Ivy Tech celebrates graduation of 22 early childhood leaders, marks completion of three-year leadership academy

The graduates were recognized during a ceremony on May 22, marking both the completion of the academy and the conclusion of the three-year initiative funded through a more than $400,000 grant from Early Learning Indiana’s Early Years Initiative.

Developed by Ivy Tech Fort Wayne in 2023, the academy was created to address a critical gap in professional development opportunities for early childhood program directors. While many training programs focus on classroom educators, the academy focused on the leaders responsible for managing operations, supporting staff, and ensuring long-term program quality.

“Early childhood directors are executive leaders anchoring a vital piece of our community’s infrastructure, managing incredibly complex and dynamic operations," said Douglas Clark, Dekko Foundation Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Leadership and Advocacy. "In a shrinking regional market where the need for high-quality care remains severe, these professionals face unprecedented operational demands. The Inside-Out academy wasn't about basic training; it was about investing in leaders and building a robust peer network so talented directors don’t have to navigate these complexities alone.”

The program was built upon an "Inside-Out" framework, which emphasized three stages of growth: personal leadership, program leadership, and prolific leadership. Throughout the three-year experience, the academy provided a professional learning community where directors could strengthen management skills and build meaningful relationships with peers facing similar challenges. Workshops featured curated learning opportunities for leader development, team building, and promoting early relational health.

Participant feedback highlighted the academy's impact on both professional confidence and personal resilience. Graduates described the experience as a vital source of support that helped them strengthen decision-making skills, recharge from daily challenges, and discover they were not alone in their leadership journeys.

“The world of early education should not feel isolated or overly competitive, and this program allowed all the wonderful parts of sharing to benefit every single one of us, and by extension our programs,” said Shelby Hurley, Day School Director at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Wayne. “I know that each month I consistently looked forward to our meetings so that I could be surrounded by people who were really in the thick of the work with me. We were able to talk, voice concerns, be angry, and most importantly solve problems together.”

The success of the initiative was made possible through funding from the Early Years Initiative, supported by Early Learning Indiana and Lilly Endowment Inc., as well as partnerships with the Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition and Ambassador Enterprises.

The 2026 Early Childhood Leadership Academy graduates include:

• Stacy Andrews, FSSA Office of Early Childhood and Out of School Learning (Regional)
• Jessica Bowman, Brightpoint Head Start – Waterloo (DeKalb County)
• Jessica Burkett, Wild Willow Nature Preschool (Whitley County)
• Jamie Conwell, Early Childhood Development Center at Saint Mary's College (St. Joseph County)
• Paula Fox, Turnstone Kimbrough Early Learning Center (Allen County)
• Teri Garrelts, Cornerstone Daycare Learning Center (Allen County)
• Petra Gonzales, Grow Early Learning (Adams County/Statewide)
• Jenny Guzman, Grow Early Learning (Adams County/Statewide)
• Laura Hayden, Peace Montessori Forest School (Allen County)
• Jenna Hicks, The Lutheran School Partnership
• Lisa Howe, Agape Child Care Ministry (Steuben County)
• Jami Hubbard, MSD of Steuben County Early Learning Center (Steuben County)
• Shelby Hurley, First Presbyterian Day School (Allen County)
• Tina Lee, Kendallville Day Care (Noble County)
• Rachel Manes, Manchester Early Learning Center (Wabash County)
• Karrin Marquell, Southwest Montessori Academy (Allen County)
• Sara Miller, Wee Creations Early Learning Ministry (Steuben County)
• Kelli Packnett, Bridge of Grace Early Years Academy (Allen County)
• Kennedy Pulver, Noble Early Learning (Noble County)
• Chelsey Robinson, YMCA of DeKalb County Early Learning Program (DeKalb County)
• Trisha Trimble, Wawasee Early Learning Center (Kosciusko County)
• Wendy Turcott, Westminster Preschools (Wabash County/Statewide)

Although the inaugural academy has concluded, Ivy Tech's commitment to strengthening the region's early childhood workforce continues. Through a statewide $21.9 million Lilly Endowment grant, the College is expanding efforts to create new pathways into the profession through work-based learning opportunities, high school dual-credit programs, and adult apprenticeship models.