By Candice Wagener | Photography by Hillary Schave
As the owner and director of Arthouse Preschool, Heather Murray is responsible for 30 children and six staff members. But her sense of responsibility extends far beyond that. “[Heather’s] work is fueled by believing in early education and what her colleagues do every day for our communities, the economy and the next generation of children,” says Sarah Jacobson, a 2024 Woman to Watch, director of dance education at Arts for All and Murray’s nominator.
Murray has spent the last two years advocating for better investment in early childhood education, including hosting a Day Without Childcare last May to demonstrate the impact to working families. Wisconsin is in a childcare crisis — state funding for early childcare centers ends in June 2025, per the 2023-25 biennial budget. These funds have helped early childcare centers stay open and continue operating. As early childcare funding dwindles, so will childcare centers throughout the state.
“Heather does not want to see this continue,” says Jacobson. “She believes childcare needs to be affordable and accessible. This helps … families (especially women) stay in the workforce.”
Murray is organizing a card drop in February at the Capitol. In addition to a press conference, she and several area providers — along with the children they care for — will hand-deliver cards about investing in childcare to lawmakers’ offices.
Murray will continue to mentor other providers on advocating for change. She’s headed to Washington, D.C. in February with the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA) to present to the National Public Policy Forum. She’s also speaking about the importance of early childhood education funding at WECA’s Advocacy Day in April.
“My life’s work is educating and caring for young children and their families,” says Murray. “For too long early educators have been neglected, which in turn, makes childcare not available or affordable. Without speaking out, change will not happen.”
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
“It’s okay not to know all the answers, even though you think you might.”
