STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Miren Algorri does it all

Miren Algorri is a San Diego State University student — specifically, a DEBER scholar and child development major. But that only scratches the surface of her journey to make a difference.

Algorri is also deeply involved in a variety of commitments beyond SDSU — she runs her home-based child care facility, is a leader for the United Domestic Workers of America union, is a member of Child Care Providers United’s bargaining team and is an appointee to the state of California’s Early Childhood Policy Council Advisory Committee.

Despite juggling so many responsibilities, Algorri says it is a privilege to further her education so that she can share what she learns with other early childhood educators operating their facilities. 
 
“The formal education for the work that we do is important,” Algorri said. “The years in childcare grant us the experience and the knowledge, but we also want to understand the theories about the different phases of a child’s development.” 

The DEBER program is designed to support future bilingual teachers from local community colleges through professional development opportunities, community-building activities, ongoing advisement and a stipend. Algorri appreciates that these resources are creating, equipping and strengthening the local community.

“Childcare is the most important industry there is because we’re shaping the future of the United States of America,” Algorri said. “The work that we do is crucial to the betterment of the nation.”

Algorri stresses that although the work of childcare providers may not be as widely celebrated as other professions, it is often the most critical. 

“You do this because you know that you are a part of this big mechanism that better communities and provides better outcomes for the little ones,” Algorri said. “So I know that we’re the little pieces of this huge mechanism, but that little piece makes that mechanism work. We have hard work, you know — the gears and the levers.”

Algorri is particularly interested in advocating for accessibility to quality childcare for immigrant families who need a network to help navigate their new lives. From personal experience, she understands the desire for added support to provide their children with the best head start possible and wants to be a part of a movement to address community needs. 

“We live in a childcare desert, which means that parents struggle to find childcare spots for their children, especially for parents with young infants and toddlers,” Algorri said, referring to San Diego County. “Especially those first- and second-generation children in this country, we want to make sure that they go on to great things, get a college education, become business owners, and become well-adjusted citizens who bring positive things to the community.” 

Growing up, becoming a family childcare provider never crossed Algorri’s mind. It was only after moving to the U.S. from Mexico following her graduation from high school that she got involved in the childcare industry by helping her mother operate her family childcare business. 

As her mother’s assistant, Algorri learned and loved how to do some of the childcare administrative work, how to create activities and, of course, how to care for the children. 

After she became a mother herself, she became a licensed family childcare provider so she could stay with her daughters while having a form of income. More importantly, however, Algorri does this out of passion and love.

“I know there are individuals who have always aspired to become early childhood educators and some of us where it was more nurtured,” Algorri said. “But I don’t think either nature or nurture makes a difference because I’m very passionate about what I do. I love what I do and I love how impactful my work is and it’s definitely seen, at least from my end.”

Algorri’s childcare facility, located in Northwest Chula Vista, is licensed for 14 children that come from all around the county.

She aspires to expand services to meet the community’s demand for Early Care and Education by offering a comprehensive, multilingual, and multicultural program that supports the needs of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners.

In pursuing an education at SDSU, Algorri hopes to eventually obtain a bilingual credential to be a recognized teacher. 

“By attaining a credential and the education that comes with it,” Algorri said. “I will be able to shape children into fully bilingual individuals by creating a space where their language and cultural richness are valued, embraced and promoted.”

Despite how rigorous being in the childcare industry may be, Algorri finds the career extremely rewarding. 

“It inspires you to get up every day,” Algorri said. “This is a career where you get to reflect on the work that you do on a daily basis. So the following day, you can do better. You can be better. You can be a better director, you can be a better educator. You can be a better partner for their families. You can be a better role model for those little ones you are teaching and you are helping shape and through who they will become.”