International Contacts

I listened to the podcasts presented by Susan Lyon and TJ Skalski.  Susan Lyon Ed.D is founder and executive director of The Teacher Project in collaboration with the School of Education at Mills College.  Susan Lyon is an author of many articles and speaker on early childhood education topics.  Susan is one of the founders and a past co-chair of the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance (NAREA), which works to promote the quality of early childhood education.  Susan Lyon brought "The Hundred Languages of Children" exhibit from Reggio Emilia, Italy, to California's Bay Area. She has also implemented a pilot program using the Reggio approach at the Presidio Child Development Center.  After listening to the podcast with Susan Lyon she communicates her passion for young children and how children see and understand the world around them.  Throughout her professional career she found ways to advocate for young children through her projects and exhibits.  These projects opened the door for collaboration between public and private schools. discussion groups, round tables, and professional development. 

TJ Skalski is the principal of The Mother's Earth charter school in Canada.  This is the first indigenous charter school in Canada.  After listening to the podcast TJ Skalski discussed her calling to working with young children and the path she took to get there.  As difficult as the job is, she remains in that postition in order to make a difference in her students' lives.  She gives reasons for doing what she does and mentions that her strong family values and concern for the community as her reasons for her determination.  She believes that culture and language is priority and essential in the survival and progress of her students.  As many of her students come to her school damaged, she's committed to building dreams, hope, and inspiring students. 

TJ Skalski discusses that many of her students are damaged.  Part of that damage consists of students who are in poverty.  While neither of these podcasts discusses poverty directly, these two people represent the kind of people who are needed to help children who are in poverty.  Both of these individuals take an active role in providing education to young children.