2026 International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute

Katari Coleman, an early childhood education thought leader and expert, leads innovative efforts to advance all children’s school readiness and success. She has expertise in child development, out-of-school time (OST) care, early childhood and OST workforce development, family engagement, parent education, Adverse Childhood Experiences, strategic planning, and systems change.Coleman is a highly experienced trainer and instructional designer who brings a deep understanding of learning sciences, adult learning, product development, and traditional and virtual training. Currently, she is the quality commitment and implementation director and a leadership team member for EDC’s Institute for Home Visiting Workforce Development and Jackie Walorski Center for Evidence-Based Case Management. In addition, she is the lead content developer for OST credential work for the state of Massachusetts. For over 7 years, she co-led the National Center on Afterschool and Summer Enrichment (NCASE), a resource and training hub that built capacity to ensure children can access high-quality afterschool learning that supports their development and boosts their academic achievement.Prior to joining EDC, she held several key leadership roles in the early childhood education and OST fields, including developing a parent literacy curriculum for Transformation Nashville and leading an eight-site federal grant that trained early childhood professionals throughout Tennessee. She has served as an associate professor and adjunct faculty at several higher education institutions.Coleman holds a PhD in Cultural and Educational Policy Studies from Loyola University and an MEd in Early Childhood Education from Erikson Institute.