Who I Am
My Story
My name is Alison Tannatt, and I’ve been deeply rooted in early childhood education for most of my life. I began working in child development centers at age 14, and after graduating from the University of Iowa in 2011 with a degree in Elementary Education (specializing in Science and Social Sciences), I transitioned into child care full time as a Center Director. Over the past 14 years, I’ve overseen the educational direction and day-to-day operations of two centers, developed and maintained curriculum, and provided high-quality training and support for new teachers. Throughout my journey, I’ve seen the evolving challenges in our field, and I’m committed to finding practical ways to support fellow providers and strengthen our child care community.
My Mission
Like many of you, I’ve heard the phrase “child care is in crisis” more times than I can count—but what does that really mean for those of us who are in the trenches every day, running programs and supporting families? I want to dig deeper to truly understand the specific challenges child care centers are facing right now—whether it’s staffing, finances, enrollment, or something else entirely. My goal is simple: to identify where support is most needed and to explore how we can better help one another as a connected, informed community of providers.