Early Childhood Fellowship Spotlight: Emeri Ferguson

Meet Emeri Ferguson from Franklin County—a passionate advocate and Literacy Differentiation Specialist and Coach at The Wellington School. She’s among the selected cohort of Groundwork Ohio’s 2026 Early Childhood Leadership Fellows, a transformative, year-long program that empowers emerging early childhood professionals through leadership training, policy education, and advocacy tools to amplify their impact for Ohio’s youngest children and families.

Q: Tell us about yourself and your current professional role. What kind of work do you do, and who do you serve?

A: I am a Literacy Specialist/Coach for grades 1-4 at The Wellington School. I support students in a variety of ways such as small groups for intervention, extension, reteaching, etc. I also support teachers by modeling, coteaching, and implementing programming goals that follow best practices and alignment with reading science and are supported by research.

Q: What made you want to apply for the Early Childhood Leadership Fellowship?

A: I have always had a passion for early learning and development. Through a variety of roles, I have worked with families and children at many stages of their development. I am also a mom of 4. This role has given me an even greater perspective and empathy for more affordable child care, an increase in pay for employees in child care, and a devotion to finding equality in programming for all children under 5. My experiences have made me eager to begin a fellowship that allows me to expand my reach in early childhood education and policy.

Q: What are you most excited to learn, gain, or take away from the Fellowship experience?

A: I am most excited to network with others and use my experience and skills to make a difference for children and families. I am hoping to become a better advocate and leader.

Q: How did you first hear about or get involved with Groundwork Ohio?

A: As a volunteer for Future Ready Five and an avid reader/follower of education related opportunities in Ohio, I came across information about Groundwork Ohio on LinkedIn, which led me to do more research and the more I read, the more I wanted to become part of their work.

Q: What’s one issue or challenge in the early childhood system that you’re passionate about addressing?

A: I am very passionate about addressing universal Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K). I currently have a 4yr old that attends a Pre-K program and two other children that also had that opportunity. The difference it can make, and the opportunities children receive from an education such as a Pre-K program gives greater success for kindergarten and leads to greater success through a child’s school career. Not all children have the opportunity to participate in Pre-k programming, and many students cannot because of many contributing factors.

Q: How does your lived experience shape the way you lead or advocate for young children and families?

A: I am the oldest of 3 and had a single mom. Finding opportunities in our rural area were sometimes challenging and each of us received different types of educational experiences. As I became an adult, I found myself participating in activities that allowed me to give back to children and families. I have worked in daycares, have volunteered in schools, was an AmeriCorps member with Children’s Hunger Alliance working with afterschool programs, and I have been a teacher in both public and private institutions in rural and urban areas. These experiences allowed me to notice disparities that fueled my passion for advocacy. Children and families deserve equal access to education.

Q: What do you think is important to help make Ohio the best place to be a young child?

A: It is important that children and families are first. Ohio is the best place to be when we are giving children and families opportunities and support to receive equal educational experiences and financial freedom with lower cost child care.

Q: How do you hope to use your voice as a leader in this space—now and in the future?

A: I hope to use my voice through gaining greater advocacy skills, attending meetings where my voice has an opportunity to be heard, and using things I am learning, working, and researching to share at my current school, giving my voice another audience.