Quality early childhood education has a huge impact on any student's success as they learn and grow. Often those with limited experience with their youngest learners quickly find themselves searching for more ways improve in this crucial area. Today we talk with one educator who's commitment to improving learning in the early grades empowered her practice and made a real difference in her school.

Leslie Selberg Viveiros, is fine arts coordinator at the Carlucci American International School of Lisbon in Portugal.

Julie Bloss, a retired principal, is fellow at the NAESP Center for Early Learning Leadership and instructor for NAESP's Principal Leadership for The Early Grades program.

Though a title change can quickly take someone from a team member to its leader, the qualities one needs to lead stem from a career long journey of growth, and principals have a special role to play in fostering this leadership at their schools. Texas school leaders Dr. Shelby Calabrese and Dr. Alejandra Perez join us to discuss how better hiring practices and a culture of recognition can help create a robust pipeline to leadership.

Dr. Shelby Calabrese is principal of Harvard Elementary School in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Alejandra Perez is assistant principal of Harvard Elementary School in Houston, Texas.

Danny Bauer is a principal retention development expert, best-selling author, and host of the Better Leader, Better Schools podcast.

School leaders have a huge role to play when it comes to the success of special education in their schools. Principals can shape how IEP meetings are conducted, ensure specialists are getting what they need, and set the tone for the entire school's approach to special education. We sat down with folks from the newly formed Lead IDEA Center to discuss this role, and how school leaders can move from simply meeting obligations to truly committing to improving special education.

Abigail Foley, Ed.D. is director of the Lead IDEA Center at the American Institutes for Research.

David Bateman, Ph.D. is co-principal investigator at the Lead IDEA Center.

Lynn Holdheide, M.S. is co-principal investigator at the Lead IDEA Center.

Andy Jacks, Ed.D. is principal at Ellis Elementary School in Manassas, Virginia, and senior fellow at the NAESP Centers for Advancing Leadership.