Practical Strategies for Supporting Preschoolers Through Change

Courtney O’Grady is an assistant professor of early childhood special education at the University of Alabama. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in early childhood education, an additional graduate certificate in English as New Language through the Alliance for Catholic Education at the University of Notre Dame, and a Ph.D. in special education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her research seeks to disrupt deficit narratives about children and families, advance inclusion for young children with disabilities, and support the well-being of the early childhood workforce.

Amber is a current practitioner in early childhood education, teaching preschoolers ages 3-5 years at a university laboratory preschool. Amber is also a mentor teacher to undergraduate students completing practicum and internship hours in human development, ECE, elementary education, and special education. Amber is a current Ph.D. student, pursuing a Ph.D. in early childhood special education. Amber’s research interests are in advocacy and teacher training regarding early intervention, as well as trauma-informed care in early childhood.