Upcoming Webinars
Our online series unites the early childhood learning community around timely issues and provides professional development opportunities.
Webinars are offered without cost and are open to all. An archive of recorded webinars are available in our video library.
2026 SERIES:
Reflect for Insight,
Reset for Action!
Welcome back to the CAYL Catalyst webinar series!
The CAYL Catalyst webinar series brings to you bold conversations of interest to early childhood educators. Our online series is intended to unite early childhood learning communities around timely issues and provide professional development opportunities. Join us every first Thursday of each month for one hour at 4 PM EST.
In 2026, we will host top practitioners, analysts, and thinkers to help us reflect and reset our daily work and strategic adaptations. As always, CAYL’s talks and panels feature prominent leaders alongside on-the-ground educators.
The field of early childhood education is facing increasing scrutiny in both policy and practice. As we consider our next steps, the CAYL Institute invites you to join these three dynamic conversations. We intend to have a phenomenal year of reflection, new insights, resetting, and taking action.
Joan Lombardi
CAYL Catalyst Ep. #57 – Reflect for Insight, Reset for Action! – Featuring Joan Lombardi
March 5, 2026
4pm ET / 3pm CT / 2pm MT / 1pm PT
On March 5th, Joan Lombardi will share her insights. She was the first Associate Commissioner for child care at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and is known for her innovative leadership and policy advice. For over 50 years, Joan has served as a key advisor to philanthropy, public agencies, and others on domestic and global issues facing young children, families, and communities. Last October, she was awarded ZERO TO THREE’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Hosted by Dr. Valora Washington – CEO and President, The CAYL Institute
Jerlean Daniel
CAYL Catalyst Ep. #58 – Reflect for Insight, Reset for Action! – Featuring Jerlean Daniel
April 2, 2026
4pm ET / 3pm CT / 2pm MT / 1pm PT
On April 2nd, we will conclude our trilogy of dynamic voices with a webinar featuring insights and leadership strategies from Jerlean Daniel, past president, former executive director, and current chair of the Black Caucus of NAEYC. Jerlean is one of our nation’s leading experts on young children, equity, and social justice. She is a distinguished alum of the University of Pittsburgh, where she served as a faculty member and as Director of the University’s Child Development Center.
Hosted by Dr. Valora Washington – CEO and President, The CAYL Institute
Judy Jablon
CAYL Catalyst Ep. #59 – Reflect for Insight, Reset for Action! – Featuring Judy Jablon
May 7, 2026
4pm ET / 3pm CT / 2pm MT / 1pm PT
Join us on May 7, 2026 for Reflect for Insight, Reset for Action! Featuring Judy Jablon, author and expert on the power of interactions. Judy has blended extensive research with hands-on experience to show how intentional conversations and meaningful connections shape not only children’s development but also our growth as educators and leaders.
As we reflect for insight and reset for action, we’ll explore questions like: How can we use these powerful interactions to extend learning for ourselves and for children? What intentional conversations do we need to have about our practice and our future? How can we come together to create the future we want—for children, for our teams, and for ourselves?
Join us on May 7, 2026, for Reflect for Insight, Reset for Action! Featuring Judy Jablon, where we’ll consider how our interactions today can shape the possibilities of tomorrow.
Hosted by Dr. Valora Washington – CEO and President, The CAYL Institute
Ellen Galinsky
CAYL Catalyst Ep. #60 – Reflect for Insight, Reset for Action! – Featuring Ellen Galinsky
June 4, 2026
4pm ET / 3pm CT / 2pm MT / 1pm PT
Join us on June 4, 2026, for an inspiring conversation with Ellen Galinsky, President of the Families and Work Institute and nationally recognized author and researcher. From her groundbreaking work in early childhood education to her influential writing on adolescence, Ellen has shaped how we understand children’s development across the years. Her bestselling books, including Mind in the Making and The Breakthrough Years, have become must-reads for educators and parents alike, offering a clear, research-based voice on executive functioning and the realities of the tween and teen years.
As we come together, we’ll explore questions such as: What misconceptions do we hold about children, tweens, and teenagers? Where might we be missing the mark as educators and parents? What are the most important lessons Ellen has learned through her work with families, policymakers, and the media—and how can we apply them in our own contexts?
Join us on June 4, 2026, for Reflect for Insight, Reset for Action Featuring Ellen Galinsky, as we consider what needs to shift in our thinking and practice—and how a deeper understanding of executive function and adolescence can help us better support children, families, and ourselves.
Hosted by Dr. Valora Washington – CEO and President, The CAYL Institute
Elliot Haspel
CAYL Catalyst Ep. #61 – Reflect for Insight, Reset for Action! – Featuring Elliot Haspel
July 9, 2026
4pm ET / 3pm CT / 2pm MT / 1pm PT
Join us on July 9, 2026, for an important conversation with Elliot Haspel, nationally recognized family policy expert and author. Through his influential books, Crawling Behind: America’s Childcare Crisis and How to Fix It and Raising a Nation: 10 Reasons Every American Has a Stake in Child Care For All, Elliot has helped shape the national dialogue on America’s child care crisis and the path toward a stronger, more equitable system for families.
As we come together, we’ll explore questions such as: Why should every American have a stake in child care? How did we arrive at this moment—and what will it take to build affordable, high-quality options for every family? If we’ve been saying this for years, where might we be missing the mark in how we communicate the urgency of this issue?
Join us on July 9, 2026, for Reflect for Insight, Reset for Action Featuring Elliot Haspel, as we consider what must shift in our thinking, messaging, and advocacy to ensure child care is recognized as essential national infrastructure.
Hosted by Dr. Valora Washington – CEO and President, The CAYL Institute