Dr. Jerlean Daniel is Executive Director of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation’s largest organization of early childhood education professionals working with and on behalf of children from birth through age eight. NAEYC is a leading voice on program and learning standards, teacher quality and professional development, curriculum and assessment, and other critical issues in the field.  

 

Prior to joining the NAEYC staff, Dr. Daniel served as Chair of Psychology in Education, and Associate Professor in the Applied Developmental Psychology Program, in the School of Education, after serving as Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh. She was On-Air Faculty for “Heads Up! Reading,” an early literacy project sponsored by the National Head Start Association and the Council for Professional Recognition. 

 

Dr. Daniel has served on a variety of committees including the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Re-Designation of Head Start Grantees, the advisory committee of the New Standards Project on Speaking and Listening for Preschool Through Third Grade, the Early Head Start Advisory Committee, and the Allegheny County Early Childhood Initiative. She currently serves on the board of Family Communications, Inc. and the Advisory Council for PNC bank’s initiative, Grow Up Great.

 

Dr. Daniel has written a series of articles on transitions for infants, toddlers, and children with difficulties in child care. She has also written about African American child rearing practices and children’s names. Dr. Daniel has been quoted in numerous national, regional and local newspapers.

 

Dr. Daniel was a child care center director for 18 years. During that time, she served at various times as a board member, Secretary, and President of the Pennsylvania Association of Child Care Agencies; President of the Pittsburgh AEYC; and Governing Board member and President of NAEYC. 

 

Dr. Daniel holds a B.S. in Political Science, an M.S. in Child Development, and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Pittsburgh.