Dear Companies Offering Teacher Discounts,

We have a question: If we spend our days teaching the alphabet, counting to ten, reading stories, helping children learn kindness, and occasionally removing Play-Doh from hair... why aren't we considered teachers?

Preschool and daycare educators are the foundation of education. We teach children during the most important years of brain development. We potty train, comfort tears, manage circle time, teach letters and numbers, and help tiny humans learn how to be successful in school and life.

Many of us work at accredited centers such as the YMCA, nonprofit childcare programs, and NAEYC-accredited schools. Yet because we often do not have district-issued email addresses or state teacher IDs, we are excluded from teacher discounts offered by many retailers and businesses.

We are asking companies and verification services such as ID.me and SheerID to recognize accredited early childhood educators as eligible for teacher discounts.

Because if teaching a room full of three-year-olds to share, use inside voices, and keep their pants on doesn't qualify us as teachers, what does?

Preschool and daycare teachers are teachers. We deserve the same recognition and benefits as all educators.

Please sign this petition to support the educators who teach the smallest learners with the biggest hearts.