On Cusp Of Universal Pre-K In Philadelphia, One Early Education Leader Sails Into Retirement
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Imagine working for a goal your whole life, and just as it's about to become reality... you're retiring. That's what's happening to a Philadelphia leader in early childhood education, just as the city is about to adopt universal pre-K.
Sharon Easterling is packing up her things at the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children, where she's spent 22 years trying to improve the quality of pre-school and increasing public investment.
Timing's always been an issue for me," she said.
Easterling didn't know this would be happening when she announced, a year ago, she'd be leaving this month, to accommodate a new marriage and life changes.
"It's bittersweet but it's also interesting that as I'm leaving, I'm handing off the torch to a new generation of leaders who will deal with implementation," she said.
Her successor, Carol Austin, says it's 'daunting but exciting.'
With 1,500 new pre-K seats a year coming online, Austin's new job is lot more complicated than the one she applied for -- but she's looking forward to it.
"I'm thrilled that I get to be a part of this fight in the early years," Austin said.
