McCormick Institute for Early Childhood

McCormick Institute for Early Childhood Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from McCormick Institute for Early Childhood, Nonprofit Organization, Chicago, IL.
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The McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University elevates the early childhood profession through programming that is innovative, responsive, and informed by practice, applied research, and community and policy engagement.​

You may feel overwhelmed, inspired, or fatigued. These are all normal. But once you've unpacked your bags and gotten a g...
06/05/2026

You may feel overwhelmed, inspired, or fatigued. These are all normal. But once you've unpacked your bags and gotten a good night's sleep, you'll want to capitalize on all you took away from your professional development experience.

Using the ideas in this article, you can ensure that your insights and learnings continue growing beyond the days you attended the conference. Instead of gathering dust, you'll gather momentum.

Read more: https://www.mccormickinstitute.nl.edu/the-conference-is-over-now-what

We'd like to thank our Leadership Connections 2026 sponsors for helping to make our annual conference possible! Presenti...
06/03/2026

We'd like to thank our Leadership Connections 2026 sponsors for helping to make our annual conference possible!

Presenting sponsor: Branagh Group, Inc.

Silver sponsors: Everbloom Learning, Exchange Press, Kaplan Early Learning Company, The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)

Bronze sponsors: Gateways to Opportunity, MarcoPolo Learning

Friend of the McCormick Institute: The Source for Learning's Early Childhood Education Initiatives

A highlight of the 2026 Leadership Connections conference for us here at the McCormick Institute was honoring Dr. Teri T...
06/02/2026

A highlight of the 2026 Leadership Connections conference for us here at the McCormick Institute was honoring Dr. Teri Talan for her decades of service to the early childhood education and care (ECEC) profession.

Dr. Talan received our Visionary Leader award and shared her leadership journey during the annual Paula Jorde Bloom Leadership Colloquium.

We also had the privilege of recognizing Martina Rocha with the Inspirational Family Child Care Leader award. Martina Rocha is the owner of Best Friends Daycare and the president and founder of Together For Childhood Network/ Juntos por la Niñez, a non-profit organization that supports more than 400 family child care professionals.

We finished the 2026 conference feeling especially inspired by Prerna Richards (Together We Grow)'s closing keynote, "Onwards: Navigating the Seas of Leadership with Hope and Heart."

We'd like to thank everyone who participated - speakers, awardees, sponsors, exhibitors, and ECEC leaders from across the country. Onward!

05/29/2026

Let's hear from a Leadership Connections 2026 participant! Thank you to everyone who attended and shared your thoughts with us this week.

It's already been an eventful second day of Leadership Connections 2026! Shauna Ejeh, Senior Vice President of Programs,...
05/28/2026

It's already been an eventful second day of Leadership Connections 2026!

Shauna Ejeh, Senior Vice President of Programs, Illinois Action for Children, received our Hometown Hero Award in recognition of her exceptional commitment to the field of Early Childhood Education and Care.

A panel of national experts discussed policy, data, and impact at the Dr. Teri Talan Public Policy Forum, sponsored by Kaplan Early Learning Company.

Participants also attended breakout sessions throughout the day and met dozens of vendors in our exhibit hall.

Day 2 continues with the Leadership Colloquium with Visionary Leader Dr. Teri Talan and the Family Child Care Reception, sponsored by Branagh Group, Inc.

Thank you for a great first day of Leadership Connections 2026! This year’s conference theme is "Onward!” Our presenters...
05/27/2026

Thank you for a great first day of Leadership Connections 2026!

This year’s conference theme is "Onward!”
Our presenters are sharing actionable tips, strategies, and insights on how to navigate “rough seas” during uncertain times, while supporting “smooth sailing” as early childhood leaders.

Today's schedule was packed with lots of breakout sessions and our annual opening luncheon and keynote, presented by Lizzy Pérez.

We're looking forward to the rest of the conference this week - follow along for more conference photos!

🔗 More about Leadership Connections: https://www.mccormickinstitute.nl.edu/leadership-connections

What is “Family Engagement”?Early childhood program administrators often hear that they should “engage” families in orde...
05/21/2026

What is “Family Engagement”?

Early childhood program administrators often hear that they should “engage” families in order to best meet the needs of children and ensure understanding of their programming.

Family engagement is a partnership with the families in your program. It can develop and grow from birth to school age, and change with circumstances.

Family engagement may look different from family to family and can also contain some similar qualities from family to family.

👇️ Read more about family engagement in our article, "Engaging Families in Child Care."

https://www.mccormickinstitute.nl.edu/engaging-families-in-child-care

We are excited to present several awards to early childhood education and care (ECEC) leaders at the Leadership Connecti...
05/20/2026

We are excited to present several awards to early childhood education and care (ECEC) leaders at the Leadership Connections National Conference next week.

Please join us in celebrating these remarkable ECEC leaders!

Visionary Leader Award
⭐ Teri Talan, Ed.D., J.D., Professor Emerita of Early Childhood Education at the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University

Paula Jorde Bloom Scholarship Award
⭐ Monique Watts-Dennis, Center Director, Calvary Day Care-Hazel Dell Campus

Hometown Hero Award
⭐ Shauna Ejeh, Senior Vice President of Programs, Illinois Action for Children

Inspirational Family Child Care Leader Award
⭐ Martina Rocha, Owner of Best Friends Daycare, President and Founder of the Together For Childhood Network/ Juntos por la Niñez.

Learn more about the upcoming Leadership Connections conference, May 27-29, 2026, in Schaumburg, IL: https://www.mccormickinstitute.nl.edu/leadership-connections

05/20/2026

Who's excited for Prerna Richards' closing keynote at next week's Leadership Connections conference? Don't miss her presentation, “Onwards: Navigating the Seas of Leadership with Hope and Heart" on Friday, May 29.

Learn more: https://www.mccormickinstitute.nl.edu/leadership-connections

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Chicago, IL
60090

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

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