Program
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (Friday TBD)
Stockholm | November 19–22, 2024
Welcome Participants!
Background
Since the 1970s, educators in Sweden have enjoyed a long exchange with Reggio Emilia. In 1993, the Reggio Emilia Institutet was established to support a form of learning based on investigation and participation in dialogue at the local, national, and international level. The institute organizes wide-ranging educational initiatives that have led to the development of practice across Sweden, through the inspiration and knowledge of the hundred languages of children, pedagogical documentation, cooperative learning, reflecting and investigating, and research.
Program
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (Friday TBD)
Cultural Suggestions
Tom Tits Experiment
Moderna Museet
Fotografiska Museum
Meet Your Group
Roswell, Georgia
NAREA
As a founding board member of NAREA, Margie Cooper, PhD, brings her passion for the well-being of young children, families, educators, and communities to her roles. She has served education as an elementary and preschool educator, a preschool co-director, an adjunct professor, an author, and a volunteer in various projects and organizations. She first studied in Reggio Emilia in 1991 and has returned nearly annually. She is responsible for the NAREA office, serves as co-representative of NAREA within the Reggio Emilia International Network, and is a founding board member of Fondazione Reggio Children. Locally, she is founder and CEO of the not-for-profit Inspired Practices in Early Education through which Project Infinity was established, a longstanding collaboration among schools for young children inspired by Reggio Emilia.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Infant Toddler Children’s Center
Barbara has dedicated over three decades to early childhood education, currently serving as executive director of the Infant Toddler Children’s Center in Acton, Massachusetts. Her passion for the Reggio Emilia philosophy began in 1993 when she first encountered The Hundred Languages of Children exhibit in Columbus, Ohio. Since then, Barbara has visited Reggio Emilia’s renowned infant-toddler centers numerous times and helped co-found NAREA, where she currently co-chairs with Margie Cooper. She is deeply committed to creating inclusive early learning environments that respect and celebrate the individuality of each child. Barbara’s work continues to inspire educators and parents to foster creativity, connection, and a sense of belonging in their schools.
Mississauga, Ontario
Young Minds Preschool
Shakara is attending the study group with the goal of staying current with the evolving field of early childhood education. She believes that learning is multi-layered and sees this opportunity as a guide as we unfold another layer in our learning while staying current in our growth and development. She looks forward to gaining insight on what another country’s emerged curriculum looks like.
Oakville, Ontario
Young Minds Preschool
Toni is the director of two preschools and likes to introduce herself as Toni with an (i). Her entire philosophy around learning is summed up in the saying of William Butler Yeats, “Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.” She believes when that fire is burning there are no limitations. Toni has been in the early years field for many years and is constantly looking for different ways to grow her understanding on how to be a better co-learner in a classroom or within the team. She is so excited to embark on this study group journey and unfold more learning opportunities.
Mississauga, Ontario
Young Minds Preschool
Julia, part of the Young Minds Preschool team in Burlington, Ontario, has been an early childhood educator for nearly 10 years. She is passionate about being part of children’s growth and their learning journey. While she is new to the Reggio Emilia Approach, Julia is curious and excited to learn as much as she can during the trip and is eager to bring her newfound knowledge back to her classroom.
Aurora, Colorado
Children’s Garden Montessori School
Michelle is an early childhood teacher at Children’s Garden Montessori School in Denver, Colorado. She is South African but considers herself American. She loves learning about children and building strong connections with her students and their families in her Montessori/Reggio-inspired school. Michelle considers it an extremely rewarding experience for all to be there.
Carbondale, Illinois
Southern Illinois University
Kristi is an assistant professor at the School of Education at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. She co-founded The Nest Nursery School in Atlanta, where she served as a teacher, administrator, and pedagogical coordinator. In 2023, she completed her PhD in Educational Policy Studies (Social Foundations) at Georgia State University. Kristi has a passion for the Reggio Emilia educational project and the philosophy of John Dewey. Her academic interests also include the history of American education, neoliberal influences in schools, and critical policy analysis.
Atlanta, Georgia
Peachtree Presbyterian Preschool
Dr. Indy is a speech-language pathologist specializing in early childhood development, with over 40 years of experience supporting children and families. Her private practice, based in Atlanta, integrates cognitive, physical, emotional, and social therapy to enhance communication skills in young children. Dr. Indy holds multiple degrees, including: a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Language Pathology from Boston University, her Master’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Georgia State University, and her doctorate from NOVA Southeastern University. She is a certified member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, PROMPT-trained, Hanen-certified, Reggio-inspired, and certified autistic disorders spectrum specialist. She is passionate about early intervention and helping children reach their fullest potential.
Canberra, Australia
Majura Park Childcare Centre
After serving 23 years in the Royal Australian Air Force, Natalie made a significant career shift into early childhood education. For the past 15 years, she has been the director and CEO of Majura Park Childcare Pty Ltd, overseeing three centers (Majura, Urambi, and Torren’s ELCs). Natalie’s company employs 118 educators, (including 11 early childhood teachers), and provides care for 318 children daily, aged from 6 weeks to 6 years old. Natalie is passionate about embedding the inspirations of the Reggio Emilia Approach within her local context. She holds multiple degrees in business and education, including: Bachelor of Arts, Master of Business Technology in Human Resources, and Master of Project Management. She has her Graduate diploma in early childhood teaching and graduate certificate in educational leadership (early childhood). She has travelled to Reggio Emilia twice, and her services and managers are active members in the Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange (REAIE).
Brooklyn, New York
The Brick Church School
Jennifer is a preschool head teacher at the Reggio-inspired school, The Brick Church School in Manhattan, where she has been teaching for 15 years. She currently works with 4–5-year-olds but has also spent time teaching 3-year-olds during her career. Jennifer received multiple teaching certifications In New York State after studying at Molloy College, Queens College, and Mercy College in the following areas: early childhood birth–2, childhood education 1–6, special education 1–6, and TESOL K–12. She visited Reggio Emilia in 2011 and is continually inspired by the philosophy.
Brampton, Ontario
Young Minds Preschool
Kulwinder, affectionately known as “Ms. Koko” by her students, is passionate about being part of their learning journey. As an educator, she believes that every opportunity to learn is a chance to create something meaningful for the children in her care. Kulwinder is eager to explore new ideas during the trip and bring them back to her classroom, ensuring that her students have an environment where they can thrive, explore, and feel inspired.
Victoria, British Columbia
Lexie’s Little Bears Childcare Inc
Lexie has been an early childhood educator for 28 years and is the owner of Lexie’s Little Bears Childcare Inc., a Reggio-inspired, nature-based childcare center in Victoria, British Columbia. Her center provides care for children aged 12 months to 5 years. Lexie is excited to exchange ideas with global educators and bring new insights back to her community in Victoria.
San Juan Capistrano, California
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
For nearly a decade, Cris has been the director of the Early School at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in California, a preschool through twelfth-grade college prep school with over 1240 students. In its 45-year history, the Early School has remained steadfast in being a play-based program and, in the last 9 years, a focus on the Reggio Emilia Approach has been in practice, providing children with a rich and vigorous program through play.
Oakville, Ontario
Young Minds Preschool
Courtney, a dedicated educator at Young Minds Preschool in Burlington, Ontario, is excited to attend the conference to deepen her understanding of the Reggio Emilia Approach. She believes this opportunity will enhance her role as an educator and allow her to bring valuable insights back to her center, enriching the learning environment for the children she works with.
Atlanta, Georgia
Peachtree Presbyterian Preschool
Jane is the director of an inclusion preschool with a master’s degree in education and the certificate of advanced educational leadership (CAEL) from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has traveled to schools and conferences across the United States and participated in five study tours in Reggio Emilia. She is an instructor for the Professional Standards Commission through the Department of Education in Georgia and a member of the Pedagogical Steering Committee of Inspired Practices in Early Education, Inc. She has presented at conferences including NAEYC, NAREA, GAEYC, Young Child, and COGNIA. She served on the board of The Atlanta Day for Women and National Charity League.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Brillante Early Learning Center
Jesse discovered her passion for early childhood education 10 years ago while volunteering at her child’s preschool, a moment that sparked her career change from historian to educator. She has since taught various early childhood programs, including a traveling kindergarten program, an outdoor classroom teacher, and until recently, a founding lead teacher at Brillante Early Learning Center, a Reggio-inspired preschool in Albuquerque. Currently living in Germany with her family, she continues to support Brillante remotely while taking the opportunity to explore European education programs.
Staten Island, New York
The Rumson Country Day School
Lea is an educator with over 35 years of experience and currently serves as the head of the Lower School at The Rumson Country Day School (RCDS). Before joining RCDS, she was the Lower School director at Staten Island Academy (SIA), where she played a key role in advancing the curriculum and faculty professional development. Lea has also served as a librarian at SIA and taught pre-K and elementary levels at public schools in Brooklyn and Manhattan. She holds a dual bachelor’s degree in education and anthropology from Hunter College and a master’s degree in library science from Rutgers University.
Smyrna, Georgia
Compass Academy Preschool and Childcare
Jeena founded and owns Compass Academy in 2007, which was recognized as “Best Childcare” in her area for both 2023 and 2024. Originally from Bombay, India, she transitioned from a 12-year career in interior design to early childhood education, driven by her desire to create a nurturing and stimulating environment for young children. Compass Academy embraces a blend of the Reggio-inspired, Montessori-inspired, and play-based learning approaches. The atmosphere provides children with a nurturing, home-like environment for exploration in an indoor-outdoor learning environment with organic gardening. Jeena holds two master’s degrees in sociology and management information systems, is fluent in five Indian languages, and is currently learning Spanish. She feels blessed to have the best job in the world and to continue learning and growing in this rewarding journey.
St. Louis, Missouri
Urban Sprouts Child Development Center
Joey serves as the chief of strategy and institutional advancement for Urban Sprouts Child Development Center, a NAEYC-accredited, Reggio-inspired center in St. Louis. The center focuses on bringing the Reggio Emilia Approach to children impacted by poverty and racism. With a background in education policy, Joey has worked as an advisor to a major U.S. city mayor and led initiatives to increase funding for early childhood education. He is also a contributing author to the book Childcare Justice: Transforming the System of Care for Young Children. He hopes you won’t hold it against him that he attended a Montessori preschool as a child. Joey is a huge fan of the Reggio Emilia Approach and is passionate about making the philosophy accessible to all children and families, especially those experiencing systemic inequity.
New York, New York
The Brick Church School
Cinder is an associate teacher at The Brick Church School in New York, where she teaches 3-year-olds in the Reggio-inspired school. After starting her career teaching English as a second language in Japan, she returned to the U.S. and spent several years working in consulting and branding before returning to early childhood education. Before returning to the classroom, she took a time to raise her son, volunteered her time in school libraries, parent associations, tutoring, and mentoring. Cinder holds a B.A. degree from Boston University and has participated in study tours to Reggio Emilia, including a trip in 2022. She is passionate about creating an inclusive and creative learning environment and is eager to learn more at the upcoming NAREA Stockholm study group.
Together, we are empowering exceptional education.