Understanding the wellbeing of early educators in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic: Lessons from Louisiana

•We explore child care and school-based teacher wellbeing before and during COVID-19.•Pre-COVID wellbeing was low, particularly for teachers in child care centers.•We find clear reductions in emotional wellbeing and job commitment after COVID.•COVID changes do not differ between child care and school-based teachers.•Target COVID recovery funding at child care teachers with emphasis on wellbeing.