Two Indiana State University education leaders have been selected to participate in a professional development program through the Harvard Graduate School of Education focused on strengthening strategic leadership in early childhood education systems and settings.
Holly Curtsinger, director of the Indiana State University McCarthy Early Childhood Education Center, and Dr. Yong Joon Park, professor of elementary education in Indiana State University’s Bayh College of Education, have been accepted into the “Building Capacity Across Early Learning Systems & Settings: Strategic Leadership in Action” program, which begins this fall.
The program explores five core practices connected to strategic leadership in early childhood education. Participants will engage in research, case discussions, and collaborative problem-solving with peers from across the country while strengthening their ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics, identify priorities, and lead effectively in evolving educational environments.
Learning goals for participants include applying strategic leadership practices that support effective decision-making and implementation in early childhood settings, discerning priorities amid competing demands, exchanging knowledge and strategies with peers facing similar leadership challenges, and developing an action plan tailored to their professional contexts.
“This recognition reflects the strength of leadership and innovation within our Bayh College of Education and the McCarthy Early Childhood Education Center,” said Carrie Ball, interim dean of the Bayh College of Education. “Holly Curtsinger and Dr. Yong Joon Park continue to demonstrate a deep commitment to advancing early childhood education through research, collaboration, and student-centered leadership.”
The acceptance of Director Curtsinger and Dr. Park into the Harvard program also supports the university’s broader efforts through the University’s Take Root & Rise strategic plan to strengthen educational partnerships, enhance professional development opportunities, and expand innovative learning experiences that prepare future educators and educational leaders to meet the evolving needs of schools, families, and communities.