Leadership Development & Diversity in Early Childcare and Education| Early Years Leadership Diversity Initiative

Location: United States (Remote Collaboration)
Status: Ongoing
Dates: September 2024 – June 2025

Quick Project Overview

As Project Manager for the Early Years Leadership Diversity Initiative (EYLDI), I lead research, coordination, and strategy efforts to advance leadership diversity within the U.S. early care and education (ECE) sector. The initiative aims to build a representative leadership pipeline that mirrors the diversity of children and families it serves, while equipping current leaders to foster equity and inclusive organizational cultures.

• Context & Background

  Although nearly 40% of ECE educators are people of color, leadership remains disproportionately white and homogenous. EYLDI was founded in 2020 by Meredith Callanan to address these inequities through systems-level leadership development. Guided by a theory of change that emphasizes mentorship, sponsorship, and developmental relationships, the initiative seeks to make leadership growth accessible and equitable —recognizing that diversity strengthens innovation, community trust, and outcomes for children

• Collaborators & Partners

  • Fund for Educational Excellence (fiscal sponsor)

  • Meredith Callanan – Founder

  • EYLDI Research & Strategy Team: Kate Dooley, Hannah Folau, Dina Kapengut (PhD), Katie Lemaire, Candice McKinnon (PhD), Caroline Paine

• My Role & What We Did

  As Project Manager, I coordinate the national research effort, lead qualitative and systems analysis, and translate findings into practical frameworks for the ECE sector. Highlights include:

  • Designing research instruments and managing interviews with early-years leaders nationwide.

  • Synthesizing qualitative data into thematic insights that inform sector-wide recommendations.

  • Co-authoring the 2025 research brief and presenting findings at convenings of policymakers and practitioners.

  • Supporting co-creation of programs and resources that strengthen equitable leadership development practices.

  • Facilitating communications across researchers, funders, and implementation partners to ensure alignment.

  • Managed budget and grant administration

• Outputs

  • EYLDI 2025 Research Report (on leadership diversity and development pathways)

  • Sector presentations and learning sessions

  • Stakeholder briefs and data visualizations

  • Evaluation and feedback framework for participating leaders

• Tools Used

  • Dovetail (for qualitative coding and thematic analysis)

  • Miro and Sheets (for synthesis and workflow mapping)

  • Canva and Google Workspace (for report design and communications)

Impact & Learning

This project has illuminated how leadership diversity is not just a moral imperative—it’s an operational one. It has deepened my understanding of how representation, mentorship, and relational trust fuel systemic change. More broadly, EYLDI demonstrates how national learning communities can transform fragmented systems into ecosystems of shared growth, belonging, and accountability