McCormick Institute for Early Childhood

Official McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University account. We elevate the early childhood profession.

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

Bronze sponsors: Gateways to Opportunity, MarcoPolo Learning

Friend of the McCormick Institute: The Source for Learning - Early Childhood Education (@SFLECEI)

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

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

Presenting sponsor: @branaghgroup

Silver sponsors: Everbloom Learning, @ExchangePress, Kaplan Early Learning Company, National Association for Family Child Care (@nafcc)

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

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

This year’s theme is "Onward!”
Our presenters are sharing strategies and insights on how to navigate “rough seas” during uncertain times as early leaders.

Looking forward to the rest of the conference this week!

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

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.

🔗 Learn more: https://t.co/uB813qBDdh

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

⭐️McCormick Institute team members are attending the @IndianaAEYC Indiana Early Childhood Conference⭐️

In addition to presenting several sessions, the McCormick Institute has a booth in the exhibit hall. Stop by and say hi if you're attending the conference!

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

Leadership Connections is 15 days away!

Our 25th annual conference, May 27-29, in Schaumburg, IL, is almost here. Three days of interactive sessions, inspiring keynotes, and connection with ECEC leaders from across the country.

Are you registered?
https://t.co/HDcdSYDmQy

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

What's bringing YOU to Leadership Connections this year?

Whether it's networking, valuable leadership resources, or inspiration, we're excited to see you soon at our conference for early childhood leaders, May 27-29, 2026, in Schaumburg, IL.

🔗https://t.co/ZMaZFkda88

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

A large, multi-day conference can be both eye-opening and exhausting. It benefits educators to come in open to possibilities and with a plan.

This guide will provide concrete steps and reflection questions to help you prepare for your next conference.

🔗 https://t.co/2d7J8rRaAV

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

Illinois Early Childhood Leaders!

Did you know Aim4Excellence can help you earn points toward your Illinois Director Credential AND you may be eligible for a scholarship to cover the cost of modules for college credit? 🎓

Learn more about Aim4Excellence: https://t.co/bhga2CHOvE

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

We're excited to present our 2026 Hometown Hero Award to Shauna Ejeh (@IAFC_Cares) at the upcoming Leadership Connections conference!

Join her and hundreds of ECEC leaders at Leadership Connections, May 27-29 in Schaumburg, IL: https://t.co/HDcdSYDmQy

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

Our latest Research Note examines the effectiveness of an intensive leadership academy designed to strengthen Family Child Care professionals’ business knowledge, leadership capacity, and program stability.

🔗 Read more: https://t.co/KY4WXLyoKH

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

The 12th cohort of Taking the Lead, our 9-month leadership academy for family child care professionals, met for its final session on Saturday.

Participants presented how they used quality improvement grants to make impactful changes to their businesses.

https://t.co/vCKPihWuM3

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

"Welcoming Gen Z: What is the Secret Sauce?", an article by Dr. Jane Humphries, the McCormick Institute's Director of Aim4Excellence, and Steffenie Moran, Manager at the Goddard School, was recently published by @ExchangePress.

Read the full article: https://t.co/Z3xHLBtaPa

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

Congratulations to Dr. Teri Talan on her extraordinary contributions to early childhood education and care.

At Leadership Connections 2026, Dr. Talan will receive the Visionary Leader Award, and the Public Policy Forum has been renamed in her honor.

👉️ https://t.co/w6LtWGmzlX

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

Child Care directors carry a full plate, which is why flexible professional learning makes such a difference.

Aim4Excellence offers engaging online modules that help directors learn, reflect, and apply new strategies within their own settings.

🔗 https://t.co/H90doyqIzB

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

60+ sessions. Keynotes. Workshops. All built for early childhood leaders.

Join hundreds of ECEC leaders at Leadership Connections, May 27–29, 2026, in Schaumburg, IL.

https://t.co/HDcdSYDmQy

#LC2026 #LeadershipConnections

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

AI can give you more time, streamline your workflow, help you set up sustainable systems, and ultimately make you a stronger leader.

Read on for simple steps to get started with using AI as an early childhood administrator.

🔗 https://t.co/7CZQwIUamN

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

Leslie Layman and Xiaoli Wen are representing the McCormick Institute this week at the @WorldForumECE 2026 World Forum on Early Care and Education in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, one of the premier global gatherings of early childhood professionals and advocates.

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

We’re excited to share that Iris Corral and Barb Volpe from the McCormick Institute’s Professional Learning team will present at the @IndianaAEYC Early Childhood Conference in Indianapolis, IN, May 15 - 16, 2026!

[McCormick Institute for Early Childhood @McCormickInst]

Shadeen Holmes was the 2025 Paula Jorde Bloom scholarship recipient. She shared her experience attending the 2025 Leadership Connections conference. Check out her full story on our website: https://t.co/el1YiS4qeu

#LeadershipConnections #LC2026