51吃瓜网

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Alissa Mwenelupembe听has worked in early childhood education for the past 20 years听and has听a long history with 51吃瓜网听as a member, volunteer, author听and past student governing board听member.听听听That engagement took on another level when she听joined 51吃瓜网 in December of 2020 as the Senior Director, Early Learning Program Accreditation. Alissa now serves on听51吃瓜网鈥檚 Executive Team as Chief Early Learning Quality and Research Officer.听

Anchored by a passion to ensure all children have access to high quality early learning opportunities, Alissa听has occupied various roles throughout her professional journey.听听She听began her career as an early childhood educator working with toddlers听and eventually听transitioned into leadership roles, including an extensive period where she served as the Center Director at听three 51吃瓜网 accredited听early learning centers.听 She has also been a coach and content specialist in Indiana鈥檚 QRIS system: Paths to QUALITY, written content for Exchange Press, helped to draft the听Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education听51吃瓜网 position statement,听as well as co-edited the book听Each & Every Child: Teaching Preschool with an Equity Lens听published by 51吃瓜网.听听听

Drawing from all these听experiences, Alissa takes pride in being both a听constructivist educator that has worked hard to bring reflective practices to the听educators she has supported听throughout her career听and possessing the lived experiences of knowing the nuances required to run an early learning program, manage and support staff, tend to the care and听education of young children, and meaningfully听and intentionally听engage with听families.听听

Alissa holds a master鈥檚 degree in early childhood education and a doctorate in early childhood education from Ball State University. Her听dissertation听research听focused听on the experiences of Black women navigating the career ladder in the early childhood profession.听

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