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About the Authors
Lori L. Blake, EdD, is an assistant professor of early childhood at Central Connecticut State University. Her research focuses on self-regulation, early childhood leadership, and play-based practices.
Jennie Morrell is an early childhood specialist / interventionist at Andover Elementary School who works with grades PK – 2 on reading, math, and social and emotional skills. She has worked in the profession for 29 years and formerly taught prekindergarten and kindergarten at the school.
Leslie Barone is a prekindergarten teacher at Andover Elementary School. She has taught preschool, including special education, for more than 20 years.
Photographs: courtesy of the authors. Copyright © 2026 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. See permissions and reprints online at NAEYC. org / resources / permissions.
NAEYC Accreditation
This article supports the following NAEYC Early Learning Programs standards and
topics:
Standard 8: Professionalism
Demonstrating Professionalism as Early Childhood Educators
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