07/18/2026
Mercedes Fleet is the Founder and Owner of Bright Little Scholars, a high-quality early learning program dedicated to supporting children, families, and the early childhood workforce. As an educator, entrepreneur, and advocate, Mercedes has become a respected voice in advancing policies that strengthen access to quality child care and early learning opportunities.
Mercedes serves as an Advocacy Ambassador for the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) Affiliate Network and is an active member of the Public Policy Partners (3Ps), the SEPECC Advocacy Workgroup, and the Early Childhood Provider Council. Through these leadership roles, she works alongside providers, families, and policymakers to champion solutions that improve outcomes for children and ensure the sustainability of the child care sector.
As a dedicated advocate for early childhood education, Mercedes has participated in numerous advocacy days at the Pennsylvania State Capitol, meeting directly with legislators and their staff to discuss the needs of children, families, and child care providers. She has built meaningful relationships with elected officials through visits to their district offices, participation in community events, and ongoing policy discussions. Mercedes has also welcomed legislators and public officials into Bright Little Scholars, providing firsthand opportunities to observe high-quality early learning environments and engage with educators and families about the impact of public policy on child care programs.
Mercedes helped organize and lead participation in A Day Without Child Care, a national advocacy movement that highlights the critical role child care providers play in supporting working families and local economies. Her advocacy efforts focus on increasing investments in early childhood education, strengthening the child care workforce, expanding access to affordable care, and ensuring providers have a voice in policy decisions.
Her leadership has also been recognized through media coverage of early childhood issues. During Pennsylvania's state budget impasse, Mercedes spoke publicly about the consequences of delayed funding for providers and families. As the owner of Bright Little Scholars' Pre-K Counts program, she warned that continued delays could force classroom closures, stating, "I can't go to my landlord and say, 'Hey, the budget didn't pass, I can't pay you money.' Can't expect people to show up and work and not know when they're going to get paid." Her comments helped bring attention to the challenges faced by early learning programs across the Commonwealth.
Through her work as an educator, advocate, and community leader, Mercedes remains committed to ensuring that every child has access to high-quality early education and that the professionals who care for and educate young children are valued, supported, and heard.
Thank you The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)
