Smith was given the award by the Council for Professional Recognition at the 2024 Early Educators Leadership Conference
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Linda Smith, the director of policy at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska, received the CDA Advocate Award for Early Childhood Education from the Council for Professional Recognition.
The Council for Professional Recognition helps early educators further their educational and career goals through different pathways and credentials, including the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.
Smith accepted the award Oct. 18 at the 2024 Early Educators Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. It recognizes her “tireless advocacy” for quality early childhood education.
A national early childhood expert, Smith has worked in Tribal and military child care, was the deputy assistant secretary for early childhood development in the federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and previously served as director of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Early Childhood Development Initiative. She started her career in early childhood on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in her native state of Montana.
Learn more about Smith and her extensive background here.
“I’m honored to receive this award from an organization that is doing so much to advance the careers of early childhood professionals,” Smith said. “We need to continue to increase access to quality child care and build a strong pipeline of early educators so children can learn and grow, and families can go to work.”
The Buffett Early Childhood Institute is the University of Nebraska’s system-wide institute dedicated to the learning and development of young children. The Buffett Institute was established with a founding gift from Omaha philanthropist Susie Buffett and opened its doors in 2013.