Colleen McLaughlin has worked in the field of Early Care and Education for more than 25 years. She applied at a childcare center for a part-time job when she was in college and fell in love with the field. Over the years she has worn many hats as a teacher of infants through school age children both in childcare and public schools. She has also worked as a state assessor, program director, professional development provider, and adjunct faculty. Currently, she works as a consultant. Colleen earned her BA in ECE from Columbia College Chicago and her MSed in ECE from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She is a member of the ilAEYC governing board, the Southern Illinois Coalition for Children & Families as well as the Southern Illinois Early Childhood Action Team (SIECAT).