Principal Consultant

Crystal Elliott-O'Connor, MAT, ECE
Certified National Trainer,  Early Childhood Education Expert

My mission is to be an integral part of the movement back to basics in early childhood education. Back to when the pillars of ECE, care-as-curriculum, authentic discourse, free-play, and the culture of inquiry stood tall and well defended by those with a stake in the future school success of all young children, teaching them to love learning for a lifetime! 
When I was cutting my teaching teeth way back in the 1990's we were committed to whole language, play-based curricula, and just beginning to learn and utilize the science of brain development. It was an exciting time in the field! The children I taught were exposed to free-play, rich and rigorous classroom centers, and authentic conversations and discussions with their peers, with me, and with other adults in our classroom environment. The outcomes were awe-inspiring to discover - children becoming confident speakers, skilled listeners, and empathetic citizens of our classroom community; prepared for becoming citizens of our world!
Today, when I look out onto the vista of early care and education the outlook can seem quite bleak... teachers are so overwhelmed and consumed with data, documentation, technology, and assessments that they scarcely have time (or energy!) to talk, play, and BE with children in a rich, authentic manner. They can no longer bring themselves and their passions into the learning space.
My goal as a trainer is to reignite that flame of inspiration for teachers and other practitioners who wanted to work with young children for a reason! I endeavor to take interested adults into the lives and experiences of young children and teach them how to work from an authentic place and meet the requirements of the field today.