Her Story
About Ashley
Ashley is a dedicated early childhood education leader and advocate who serves as Preschool Director for the YMCA of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas. With more than eight years of experience in early childhood care and education, she oversees a diverse preschool program that serves dozens of families through both tuition-based and Nevada Ready Pre-K initiatives. Passionate about creating meaningful opportunities for children to thrive, Ashley focuses on family engagement, social-emotional development, and kindergarten readiness, helping young learners build a strong foundation for lifelong success.
Ashley’s commitment to early childhood education is deeply personal. Inspired by her experiences as an aunt and later as a parent, she witnessed firsthand the transformative impact that high-quality early learning environments can have on children and families. After spending more than seven years in retail management, she realized her true calling was working with children and supporting families. Returning to the education field, she quickly emerged as a respected leader, drawing on her management expertise to strengthen programs, develop staff, and foster meaningful connections within the community. Her leadership philosophy centers on treating every family as unique, building trust through empathy, and ensuring that children feel supported, valued, and prepared to succeed.
Beyond her day-to-day responsibilities, Ashley is an active advocate for expanding access to quality early childhood education and increasing support for families. She has participated in community conversations, policy initiatives, and leadership panels focused on equitable family engagement, literacy, and preschool accessibility. As a mentor to fellow educators and a voice for greater investment in early learning programs, she is committed to advancing policies that strengthen educational opportunities for children across Nevada. Through her leadership, advocacy, and unwavering dedication to youth development, Ashley continues to make a lasting impact on the lives of children, families, and communities throughout Southern Nevada.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ashley
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think just understanding what it's like to be a parent. You know, I was a parent who needed daycare, who needed early child education, and I understood how hard it was to find high quality, and in other centers, when I was the parent, I didn't feel that connection, and so that's kind of just what I lean into now. And it's kind of what pushes me to really build on our foundation and not just stay stagnant in what we offer.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Really be vulnerable, be open to sharing your story, be open to connecting on a deeper level than just business with the families that you're working with. Don't treat them like another number in your room, or another price tag that you're charging. Really be compassionate, empathetic, and understanding of the different situations that people are going through in their lives, and really just provide a resource for them.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Continued and accessible funding for PreK in Nevada. There are a lot of resources and focus that go into K-12, but not into PreK. There's a lot of legislation that's trying to go through right now that early childhood educators and advocates are trying to push for. An early childhood education department within the Department of Ed is one.
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