Exploring Leadership Pathways: Voices from our Field

The NY Early Childhood Leadership Initiative is proud to present a Leadership Panel Discussion in our 2021 series. These panel events focus on a different aspect of leadership in Early Childhood Education and feature moderated panel discussions with a diverse group of professionals. This event is co-hosted virtually by the Early Childhood Career Development Centers and Leadership Initiatives of the NY Early Childhood Professional Development Institute.

This virtual panel, “Exploring Leadership Pathways: Voices from our Field," will highlight unique early childhood leadership roles for those considering opportunities outside of programs/schools. Our panelists represent a NYS Credentialed Coach, Early Childhood Career Advisor, a Quality Improvement Specialist, and a Professor of Early Childhood and Teacher Education Programs. They will each share their career pathways, how their role has an impact on the field and the skills, credentials, and dispositions that have helped them to be successful in their respective positions. Attendees will also receive information on how the Early Childhood Career Development Center can help you to explore and navigate your career pathways and transitions.

This event has been reviewed and endorsed by The Aspire Registry

Panelists include:

Tami Callister 

Tami has worked in education for close to 40 years and is the owner of Achievements and Kids Express in the Capital region. She is a NYS Pyramid Model Master Cadre and external leadership coach, a NYAEYC TTAP Early Childhood Coach for Leaders and Teachers, and a NYAEYC verified trainer. Her agency is one of the featured agencies in the New York State Education Departments Office of Early Learning Video Series: A Guide for Educators Serving Children in Prekindergarten through 2nd Grade. She holds the belief that all children have a right to equitable access to developmentally appropriate, high-quality early learning and enjoys learning and teaching about how we can continuously move towards that vision of care. She enjoys brain research, promoting social emotional learning practices, and the use of data to inform best practices.

Antonée Lewis

Antonée, currently serves as a Professional Development Specialist for the Council of Professional Recognition and a Non-Teaching Adjunct as well as a Career Advisor for NY Early Childhood Professional Development Institute. Her previous positions held in the Early Childhood Education field include: Lead Infant & Toddler Teacher, Family Advocate, Academy Director and Classroom Coach. She also has experience in Grant Writing.

Simone Taylor

In 2002, Simone Taylor entered the early childhood profession leading her to a variety of positions for early childhood programming, including Head Start, U.S. government, faith based, NAEYC accredited and private early childhood settings. In 2013, her focus shifted to positions relating to state funded early childhood quality initiatives, including Infant/Toddler and Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS). Simone matriculated at Bank Street College of Education and received her Master of Science degree in Education. Additionally, she has obtained several credentials, including the Program for Infant/Toddler Care certified trainer, Infant Mental Health Endorsement (Level II), Infant/Toddler Credential, and most recently earning the Beginning Together: Caring for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and Special Needs in Inclusive Settings certified trainer. Simone is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, who previously served as the Chairperson for the Essex-Hudson AEYC affiliate. Her work is grounded in the belief that all children deserve access to a quality education.

Tamara Calhoun

Professor Calhoun’s thirty plus years of practical, hands-on experience in early childhood and elementary education include her family home daycare and child care programs with infants through school-aged children, elementary school grades kindergarten through fifth, summer programs for school-aged children, and nursery school programs. In 2011, she was awarded the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service to recognize her consistently superior service and outreach in her discipline through her campus, local community and state involvements to benefit children. Along with being a certified elementary education teacher, Professor Calhoun has been certified as: The CLASS Tool: Preschool and Toddler Environment Interactions Assessor; New York State Early Learning Trainer Credential: Faculty; New York State Teacher Certification Exam Evaluator; New York State Snowmobile Safety Instructor; and Environment Rating Scales Assessor (ITERS, ECERS, FCCERS, SACERS). She has a Masters of Science degree in Elementary Education: Concentration in Early Childhood Education from College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY. Tamara’s students benefit from her extensive experience as she incorporates best practices criteria and the realities of current education in each of her courses to prepare tomorrow’s teachers in meeting the needs of all students in their classrooms.