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Early Educators’ Voices: Why and How Did We Co-Design Research That Translates to Systems Change?

Archived Webinar
September 22, 2025
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Early educators are the backbone of child development and school readiness yet their voices are often missing from the policy decisions that directly impact their professional lives.

This session guided state leaders, agency representatives, and policy stakeholders through a framework for designing and implementing qualitative research that centers the lived experiences of early childhood professionals. Participants learned how to design research that engages early educators as co-investigators; adopt interviews, focus groups, and storytelling methods that value cultural, linguistic, and community context; and translate findings into actionable workforce policy. We heard directly from members of Wisconsin’s early education workforce as they shared their experiences serving as research co-investigators and highlighted their current roles as steering committee members, advocating for equitable policies, and collaborating with state leaders.

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Presenter Bios and Resources

 

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