Written by Eboni Delaney, Interim Director of Policy and Movement Building
“I realized I was more than a daycare. I was an educator, a social worker, and an advocate.”
When you meet Olga Grays, you quickly understand her story is about more than opening a child care program. It is about resilience, community, and leadership. Olga is not only a dedicated family child care educator in Las Cruces, New Mexico, she also serves as a NAFCC State Representative and has been a powerful voice on the ground advocating for universal child care and fair treatment of educators.
Olga began her family child care journey in 2005. With a bachelor’s degree in social work and two young children of her own, her career path shifted unexpectedly. “I was offered a permanent job after graduation, but life had other plans,” Olga recalled. A former supervisor asked her to care for his children after struggling to find available space in child care. That moment sparked a new path. “I loved the fact that I was making extra money, and word of mouth started to spread. Soon, I became registered and opened my home to more children.”
As her family grew, Olga faced significant life changes. After her marriage of 16 years ended, she became a single mother of five and leaned on her community’s strength and mentors’ guidance.
With the encouragement of Mrs. Linda Lucero from the food program, she became licensed for six children and later expanded to 12. “Getting licensed made a big difference in my income, and it showed me that I could make this sustainable for my family,” she shared.
Over time, Olga discovered her true calling: working with foster children and families in transition. “My home became their second home,” she said. “I gave them love, structure, and a safe place where they could grow and heal.” Many of the children in her care had been removed from other settings or were waiting for foster placements. Olga attended weekly meetings, supported biological families reuniting with their children, and provided emergency foster care when needed. “I realized I was more than a daycare. I was an educator, a social worker, and an advocate.”
Through hardship, Olga’s commitment never wavered. She remarried in 2011 but tragically lost her husband in 2015. “I was not doing emotionally well after his passing,” she shared. After taking time to grieve, she reopened her program in 2016, this time licensed for 12 children. It was a difficult and expensive process, but with support, she persevered.
Her program reflects who she is: bilingual, inclusive, and creative. “I teach children to write their names in both English and Spanish, and I make sure they understand and respect different cultures,” Olga explained. She incorporates martial arts and gardening into her curriculum to help children regulate their emotions, build teamwork, and experience pride in what they grow and create. This aligns with NAFCC Annual Survey data showing that nearly 25% of family child care educators report Spanish as their primary language, underscoring the importance of bilingual programs like Olga’s in meeting families’ needs.
Olga’s impact extends beyond her program. She is deeply involved in community organizing with OLE (Organizers in the Land of Enchantment), where she advocates for systemic change. “I’m proud to have been part of making gains like the wage and career lattice and universal child care in New Mexico,” she said.
That achievement is especially historic. New Mexico became the first state in the nation to pass universal child care legislation, ensuring families have equitable access and that educators’ work is valued as essential. Olga’s advocacy and leadership helped make this victory possible, and her voice continues to resonate in state and national conversations.
Her leadership reflects another national reality: *82% of family child care educators report working more than 50 hours per week, yet their commitment remains steady because of their love for children and families. Olga’s story exemplifies that resilience.
Today, Olga continues to be recognized as a leader in her state and nationally. She trains other educators on topics like loose parts play and inclusivity and has been published in several early education articles. Most importantly, she continues to fight for the children who often have no voice. “It’s so rewarding when a child is adopted after being in my care, or when families call to thank me for the difference I made. Sometimes the reward is as simple as a phone call from a former child saying, ‘I chose to call you because you always make me feel better.’ Those moments remind me why I do this work.”
Olga Grays is an educator, organizer, and community leader whose journey reflects the heart of family child care. She has built a bilingual program based on love, resilience, and advocacy, while sharing her own story of perseverance through grief and challenge. Her leadership reminds us that when educators are supported and included in decision-making processes, they can help shape systems that meet the needs of families and communities. In New Mexico, the historic passage of universal child care demonstrates what is possible when educators like Olga refuse to give up on the future of children and families.
