Introducing the 2024 Paula Jorde Bloom Scholarship recipient

The Paula Jorde Bloom Scholarship, first awarded in 2019, is intended to support emerging and aspiring early childhood leaders dedicated to providing the highest quality care and education for children and families. The scholarship, established by Paula’s family after she passed in 2018, highlights  her legendary devotion to improving early childhood professional standards. We extend congratulations to our 2024 scholarship winner, Brittany Constable.

Brittany Constable

Brittany Constable is the Assistant Director at The Goddard School in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania. She has worked at her school and in the early childhood education field for 12 years, starting as a teacher’s aide. She has an associate degree in Child Development in the preschool setting, and she recently earned her National Director Credential from the McCormick Center. Brittany lives in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Chad, and her two sons, Cain and Case.

“I am most looking forward to connecting with other educators from all over the country. I feel as though I personally get more inspired and motivated when I am around other educators and get to learn from their personal experiences. One of my greatest beliefs is that the foundation of education is relationships. We all learn and grow when we form trusting relationships with others. I feel so blessed to be able to learn from such experienced and knowledgeable presenters and look forward to many of the workshops focusing on inclusion and diversity as a leader.

Being in a leadership position, we spend so much time investing into the professional development of the teachers we lead, that sometimes, we forget about investing into our own professional development. Being able to attend a national conference such as Leadership Connections is such an honor to begin with, but I am excited to take the time and invest in my own growth and into becoming a better leader for my teachers and school community. I cannot wait for February and to see everyone in Wheeling!” – Brittany Constable

As the scholarship recipient, Brittany was awarded complimentary full-conference registration to Leadership Connections 2024, meals provided to conference registrants, and lodging at the conference hotel.

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Let’s Talk About Bullying

By Sherry Rocha • June 12, 2025
Bullying has been around for ages. That doesn’t mean it’s ok, or we should get used to it. It is a persistent problem for all ages, and now it’s reaching into our early childhood programs. What can program administrators do? Some definitions and tips are below. WHAT IS BULLYING? Bullying has been described as a student’s repeated exposure to negative actions on the part of one or more students in which there is an imbalance of power between bullies and the victim. Some children learn that by bullying others, they can get ahead. It can affect the goals of education if not handled well. While the behaviors of young children can sometimes be aggressive, they lack the more strategic and deliberate actions that typically define bullying. Still, early behaviors can be precursors to later behavior, so awareness and positive interventions are needed . Bullying prevention can be embedded into SEL practices, diversity awareness, and behavior guidance practices of early childhood programs. HOW COMMON IS BULLYING? Most studies look at bullying as something that involves older children. Research on early childhood bullying is still developing. The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) is considered one of the most effective school-based anti-bullying programs that schools and centers study. Its founder, Dan Olweus, Ph.D, found that 35-40% of boys characterized as bullies in grades 6-9 had been convicted of at least three officially registered crimes by the age of 24. Bullies sometimes teach their children to be bullies. PREVENTION AND GUIDANCE CONCERNING BULLYING There are things parents, teachers, and friends can do to prevent or stop bullying . During the early childhood years, programs to help prevent bullying are helpful. Teachers and parents should be role models of caring behavior. Children raised in safe and nurturing environments will learn to be caring individuals. As children’s abilities develop, they can learn anger management, problem-solving skills, and decision-making skills. TEACHERS AND PARENTS CAN ALSO: Dispel myths that bullying is part of childhood. Encourage a positive environment by stating desirable behavior instead of negative behavior. Emphasize respect, fairness, caring, and responsibility in classrooms. Incorporate lessons about appropriate social skills in classrooms and everywhere; provide words for children to use. Understand the seriousness of bullying. Encourage children to consider the needs of others. Parents can arrange play groups for their children. A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM SHOULD: Promote a caring, respectful environment Help victims help themselves Challenge the bullies’ thinking Consider the effects of peer pressure Elicit students’ input FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA). (2025, February 5). Get help now. StopBullying.gov. https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/get-help-now The Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life. (n.d.). Olweus bullying prevention program, Clemson University. Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, Clemson University. https://clemsonolweus.org/ Temkin, D., & Snow, K. (2015, August 18). To prevent bullying, focus on early childhood. NAEYC. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/blog/prevent-bullying-focus-early-childhood
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