For more than twenty years, Angela Glass has been a familiar and friendly face at the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida (ELCNWF) — a place she proudly calls her second home.

Angela’s journey in early childhood education began in April 2004, when she started working in Early Education and Care. Just a year later, in 2005, she interviewed with the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida and has been part of the organization ever since. Today, she serves as a Family Support Specialist, helping families determine their eligibility for child care assistance.

“It’s what we’re here to do,” Angela explained. “We take the burden of child care off of families so they can feel safe, their kids can feel safe, and they know their children are in a secure place.”

Angela’s connection to early education runs deep. In fact, she first enrolled her own children in child care back in 2002, long before joining the Coalition. That personal experience inspired her to dedicate her career to helping other parents access the same kind of support that made such a difference in her own life.

Building a Family at Work

Over the years, Angela has formed lifelong friendships with her coworkers — including Ngoc Hardy, Jennifer Kent, and Donna Wood, who have been with her since the very beginning. Her first supervisor was Sam Sweezy, whom she remembers fondly.

“It’s nice working with people for that long because you really become a family,” said Angela. “We’ve been there through thick and thin, and that bond is one of the reasons I like it here so much.”

That sense of family extends beyond the walls of the office. For Angela, it’s a feeling that defines the heart of the Coalition — one built on compassion, teamwork, and genuine care for one another.

The Power of Encouragement

When asked what drew her to the field of early childhood education, Angela didn’t hesitate: “Helping people.”

She recalled one encounter early in her career that still stands out. A customer she was assisting had recently earned her CNA certification but wasn’t sure whether to continue her studies to become a registered nurse. Angela asked her a simple but powerful question: “Do you love what you do?”

When the woman said yes, Angela encouraged her, replying, “Then why not further it and make money doing what you love?”

Moments later, Angela returned with the woman’s paperwork to find her in tears — happy tears. Angela had helped her make up her mind about her future. “I explained that she was doing the right thing,” Angela said. “That’s what my job is — to help them along the way.”

A Culture of Care and Support

Throughout her years at the Coalition, Angela has faced personal challenges — and through them all, her workplace family has been by her side.

“I had all the support in the world when I found out my youngest daughter had autism,” she shared. “The Coalition helped me get information and anything else I needed.”

Her colleagues continued to show care and understanding through other difficult times as well. “When my dad got cancer, I stayed at the hospital for almost two weeks, and the job was so accommodating,” she said. “Then my husband had a brain bleed and a stroke, and I was told to stay and take care of him. They were always checking on me. That makes you feel good about your employer — that you’re at the right place and doing the right things. You feel valued here.”

More Than a Job — A Calling

Angela’s story is more than a timeline of years and titles. It’s a reflection of her unwavering compassion, her deep sense of purpose, and the genuine relationships that make the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida such a special place to work.

Through every challenge and every success, Angela has remained committed to one simple mission: helping families thrive. “That’s what we’re here for,” she said. “To make life just a little easier for the families we serve — and to know that what we do makes a difference.”

Thank you for 20 years of service to ELCNWF!