Onward from the Inside Out: Leading with Clarity, Connection, & Courage

McCormick Institute for Early Childhood

BY   | August 19, 2026

Jose Zavala is an IT Support Specialist II at the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University (NLU), a computer science graduate from NLU, and an aspiring cybersecurity professional. Driven by a lifelong passion for technology, he combines hands-on technical troubleshooting experience with an academic foundation in computer science to keep critical digital systems running smoothly. Jose is actively pursuing advanced industry certifications to deepen his expertise in digital defense and data security. 


Resources

Here are some resources on keeping your computer updated, and some assistant software listed by brand: 




Also, try this questionnaire if you need help selecting a Windows PC: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/help-me-choose 


Try this questionnaire if you need help selecting a Mac PC: https://www.apple.com/mac/best-mac/#usage 

Leadership Webina

Effective leadership begins from within. This interactive webinar invites early childhood leaders to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the values and practices that fuel purposeful, resilient leadership.


Participants will move through three connected topics: Values Clarification, to examine what drives their leadership and where alignment gaps exist; Deep Listening, to strengthen the emotional intelligence and relational trust at the heart of team culture; and Distributed Leadership, to build the organizational capacity that sustains teams through change.


Participants leave with three practical tools they can use immediately with their teams — and a personal commitment to carry the work forward.


Presented by: Ann Hentschel, nationally recognized author, consultant, and advocate for early childhood leadership. Content for this session draws from the books found in the Director’s Toolbox.


This webinar is sponsored by Everbloom Learning.


All participants who complete the full 60-minute webinar will be entered into a drawing for one of 50 complimentary copies of From the Inside Out: The Power of Reflection and Self-Awareness, generously provided by Everbloom Learning.


Conference hall with many people seated facing a stage at the front, viewed from the back.
September 2, 2026
Jose Zavala is an IT Support Specialist II at the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University (NLU), a computer science graduate from NLU, and an aspiring cybersecurity professional. Driven by a lifelong passion for technology, he combines hands-on technical troubleshooting experience with an academic foundation in computer science to keep critical digital systems running smoothly. Jose is actively pursuing advanced industry certifications to deepen his expertise in digital defense and data security.
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