Today we’d like to introduce you to Becky Ikeda.
Hi becky, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
“There’s something magical about watching a three-year-old discover they can do something they never thought they could. Whether it’s writing their name for the first time, making a new friend, learning to share, or learning a simple prayer with confidence, those little moments become the building blocks for a lifetime of learning. That’s why I’ve dedicated my career to preschool education.”
My path into early childhood education began when I was just 17 years old. As a young mom, I accepted a job at a local daycare, never realizing it would become my life’s calling. Within six months, I was promoted to lead teacher in the pre-kindergarten classroom. From that point on, I knew my heart belonged with preschool-aged children. Throughout my career, I’ve worked exclusively with children ages three to five because I believe those years are some of the most important in a child’s development.
Along the way, I attended college and even completed beauty school, becoming a licensed hairstylist. While I still enjoy doing hair, my true passion has always been early childhood education. I also spent time working with my dad teaching Tiny Tots Soccer through our local parks and recreation program, another experience that reinforced my love for helping young children learn, grow, and gain confidence.
After working at several childcare centers, I found what I had been searching for when I joined a preschool that focused solely on early childhood education. I loved being in an environment dedicated entirely to preschoolers and was fortunate enough to teach my own children there as well.
In the summer of 2010, an unexpected conversation at my salon changed the course of my career. A church member mentioned that Hope Lutheran Church Preschool was looking for a teacher. Even more exciting, I discovered the preschool was led by someone I had previously worked with. I reached out immediately and was hired as an assistant teacher.
At the time, Hope Lutheran Church Preschool was only in its second year with two half-day classrooms. As the school grew, I became a lead teacher, then assistant director, and eventually interim director. During that year, I worked alongside church leadership to search for a permanent director. One of my coworkers, Chelsea, believed in me before I fully believed in myself. She encouraged me to pursue the position, reminding me that God had prepared me for it. After speaking with our pastor, who shared that same confidence, I accepted the role of director in 2017.
Leading the preschool has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. Like many schools, we faced enormous challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Closing our doors was heartbreaking, but reopening safely became my mission. I spent countless hours developing a plan that would allow our children, families, and staff to return with confidence. Watching our school community come back together reminded me just how much Hope means to so many families.
Today, our school may look different than it did years ago, but our mission has never changed. What makes Hope Lutheran Church Preschool special isn’t just our classrooms—it’s our people. Many of our teachers have been with us for six to eleven years, creating consistency, stability, and genuine relationships with the families we serve. We truly are a family. The connections our teachers build with children and parents often continue long after graduation, and I still keep in touch with many of our former students and families.
At Hope, we believe preschool is about so much more than preparing children academically. We strive to give every child the social, emotional, spiritual, and academic foundation they need to thrive in kindergarten and beyond. We teach through a faith-based approach, helping children learn kindness, compassion, confidence, responsibility, and God’s love while discovering the joy of learning.
As a nonprofit, tuition-supported preschool, we are incredibly grateful for the families who choose us and support our mission. Their generosity, encouragement, and partnership allow us to continue serving our community year after year.
Hope Lutheran Church Preschool has been my home since 2010. It has shaped who I am as an educator, a leader, and a person. If there’s one thing I hope people understand about early childhood education, it’s that preschool teachers are so much more than babysitters. We are educators, mentors, role models, and some of the very first people who help children discover who they are and what they’re capable of becoming.
Every August, when a new group of little faces walks through our doors, I know I have the opportunity to help shape not only their first school experience, but also their confidence, their faith, their friendships, and their love of learning. That’s a responsibility and a privilege I never take for granted, and it’s what continues to inspire me every single day.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
-Covid 19
-Hiring the right people (shortage of quality employees)
-Budget (what our teachers get paid compared to other schools) it’s less being non for profit.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I believe what sets me apart is that I lead with my heart. Every decision I make starts with one simple question: **“Is this what’s best for the children?”** I want every family to know they are more than just a name on a class list. I want every child to know they are loved, capable, and created with purpose. I treat each child as if they were my own, celebrating their accomplishments, encouraging them through challenges, and helping them discover just how much they are capable of. My goal has never been simply to run a preschool—it’s to create a place where children love to learn, teachers love to teach, and families feel they belong.
One of the moments that reminds me why I do this work is our annual Pre\-K graduation. . It wouldn’t feel like graduation if I didn’t shed a few tears. After spending a year or so watching these children grow in their confidence, faith, friendships, and love of learning, it’s hard to say goodbye. While I’m excited to see them begin kindergarten, I truly miss each one of them. Watching them spread their wings is bittersweet, and I think that’s because I genuinely love every child who walks through our doors.
Early childhood educators often don’t receive the recognition they deserve, but I truly believe we have one of the most important jobs in the world. We have the privilege of helping shape a child’s very first school experience, and that foundation can influence a lifetime of learning.. Being part of that journey is both an incredible responsibility and an incredible blessing.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
As a new school year begins, I’d also like to encourage our community to extend a little extra kindness and grace to the teachers who dedicate their lives to caring for children. Behind every classroom is a teacher who may also be a wife, a mother, a daughter, or a caregiver. They balance their own families and responsibilities while pouring their hearts into the children they teach each day.
Early childhood education is a profession built on love, patience, and dedication. We certainly don’t choose this career because of the paycheck—we choose it because we genuinely love children and believe in the difference we can make in their lives. Every hug, every encouraging word, every lesson, and every smile comes from a place of caring.
As parents and community members, your support, understanding, and kind words mean more than you may ever realize. When we work together with grace, respect, and open communication, children benefit the most. Thank you for trusting us with your little ones and for recognizing the love, commitment, and hard work that goes into helping them learn, grow, and thrive every single day.
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