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Press Release: LAEP to Tackle ECE Crisis: Virtual Event to Unveil Impact and Future of Ready2Teach Workforce Solution

Los Angeles, CA, October 29, 2025 – The Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) today announced a special virtual webinar focused on addressing the critical shortage of qualified Early Childhood Educators (ECE) in Los Angeles County. The webinar will present key research and impact findings from LAEP’s innovative Ready2Teach program, which supports the growth and professionalization of the infant and toddler educator workforce.

The Ready2Teach program is a core component of LAEP’s commitment to building futures “from diapers to diplomas,” offering a vital pathway for community members to become certified ECE professionals. This initiative directly tackles the persistent staffing crisis that threatens early learning access and quality for thousands of Los Angeles families.

The virtual event, “Lessons, Impact & the Future of Early Childhood Educators (ECE) Workforce Development,” is a critical platform for systemic change. It will offer attendees—including policymakers, education leaders, funding partners, and grassroots community advocates—an in-depth look at the program’s findings and replicable strategies for creating sustainable, equity-driven ECE workforce pipelines.

Attendees will learn about:

  • Real Stories of Transformation from program alumni and employer partners.
  • Key Findings on Ready2Teach program outcomes and its measured workforce impact.
  • Lessons Learned and strategies for replication of this equity-advancing model.
  • How Ready2Teach advances equity, access, and quality in Early Childhood Education.

“The data we are presenting at this webinar proves that community-driven solutions like Ready2Teach can effectively and equitably solve the ECE staffing crisis,” said Dr. Dawn A. Kurtz, LAEP CEO. “This is more than just training; it’s an equity engine that is professionalizing the workforce, empowering our communities, and building the infrastructure for early learning stability in Los Angeles.”

Webinar Details

Topic:              Lessons, Impact & the Future of Early Childhood Educators (ECE) Workforce Development

Date & Time:  Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 11:00am – 12:30pm PST

Registration:   bit.ly/R2TRegistration

To learn more about LAEP’s programs and how to support their mission, please visit laep.org.

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About Los Angeles Education Partnership

The Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance educational equity. Together with families, schools, and the community, LAEP facilitates access to and opportunities for quality educational and wellness practices so that children thrive from diapers to diplomas. For more information about Los Angeles Education Partnership, please visit www.laep.org.

For more information

Contact: LaCora Stephens

Email: lstephens@laep.org

Phone: 213-622-5237, ext. 233

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Melissa Peña

Chief Program Officer

Melissa Peña serves as the Chief Program Officer at the Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP), bringing more than two decades of experience advancing educational equity, youth development, and community-centered systems change. A mission-driven and strategic leader, she has dedicated her career to eliminating barriers to learning and seeking equitable outcomes for historically underserved youth. Prior to joining LAEP, Melissa spent over 14 years at Green Dot Public Schools where she launched and scaled high-impact initiatives that reduced chronic absenteeism by 27%, expanded access to wellness services, and built network-wide support systems for more than 600 homeless and foster youth across 18 schools. Her leadership is rooted in both entrepreneurial vision and disciplined execution—designing programs, teams, and infrastructure that strengthen outcomes for students while supporting the adults who serve them. 

Melissa’s commitment to equity has shaped her work across roles in education, youth development, and human services, including senior leadership positions at The Door in New York City and national diversity recruitment efforts at Teach For America. She began her career as a fourth-grade teacher in Newark, New Jersey, a formative experience that continues to ground her belief that the key to ensuring every young person meets their full potential lies in the power of family–school–community partnerships. At LAEP, Melissa leads program strategy with empathy, clarity, and a deep belief that children thrive when systems work together from “diapers to diplomas.” She holds a Master’s in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara. Outside of work, she enjoys researching her family history, exploring nature, and family movie nights with her husband and two children. 

LaCora Stephens

Marketing and Communications

LaCora is a seasoned communications professional with a passion for using multimedia storytelling to empower movements for social justice and equality. For over 13 years, she has honed her skills as a versatile multimedia director, overseeing media operations across diverse organizations, including the NAACP Beverly Hills-Hollywood Branch and The Shirley Chisholm Education Foundation. Her deep understanding of the education and equity landscape fuels her creative vision, allowing her to craft impactful narratives that resonate with audiences.

With strategic communication​ and collaboration, LaCora excels in developing and executing compelling​ multimedia campaigns that not only raise​ awareness of critical issues but also​ inspire action and drive meaningful change. Her proficiency in concept​ development, production execution, and​ team leadership ensures projects are​ delivered with exceptional quality. Furthermore, LaCora fosters strong​ relationships with internal and external​ stakeholders, cultivating partnerships​ that maximize campaign reach and impact.

LaCora's educational foundation began with a Bachelor of Science in Theatre Education from Florida A&M University. She then pursued a master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Alliant University of San Diego. This passion for storytelling, fueled by her background in education, translates to her belief in the power of shared narratives. Her work in this area was recognized through her selection as a Women in Film Mentee and film director for Viola Davis’ sponsored film showcase, Diversity in Cannes. Now, LaCora leverages her love of storytelling and commitment to educational equity in her role leading marketing and communications for Los Angeles Education Partnership, while also serving on the board of the Pasadena African American Film Foundation.

Eric Barela, Ph.D.

Senior Consultant, Raya Cooper Impact Consulting

Dr. Eric Barela has worked as a measurement & evaluation professional for over 2 decades, helping organizations to better understand and act on their social impact. He’s currently a Senior Consultant with Raya Cooper Impact Consulting and previously worked at Salesforce, where he led efforts to measure the social impact of the company’s work with nonprofits and educational institutions across the globe. He began his career working with the Los Angeles Unified School District and with the nonprofit, Partners in School Innovation. Eric previously served on the Board of the American Evaluation Association and currently serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the American Journal of Evaluation.

Eric grew up in East LA and was educated in the Montebello Unified School District. He holds a Ph.D. in education from UCLA. He loves a good road trip, with his husband serving as trusty navigator.