This paper addresses the transformations which have affected the field of early childhood teacher education. The article developed a case study of how three exemplar pre-K teachers met these challenges in teaching a diverse population of children in a high-stakes context. Through using the lenses of developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant instructional practices, this study provides illustrations that teacher educators can use with their students to discuss what they can do to be early educators in a high-stakes contexts who focus on children's needs.