Sharon R. Jackson marks 50 years in early childhood education

Sharon R. Jackson, PhD, is being recognized for more than five decades of work in early childhood education, including leadership roles, Head Start support, and play-based learning advocacy. Her current efforts focus on helping childcare directors, strengthening programs, and developing the next generation of educators.

Why it matters: - Sharon R. Jackson’s career spans more than 50 years in early childhood education, giving her influence across teaching, leadership, and program development. - Her current work focuses on childcare directors, Head Start programs, and play-based learning, all of which affect how young children and educators experience early learning. - The broader value is leadership development in a field where stable, capable directors can shape classroom quality and staff support.

What happened: - Jackson is the co-founder of Early Childhood Collective, a professional development and leadership consulting business based in College Station, Texas. - Early Childhood Collective supports childcare directors, strengthens early childhood education leadership, and builds partnerships focused on professional development. - Jackson is also a lead contributor and partner in Curating Play, a project centered on advocacy for play-based learning. - Her profile was published by Influential Women on November 12, 2026.

The details: - Jackson has worked in military childcare centers, Montessori schools, faith-based preschools, and public and private education settings. - She served 22 years as director of early education services in her local school district before retiring from that role. - Jackson helped establish United Way’s Success by Six program and later volunteered with it for years. - She served as president of ChildreNinos, a community organization that supported childcare programs and family childcare homes. - Jackson currently serves on the leadership team of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children-Brazos Valley Chapter. - She has recently retired from the board of the Texas Association of Administrators and Supervisors of Programs for Young Children. - Her academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with Early Childhood Certification from North Texas State University. - She earned a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Midwestern State University. - Jackson completed doctoral studies in Early Childhood Education at Texas A&M University in 2019. - Her professional memberships include the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the National Head Start Association, the Texas Head Start Association, and the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children. - She also teaches Blinn College classes, including Educating Young Children and a practicum for child care providers. - Jackson presents at conferences and focuses her talks on individual leadership, resilience, and support for education leaders. - She continues working with teachers on practical approaches to talking, thinking, and language development in young children. - Jackson credits her faith, her desire to serve others, and the support of her husband of 55 years for sustaining her career. - She says the best advice she received was to meet challenges with positivity, purpose, and reflection, including what she calls “the power of the pause.” - Jackson tells young educators to stay positive, keep learning, and remember their work can shape children, families, and future generations. - She describes herself as committed to helping students understand that they can “Change the World!”

Between the lines: - Jackson’s career reflects a shift from direct service to fieldwide leadership, training, and mentoring. - Her emphasis on play-based learning and practical leadership suggests she sees early childhood quality as tied to both classroom experience and adult development. - The repeated focus on resilience and reflection points to a profession where burnout and turnover can weaken programs if leaders are not supported.

What's next: - Jackson plans to stay active in early childhood education through speaking, teaching, and professional support work. - Her current partnerships suggest continued emphasis on Head Start, leadership training, and play-based learning. - She remains focused on helping the next generation of educators build strong, compassionate learning environments.

The bottom line: - Jackson’s story is a long-running case for leadership, service, and play as pillars of early childhood education.