Early Childhood Teacher Gets a Call from President Biden

Liz Reynolds in her new classroom at Sanford Springvale YMCA

Photo: Lee Burnett

Liz Reynolds had only been teaching Pre-K at the Sanford Springvale YMCA for two days when she got a call from the White House. Within a week, she was talking to President Biden on Facetime.

“It was wild,” said Reynolds. “I was a little speechless.” Reynolds had rehearsed for the occasion with YMCA Director Andy Orazio and was anxious about delivering scripted messages, but was put at ease by Biden’s manner, she said. “He called me ‘kid.’ That was comforting,” she said.

The promotional event was arranged to promote Biden’s “Invest in America” agenda. It was a $250,000 grant from the American Rescue Act that helped fund construction of three classrooms at the Y, enabling the expansion of childcare to kids as young as six-weeks old, and benefiting 30 families. Biden has been holding direct conversations with people who are benefitting from investments to lower health care costs, upgrading infrastructure projects, improving job opportunities, expanding access to high-speed internet, and more.

The shortage of childcare has become a national crisis that was discussed in the televised debate this week between Republican Vice-Presidential candidate JD Vance and Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate Tim Walz.

In his Facetime remarks, Biden told Reynolds, “The pressure you’re taking off so many parents and the ability for them to work and make a living and grow the economy, it’s really amazing.” Reynolds replied, “It’s been great to have them drop off and they know that they can join the workforce and their kids are safe here.”

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Reynolds, 30, of Sanford has been teaching for ten years, first at the kindergarten level at Carl J Lamb School. She said Pre-K education is more important than ever.

“Honestly, it’s a necessity because of where Kindergarten is and is going,” Reynolds said. “The expectation of what young children know has changed so much. All of my students are Covid babies. This is the first time for them to use scissors, crayons or a pencil and how to write their name. Once you know that, you’re ready to go.”

The call came together within a week, according to YMCA director Orazio, who said he almost deleted the first email from the White House that landed in his inbox Friday, Sept. 6. A White House staffer wanted to talk with a teacher and Reynolds, who happened to be working late, took the call. By Sunday, the White House had confirmed that the President would like to talk with her in the next several days after tech issues were resolved and background research conducted. The actual call happened Thursday, Sept. 14 after which the Y had to keep mum for two weeks.

“It was an amazing experience,” said Orazio.” It’s really amazing to be representing not only the Y, but the community … Support for early learning is so critical.”

Reynolds was home sick when the news broke last week, but she heard about it from friends who texted her.

“Oh, yeah,” she laughed. “I got a lot of messages.”