Keysha Hampton
Keysha Hampton is a dedicated early childhood leader with more than 30 years of experience serving children and families across both nonprofit and corporate settings. She currently leads a large, NAEYC-accredited early childhood “mega” center at One Hope United, where she supervises a team of approximately 20 teachers and assistants and oversees comprehensive programming for infants and young children. For nearly a decade in this role, Keysha has successfully maintained national accreditation while ensuring families receive consistent, high-quality care and education.
Keysha’s professional philosophy is grounded in equity, access, and trauma-informed practice. She is deeply committed to providing excellent early learning experiences regardless of a family’s income or economic circumstances, and she emphasizes family-centered supports that meet children where they are. Drawing on coursework in speech-language pathology, she integrates developmental and communication-focused strategies into her leadership and daily practice. A strong advocate for community partnerships, Keysha believes meaningful impact happens when services are brought directly to the families who need them most.
Beginning her career as a teacher assistant, Keysha steadily advanced through roles including teacher, educational coordinator, assistant director, and director-level leadership. She has demonstrated resilience and innovation throughout her career, notably guiding her center through the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing CDC-aligned safety procedures and supporting families with remote learning for very young children. Keysha holds a master’s degree in Early Childhood Administration with a 4.0 GPA and is currently completing an Infant and Child Mental Health Consultant certification. Her leadership and service have earned her internal agency recognition and selection as one of Aurora, Illinois’ Influential Women for 2026.
• Infant and child health certification
• Erikson Institute
• National Louis University- M.Ed.
• Northern Illinois University- B.A.
• Internal Agency Awards
• National Association for the Education of Young Children
• GoACy
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to spending my entire career—more than 30 years—in early childhood education, a field I’ve been passionate about since I was a little girl. That long-term commitment, combined with a dedication to high-quality care, continuous learning, and steady leadership through challenges like the COVID crisis, has shaped both my growth and impact.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is that you really can build a career in the field you’ve dreamed about since you were a little girl—and that staying true to that passion will carry you far.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You can have a deeply rewarding career helping to raise the future leaders of America—take your education seriously, stay open to lifelong learning, and don’t be afraid to return to school when the time is right. Get involved through volunteering, presentations, and community outreach to build experience, confidence, and lasting passion for the field.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges right now is balancing long work hours with continued education while ensuring every child and infant receives high-quality, attentive care—especially amid staffing shortages and increased safety demands. At the same time, there are strong opportunities to expand trauma-informed practices, strengthen infant and child mental health supports, and build community partnerships that improve access and outcomes for families.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are providing equitable, high-quality care so children are safe, nurtured, and supported while their parents work, along with a strong commitment to family-centered care and community service. In my personal life, I value continued growth and balance, which I find through reading and enjoying hands-on DIY projects at home.