptional commitment, compassion, and leadership in the field of early childhood education. Trying Together chose Rupert because of her unique combination of experience, vision, and public influence in the field of early education.

Rupert has worked with children and families in psychiatry for more than 15 years and she understands how early experiences shape lifelong outcomes. Her background as a caregiver, educator, and advocate reflects a lifelong commitment to supporting children and families.

“Early childhood education isn’t just child care or preschool – it’s the foundation of who we become, how we learn, and how we truly see ourselves,” Rupert said. “It’s where confidence is built or broken, where curiosity is nurtured or silenced, and where inequity often begins. Potential isn’t enough without the right support at the right time.”

Rupert is currently starting an education movement focused on the benefits of quality early childhood education. She has been featured on multiple podcasts to discuss the need for systemic change in the broken education system.

Her ongoing advocacy with Trying Together and her pursuit of a doctorate in education demonstrates her dedication to advancing the field.

“Families depend on early childhood education, so they can go to work, provide for their family, build stability, and give their children the strong educational start they deserve,” Rupert said. “Early childhood education is the backbone of our country. When we get the beginning right, we change everything that comes after.”

April Advocacy Blitz

Are you interested in an advocacy opportunity with Trying Together to use your voice as an early childhood champion?

Join us for our April Advocacy Blitz, which is designed to elevate your voice in the field and encourage Pennsylvania’s General Assembly to prioritize continued funding that elevates the field of early care and education.

News

January 15, 2026

Trying Together Names Indi Kids Director as Advocate of the Month

Trying Together has named Stephanie McAdoo, director of Indiana’s Indi Kids preschool, as its January 2026 Advocate of the Month.

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The Advocate of the Month award goes to providers who demonstrate exceptional commitment, compassion, and leadership in the field of early childhood education. Trying Together chose McAdoo because of her consistent and reliable work and advocacy for early childhood education in Indiana County and statewide.

“Stephanie works tirelessly to manage not only her own program and the challenges that come with that, but also does extra work to make sure the whole field is being supported,” said the Trying Together policy team.

Honoree Statement

In an honoree statement, McAdoo said that advocacy is important to her, and that she and many other educators spoke up for early care and education amid the state’s ongoing budget impasse.

McAdoo participated in the “Day in the Life” photovoice project, which shared the joys and challenges of the child care field.

“We told our stories of dedicated teachers struggling to make ends meet on unlivable wages and grappling with decisions to leave a field that they love, of programs trying to balance budgets and struggling with decisions to raise rates and risk losing families or forgo wage increases and risk losing teachers,” McAdoo said.

She added that she and other advocates voice repeatedly that the true cost of care is unaffordable to most families and when the cost of care cannot be put on families, educators end up subsidizing the system through lower pay.

McAdoo said she appreciated that Gov. Josh Shapiro and members of the General Assembly voted to make early care and education a priority. The result was a passed budget with a new $25 million educator recruitment and retention line item.

She added that Trying Together and PennAEYC stood with her in support of her advocacy efforts.

“I will continue to raise my voice to ensure early care and education gets the investment it so desperately needs and deserves,” she said. “Our families deserve quality programs, our children deserve qualified teachers, and our teachers deserve livable wages.”

See her full statement.