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Caitlyn Russell is an itinerant early childhood special educator in Adams 12 Five Star Schools. Her goal is to make the public school early childhood education (ECE) system more reflective of children and families' experiences and the opportunities for them to thrive. Caitlyn creates and facilitates professional development experiences and is pioneering an initiative that created collaborative group work across the district's ECE program staff. She aspires to provide leadership where ECE professionals feel empowered to do their best work.
One of the most impactful teaching experiences she’s had was as a co-teacher for a Reggio inspired child care program in Tucson, Arizona, a program associated with the Southern Arizona chapter of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (SAZAEYC). Through SAZAEYC she participated in a professional learning community called ‘Las Familias’. Public education, nonprofit and for-profit early childhood programs learned alongside each other about great teaching practices, how to engage with families and other meaningful topics. The learning and coaching she received in this setting had a lasting effect and is one that she feels fortunate to have experienced. Caitlyn has maintained curiosity to this day as to how such a warm and nurturing learning environment was created, the magic of bringing different programs together, and finally why this isn’t more common. This experience has inspired Caitlyn to research community learning and professional development practices across ECE settings and specifically how professional learning communities and similar styles of collaboration can promote thriving children and families.
Caitlyn earned her Bachelor's degree in International Studies and a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education with a Special Education Specialist Licensure. She has worked in the field of ECE for 10 years teaching toddlers through 2nd grade and in many locations including Costa Rica, Arizona, Georgia and Colorado. She is currently a member of Cohort 14 of the Buell Early Childhood Leadership Program at the University of Colorado Denver. Caitlyn enjoys camping and hiking with her two dogs and husband. She also loves gardening, watercolor painting and yoga.
One of the most impactful teaching experiences she’s had was as a co-teacher for a Reggio inspired child care program in Tucson, Arizona, a program associated with the Southern Arizona chapter of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (SAZAEYC). Through SAZAEYC she participated in a professional learning community called ‘Las Familias’. Public education, nonprofit and for-profit early childhood programs learned alongside each other about great teaching practices, how to engage with families and other meaningful topics. The learning and coaching she received in this setting had a lasting effect and is one that she feels fortunate to have experienced. Caitlyn has maintained curiosity to this day as to how such a warm and nurturing learning environment was created, the magic of bringing different programs together, and finally why this isn’t more common. This experience has inspired Caitlyn to research community learning and professional development practices across ECE settings and specifically how professional learning communities and similar styles of collaboration can promote thriving children and families.
Caitlyn earned her Bachelor's degree in International Studies and a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education with a Special Education Specialist Licensure. She has worked in the field of ECE for 10 years teaching toddlers through 2nd grade and in many locations including Costa Rica, Arizona, Georgia and Colorado. She is currently a member of Cohort 14 of the Buell Early Childhood Leadership Program at the University of Colorado Denver. Caitlyn enjoys camping and hiking with her two dogs and husband. She also loves gardening, watercolor painting and yoga.