CounciLIVE kicked off last month with brand-new episodes featuring early childhood leaders. Special guests challenged audience members to dream about how to make an even greater impact on the families they serve. And believe us— you won’t want to miss CounciLIVE’s upcoming episodes! Here are 3 reasons why.
1. You won’t want to miss the lineup.
This month, you’ll hear thought-provoking conversations with trailblazing leaders: Dr. Shantel Meek, Founding Director of the Children’s Equity Project, and best-selling author and education consultant Dr. Bisa Batten Lewis.
Dr. Batten Lewis and Dr. Meek will join members of Council staff to probe the most urgent issues in education today. On August 26, Michelle Brown, Council Executive VP of Programs, will delve into equity in education with Dr. Meek. Then on September 9, Sandra Kowalchek, our Manager of Growth and Business Development, will explore ways to build a diverse and culturally responsive ECE workforce with Dr. Lewis.
Tune in to be inspired by our special guests on August 26th (Dr. Shantel Meek and Michelle Brown) and September 9th (Dr. Bisa Batten Lewis and Sandra Kowalchek) at 1 PM ET on Facebook Live!
So, mark the hour and dates. Take a break in your day and learn from the best in ECE. They’ll show you how you, too, can be your best.
2. You won’t want to miss the real-world connections.
What makes CounciLIVE so unique? We know that you want to provide the best possible education for our world’s youngest learners. So, we meet with experts to talk about research, theory and current events— all with the CDA® functional areas in mind. On CounciLIVE, everything comes back to equipping you to become an even stronger teacher for the children you serve.
Dr. Cindy Shackelford made real-life connections in her conversation with Abena Ocran-Jackson. Watch it here!
3. You won’t want to miss the chance to invest in your professional development.
Even seasoned teachers can always learn and grow. But in the midst of a busy week, it’s tricky to find times to invest in your professional growth. That’s why we’re bringing professional development to you on CounciLIVE.
Dr. Ryan Lee-James provided valuable professional development resources in her interview. Watch it here!
We look forward to seeing you at our next CounciLIVE broadcast events! Stream previous episodes on YouTube and Spotify, and follow us on Facebook, Spotify and YouTube so that you’ll never miss an episode!
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Chief Operations Officer
Andrew Davis serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Council. In this role, Andrew oversees the Programs Division, which includes the following operational functions: credentialing, growth and business development, marketing and communications, public policy and advocacy, research, innovation, and customer relations.
Andrew has over 20 years of experience in the early care and education field. Most recently, Andrew served as Senior Vice President of Partnership and Engagement with Acelero Learning and Shine Early Learning, where he led the expansion of state and community-based partnerships to produce more equitable systems of service delivery, improved programmatic quality, and greater outcomes for communities, children and families. Prior to that, he served as Director of Early Learning at Follett School Solutions.
Andrew earned his MBA from the University of Baltimore and Towson University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland – University College.
Chief Financial Officer
Jan Bigelow serves as Chief Financial Officer at the Council and has been with the organization since February of 2022.
Jan has more than 30 years in accounting and finance experience, including public accounting, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. She has held management-level positions with BDO Seidman, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Pew Center for Global Climate Change, Communities In Schools, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization and American Humane. Since 2003, Jan has worked exclusively in the non-profit sector where she has been a passionate advocate in improving business operations in order to further the mission of her employers.
Jan holds a CPA from the State of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lycoming College. She resides in Alexandria VA with her husband and dog.
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