Steve Zwolak is the CEO of LUME Institute and Executive Director of University City Children’s Center. He has over 50 years’ experience as a student of children, tirelessly advancing and advocating for early childhood. Steve’s years as a classroom teacher and leader in the field of early childhood enabled him to build the LUME Approach to education, which focuses on Emotionally Responsive Teaching – braiding early childhood and mental health principles. The Approach emphasizes that the emotional development and wellness of teachers, children and families are collectively critical to a child’s future life script In addition, there is preliminary evidence that his work has the potential in closing the racial and socioeconomic achievement gap. We know the foundation for diversity, inclusion and equity are embedded the emotional development of children in the first three years of life. Steve teaches teachers that there is major watershed from birth through 5 years of age, where children must begin to internalize and then socialize their understanding of diversity, inclusion and equity to make it an embedded way of life.

Steve believes that is children are physically safe, they will feel emotionally safe, and then they can take social risk as they feel socially safe and finally the will confident in their own competencies to take academic risk. “All learning happens in relationships”.

Steve has been recognized locally, regionally and nationally for his work with children, families and educators.

Presentation(s):

Understanding My Normal vs Their Normal