Charlene Jenkins
Charlene Jenkins is a seasoned early childhood education professional with over two decades of experience in the field. As the founder and owner of Jenkins Early Childhood Consulting, she partners with early learning programs to provide expert guidance on curriculum development, program quality, and educator support. With a strong background that includes leadership roles at the YWCA of Greater Baton Rouge and the LSU Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, Charlene brings deep knowledge and hands-on expertise to her consulting work. She is trained in Conscious Discipline and the Reggio Emilia approach, and is passionate about helping educators build inclusive, responsive, and developmentally appropriate environments for infants and toddlers.
Charlene holds a Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences from Louisiana State University and continues to serve in leadership roles within the early childhood community. Her approach is rooted in empathy, intentionality, and empowerment, supporting both children and the adults who care for them. Through her consulting work, she aims to elevate the quality of care and education for the youngest learners, helping to lay a strong foundation for lifelong growth and development.
• Louisiana State University- M.S.
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my deep love of learning and my passion for supporting the growth and development of infants and toddlers.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received that applies directly to early childhood education is this:
“The quality of care will never exceed the quality of the caregiver’s growth.”
This statement means that the experiences infants and toddlers receive are directly tied to how much the adults caring for them continue to learn, reflect, and improve. No curriculum, classroom setup, or licensing checklist can compensate for a caregiver who is stagnant or disengaged.
When caregivers grow in their understanding of child development, they respond more intentionally. When they strengthen their emotional regulation, children feel safer. When they participate in coaching and reflective supervision, their interactions become warmer, more responsive, and more consistent.
Infants and toddlers are shaped by relationships. Those relationships are only as strong as the caregiver’s knowledge, self awareness, and commitment to professional growth.
If we want higher quality care, we must invest in higher quality professional development. Growth in the adult leads to growth in the child.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If I could give one piece of advice to young women entering early childhood education, it would be this:
Commit to your own professional growth.
In this industry, the children’s experience will only be as strong as the knowledge, patience, and emotional regulation of the adults caring for them. When you study child development, seek coaching, reflect on your practice, and remain open to learning, you directly improve the quality of care infants and toddlers receive.
Invest in yourself. The children are counting on it.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in early childhood education right now is low pay and limited opportunities for advancement, which make it difficult to retain skilled professionals despite the high level of expertise required to care for infants and toddlers. Many educators feel undervalued and overworked, and without clear career pathways into leadership, coaching, or specialized roles, talented teachers often leave the field. At the same time, there is a growing opportunity as research continues to highlight the critical importance of early brain development, increasing public awareness and policy attention on improving quality and workforce support. This momentum creates space for stronger professional development systems, leadership roles, and advocacy for better compensation, making it a pivotal moment for professionals who are committed to growth and long term impact.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are faith, family, and a strong commitment to early childhood advocacy. My faith in God guides my decisions and helps me stay grounded in purpose and service to others. Family is central to everything I do and reminds me of the importance of nurturing, patience, and support. Professionally, I am deeply committed to advocating for young children and ensuring that they have access to high quality early childhood programs. I believe that the earliest years of life are critical to development, and that children deserve environments where they are safe, supported, and cared for by knowledgeable and compassionate educators. These values shape how I lead, how I support others, and how I continue to work toward improving early childhood education.