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NCSL’s Child Care Policy Work Group & Faculty

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I have been leading a bipartisan group of 13 state legislators from across the US who have expertise in child care policy issues to develop a set of recommendations for state legislatures on how to address the child care crisis. We just finished our 3rd meeting in Savannah, and I am in the throes of writing their report. We will be releasing it in July at our annual Legislative Summit.

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Super excited to share that the book I wrote with Dr. Rosemarie Allen is now available from NAEYC and Amazon!!! Get your copy today and let us know what you think!!

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Megan Haynes and Priscilla Patti - cohort #7

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Megan Haynes and I are thrilled to announce the launch of our Reggio-Inspired Educator’s Course—a project born from our shared passion for play, relationships, and the profound capabilities of young children. This offering has been years in the making, and we’re so excited to share it with fellow Buellers who are committed to transformative, heart-centered education.Check it out here - Reggio-Inspired.com

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This is Katie Danna-Poston, Cohort 10, and I'm jumping in here to give Dr. Alas his flowers for his dedication, hard work, and persistence in his academic journey! Julio successfully defended his dissertation this summer and now holds a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Colorado Denver. I am incredibly grateful that our paths crossed, allowing me to learn alongside you, laugh with you, and to call you a colleague and friend!

P.S. Julio's family joined his dissertation defense via Zoom, and they were incredibly proud of him! Not a dry eye in the virtual room!

Congrats again, Dr. Alas!

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I had been diagnosed with lymphoma in May of 2019, right around the time that I was accepted into the doctoral program at UCD. The cancer had been in remission for six months. In May of 2020, my cancer returned, and I underwent a stem cell transplant on September 2nd, 2020. This year, I celebrated my 5th "stem cell birthday", and I remain cancer free. I have also contued to work on my doctorate and I am hoping to graduate in May of 2026.

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I was hired onto Colorado State University's PEACE Lab along with making progress towards completing my dissertation. Excited for collaborating on more ECE policy research and planning to complete my PhD in 2026.

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I presented for the first time at RMECC, I became a Pyramid facilitator and started a new job with Canon City Schools as their preschool program director.

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My fellow Buellers and mentors, Stacy Fujieda and Dorothy Shapland, convinced me to go back to school and finish that degree during the Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference this year. Dr. Ryan was also there and I scheduled an appointment to see which classes I needed to finish my Master's Degree. I was convinced and I started school again this fall at UCD! I am loving the learning and being a student again. Nune from our cohort is even in my class. I hope to graduate next fall 2026!

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After being an EMT for 5 years, my daughter started the accelerated Paramedic program at Aims Community College and was awarded a full scholarship to cover tuition. Woot! Woot!

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Started a new job at DCP with fellow Bueller, Mary Nelson (11). Lililana Flores Amaro (11) is a parent in the community. We'll also be collaborating with Natalie Magnatta (13) and the library AND Dorothy Shapland (5) and her band will be playing at our Fall Festival/Grand Opening!! Buellers are representing big time at DCP!!

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An early childhood cooperative community guiding young children on the adventure of self discovery through play.

We have availability for the 2025-26 school year!
Learn more about our enrollment process through the Apply section of our website.

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A play-based early childhood cooperative community in Denver, Colorado founded in 1960.

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I've been working for myself the past 4 years (www.meaningful-collaboration.com) and one of my most meaningful projects was with Assuring Better Child Health and Development. Three years ago, ABCD received a CIRCLE grant and through that grant, I worked with three Spanish-speaking FFN providers to create a training for other Spanish-speaking FFN providers to learn more about child development. Three years later and one of the FFN providers - Laura - is still hosting trainings throughout Denver. ABCD highlighted Laura recently: English, Spanish!

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Historia de Impacto: De Buscar Cuidado Infantil a Crear Comunidad

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Descubre cómo una madre se convirtió en un pilar de impacto en su comunidad y colaboró con ABCD en el camino.

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This summer our mobile preschool program was featured in a 9News story. While the piece was truly about the families we serve and our amazing teachers, I still got my first 15 seconds of fame! 🤣

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Mobile preschool bus brings free, bilingual education to Eagle County children

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Celebrating Colorado's Splendor and Majesty

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For 43 years, I’ve been blessed to call Colorado home—one of the most breathtaking regions in the world. Its wild beauty stirs my soul, shaping my spirit, fueling my adventures, and gifting me with endless awe, inviting me to discover more each day.

PS- Look for the moose. 😊

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Lorrel Esterbrook - Cohort 3, Linda Franklin - Cohort 7, and Melissa Jewell - Cohort 9

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Lorrel Esterbrook - Cohort 3, Linda Franklin - Cohort 7, and Melissa Jewell - Cohort 9

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We are excited to announce the launch of SPARK Learning Lab Colorado, an exciting new venture that expands access to high-quality, data-driven early childhood education services across Colorado.

On September 1, 2025 our teams moved from Clayton Early Learning to Shine Early Learning, a subsidiary of Acelero, Inc to form SPARK Learning Lab Colorado. This massive endeavor included:

Transitioning approximately 30 staff members employment

Moving Quality Assessment Services with minimum disruption to providers

Updating existing state and local contracts including the Colorado Shines Rating Administration, Denver Preschool Program Quality Improvement Framework Implementation (coaching and training), and Interrater Reliability

Continuing training, coaching and inter rater reliability services

Transfer of intellectual property including the EMBRACE Mindfulness Curriculum

The new Spark Learning Lab Colorado is designed to leverage our strengths to deliver high-quality, data-driven services to children, families, and early childhood professionals.

To learn more check out our new website and press release. https://coloradospark.net/

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I started my 8th year at Aims Community College, teaching teachers! I love sharing my passion for the ECE field and igniting new thoughts in future teachers. In addition, I get to continue to visit ECE classrooms and acquire my preschool hugs and smiles!

This year, I was honored and received a Dean's award for Instructional Excellence for the 2024-2025 year, by promoting outstanding Student learning opportunities at Aims.

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This April, at the National Training Institute (NTI)on Effective Practices: Addressing Challenging Behaviors conference in Tampa, FL, I was honored to be recognized by the Pyramid Model Consortium and the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations as the 2025 National Pyramid Model Champion Award recipient. I'm truly grateful for this recognition and for the work that supports young children’s social-emotional development and promotes positive outcomes for all.

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Children enjoy crafting and a smiling child shows off her work. At the Denver Indian Health and Family Services Pride Block Party (June 2025)

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I applied/interviewed and was chosen for a promotion at my work at the library!

As Youth Outreach Administrator, I now get to intentionally shape and guide how we engage with children, families and educators all across Denver. I'm working on projects to gather community feedback about their needs, make our programming more accessible, and connect meaningfully with more community partners so that we're able to more equitably reach families throughout the city. This work not only allows us to meet people where they're at, but also to build trust that library spaces are welcoming and inclusive for all.

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Children work on a craft and a smiling child shows off her work. At the Denver Indian Health and Family Services Pride Block Party (June 2025)

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This year, The Family Center/La Familia of Fort Collins is celebrating 30 years of service to our community. El Nidito, our Early Care and Education program, is celebrating 25 years of providing accessible, high quality, early care and learning experiences for children and families. In January, El Nidito received a Level 5 rating in the Colorado Shines Quality Rating and Improvement System. As Director of El Nidito, I couldn't be more proud of our team and I feel so fortunate to be a part of this community.

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I successfully defended my dissertation in June earning my PhD in Human Development and Educational Research with a concentration in Urban Ecologies. In December 2025 I will walk across the stage one last time! ❤️ As Dr. Harjo ❤️

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I spent last fall compiling a deep dive report on Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Medicaid background and opportunities. It was so wonky I was unsure anyone would read it--but it helped inform a coalition of advocates I've been able to work alongside this summer who have a bill concept for the 2026 Legislative Session to create an IECMH Taskforce across state departments. I'm feeling really proud of the report and also the coalition who worked really hard to create a bill concept that could actually have legs during what will be an incredibly challenging legislative session.

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Using Medicaid to Support Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health in Colorado Utilization, Barriers, and Opportunities [Feb 2025].pdf

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Dr. Rosemarie Allen and I are the Bell Policy Center Economic Mobility Fellows this year! We have been researching the impacts of state stimulus funding for Early Childhood Education scholarships and course funding on students and the workforce.

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Co-authored the Trust's most downloaded publication- Nurturing All Children in Nature: Ideal Learning in the Natural World provides tools and strategies for policymakers and educators to expand nature-based learning in publicly-funded early childhood settings.

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Nurturing Children in Nature: Ideal Learning in the Natural World

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Discover the power of nature-based learning in our latest report titled “Nurturing All Children in Nature: Ideal Learning in the Natural World.” This comprehensive report highlights the pressing need to reconnect children with nature and explores the opportunities and challenges in making this transformation.

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Reappointed to the CDEC Rules Advisory Council and elected as Vice Chair.

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Rulemaking & Rules Advisory Council | Colorado Department of Early Childhood

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In April 2022, Governor Polis signed HB22-1295, which created the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), to coordinate a unified early childhood system and ensure the equitable distribution of resources and programming. The Executive Director was granted rulemaking authority, and is advised by the Rules Advisory Council (RAC) before considering the promulgation of rules and/or amendments. If you would like to receive rulemaking notices, sign up for email notifications. For questions, please contact CDEC_Rulemaking@state.co.us or Elena Fitch at: Elena.Fitch@state.co.us.

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In June 2024, I started my own consulting business and have enjoyed the opportunity to work with former colleagues in Colorado and new partners in North Carolina. Cheers to the first year, and here's to many more to come!

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I'm a part of the Bank Street Education Center's 2025 Early Childhood Policy Fellowship! As a fellow, my capstone is geared towards analyzing large scale early childhood systems events and creating a framework for an early childhood task force or coalition for the Gulf Coast region. I love learning about other region's ECE strategies and systems hope to make the greater Houston area an exemplar for ECE policy.

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this summer we celebrated the end of our first school year at CHS Harrisburg and had 32 children transition to kindergarten. i am so proud of our team of teachers and the children and families who have entrusted us with their care!

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Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning

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Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning, Harrisburg Celebrates First Moving On Ceremony

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