Our Reason

wa • ter • shed

An area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.

An event or period marking a turning point in a course of action or state of affairs.

We believe deeply in the profession of early years teaching and we want the best for children, their families, and their teachers. We believe that the wellbeing of children, their families, their teachers, and the broader community are connected. They are entangled elements of an educational ecosystem. In our experiences as educators, our deepest professional frustrations were a direct result of a disconnect and disharmony between these elements. In our time as educational specialists and teachers in early childhood settings, we found ourselves asking: What would it look like if every professional decision, without compromise, was dedicated to strengthening the local ecology of early education?

We founded the Watershed Early Years Partnership in 2020 at a turning point in our careers wherein we decided to dedicate ourselves full-time to repairing those disconnections, on aligning everything in our practice with educational theory and research. In 2024, Watershed Community School will begin serving young children and their families through sustainable and progressive educational programs. Watershed Community School will also serve as a leading resource for professional development, teacher education, and research in the field, as well as a neighborhood hub for community events and activities.