Photo: Kate Samp for Strategies for Children

Next month, Harvard’s Graduate School of Education is hosting a two-day program on the Science of Early Learning and Adversity.

Participants will learn about the “leadership and organizational strategies that support the design and implementation of strong early learning environments — those that buffer stress, reduce challenging behaviors, and promote development.”

“…working with expert facilitators and colleagues, participants will develop a strategic plan for leadership related to stress and classroom management in the early learning environments they lead.”

This event will be on June 22 and June 23, 2017, and it is open to “early education directors and administrators across the mixed delivery system,” as well as to coaches and leaders of early education service organizations. Tuition is $199.

The institute will be “led and facilitated by Nonie Lesaux and Stephanie Jones, Faculty Directors of the Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.”

As readers of this blog know, Nonie is chair of the board of Early Education and Care in Massachusetts as well as the author of the Strategies for Children report, “Turning the Page: Refocusing Massachusetts for Reading Success.”

The program’s keynote speaker will be “Walter Gilliam, Director of The Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy at Yale University, and expert in creating learning environments that support children with behavioral and mental health needs.”

Gilliam’s research has looked at bias among preschool teachers and at pre-K suspensions and expulsions.

After the program, “attendees will have the opportunity to participate in remote, follow-up coaching sessions to debrief the program and support the implementation of their strategic plans.”

To request more information about the program or to apply, check out the website.