In Katelyn Phillips’ classroom at Campbell County High School, the focus is on what comes next — not just for her students, but for the children they could one day teach.
“We desperately need teachers,” Katelyn said, “So for me it’s a passion to prepare my students to go out into the real world and do something in education.”
Through hands-on learning, her students don’t just study early childhood education, they experience it. It’s part of a bigger picture: building a pathway from early learning to future careers in education.
That connection came to life in a new way this winter when she and her students stepped beyond the classroom and into the halls of the Kentucky State Capitol.
Through Live United Day, an annual advocacy event led by United Way, Katelyn and three students joined hundreds of early childhood advocates from across the commonwealth.
United Way advocates in close partnership with organizations like the Early Childhood Learning Education Assessment Resource Network (EC LEARN) to bring together educators, childcare providers and individuals with lived experience — making sure the voices closest to the challenges are part of shaping the solutions.
“It was just a really great opportunity to get to talk to our representatives and senators about what we need as future educators,” said senior Violet Kinsella.
Junior Emma Slater saw the trip with United Way of Greater Cincinnati as a chance to network for a future career in social work.
“It felt important to me because it is such a small world,” Emma said, “And those connections can really help you in the future.”
The students also saw firsthand how speaking up can influence policies that affect classrooms.
“Pay for daycare workers is very low, especially in Kentucky,” Violet said. It’s a topic she and her classmates got to bring up with their local legislators.
“Getting to talk with them and knowing that they’re from our community … that was just really nice to see,” Emma said.
Their teacher was encouraged by their confidence.
“I was really proud of my students for everything that they said, that they weren’t scared to hold back, that they were very honest,” she said.
Her students also began to understand the broader movement they’re part of.
“That it’s not just here in our little community, but it’s everywhere,” Katelyn said. “There are people out there that are seeking changes and it’s really making a difference.”
That collective advocacy — powered by United Way partnerships — helped elevate shared priorities during the legislative session, including House Bill 6, an effort to strengthen Kentucky’s childcare system, which ultimately passed.
Experiences like Live United Day are especially critical given the growing need for educators. And building a strong cradle-to-career pipeline depends on both access to early learning and investment in the workforce behind it.
“Education is in the top five high-demand career fields in Kentucky … I just feel like it’s part of my responsibility to help that pipeline,” Katelyn said.
Her students continue building connections and exploring opportunities, carrying forward what they started in Frankfort.
“For them to know that their voice is making a difference is huge,” she said. “It’s like a proud mom moment.”
“Be the voice for those that don’t have one,” said Violet.
Through events like Live United Day, United Way is helping make that possible — ensuring the next generation has both a voice and a pathway forward.
