Early Childhood Leadership Fellow Spotlight: Megan Hamilton

What does it take to move from classroom experience to systems-level impact?

Groundwork Ohio Early Childhood Leadership Fellow Megan Hamilton shares her journey—from teaching to leading a collaborative effort focused on kindergarten readiness—and how she’s working to expand access, strengthen partnerships, and elevate the voices of families and educators. Her perspective highlights what it means to lead with intention and build stronger systems for Ohio’s youngest children.

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 the Director of the Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative at Future Ready Five, a collective impact organization in Franklin County. I oversee the day-to-day needs of our KRC program, providing support, education, and resources to our child care program directors, teachers, families, and most importantly, children under the age of five.

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

A. I have been in this role for almost 2.5 years and was previously in public education. While I am no stranger to advocating for equity and opportunities, I’m now in a role where I have a bigger platform to impact more lives, and I want to make sure my advocacy is intentional, informed, and effective. This fellowship represents an opportunity to deepen my understanding of early childhood systems, strengthen my leadership skills, and collaborate with others who are equally passionate about creating equitable outcomes for young children and families. I’m eager to grow alongside a community of leaders committed to meaningful change and to bring that learning back to my organization and community.

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

A. I’m excited to deepen my understanding of how early childhood systems and policy intersect; and how they can improve daily work in child care settings. I’m particularly interested in learning strategies to strengthen our collective impact efforts, align community partners, elevate family and educator voices, and drive sustainable change across our community. I also hope to gain practical tools to better support our child care program directors, teachers, and families, especially in navigating systemic barriers to readiness and equity. Ultimately, I look forward to transforming early childhood outcomes and driving meaningful, community-centered impact.

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

Groundwork and Future Ready Five are partners in the Central Ohio region, but secretly, my best friend, Marti Ridley, is the Digital Communications Director!

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

Affordable and equitable access to high quality child care for all.

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

With nearly 15 years in early childhood education, first as a Pre-K teacher and then as a first-grade teacher in the public school system, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with some of our most vulnerable children and their families. These experiences have repeatedly shown me how deeply inequities and hardships can impact a child's development and future opportunities. Witnessing these challenges firsthand has fueled my commitment to advocate for policies and practices that support the whole child; across all of our neighborhoods.

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

We must ensure that every child, regardless of their zip code, race, or income, has access to high-quality early learning experiences and the supports they need to thrive. That begins with investing in our early childhood workforce, ensuring they are respected, well-compensated, and equipped with the tools and resources to succeed. It also requires aligning systems and prioritizing early education, so that families experience a seamless, supportive journey from birth to kindergarten. Just as importantly, we must actively include the voices of families and educators in policy development and decision-making, ensuring that those most impacted help shape the solutions.

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

As a leader in early childhood education, I aim to use my voice to amplify the experiences of children and families who are often overlooked. Drawing on my years working directly with young learners and their communities, I am committed to advocating for affordable and equitable access to high-quality child care, education, and comprehensive supports.

Now and in the future, I will collaborate with educators, policymakers, and families to create inclusive environments where every child can thrive. In my role, I seek to influence policies and practices that expand access to affordable, high-quality early learning opportunities. Ultimately, my goal is to ensure that every child in our community enters kindergarten ready to succeed by building systems that provide comprehensive support from the earliest years.