Erin E. Hamel

My research aims to examine and address the needs and well-being of early childhood teachers as a means to improve early care and education for young children. The early childhood workforce is critical to ensuring high-quality early care and education for young children and supporting working families. I investigate how early childhood teachers’ working conditions impact retention in the workforce and the impact working conditions have on the quality of teachers’ instruction and interactions with young children. One area of my research specifically examines early childhood teachers’ planning time amounts and usage, highlighting the need for supportive, universal work environment standards and policies across the field.