Julie K. Biddle, PhD, Concentration Director for New England’s Graduate Certificates in The Reggio Emilia Approach, Trauma Informed Education, and Dyslexia Studies, was selected to be a part of the Pedagogical Leadership Cohort (PLC), sponsored by the Boston Area Reggio Inspired Network (BARIN). BARIN gives preference to candidates from the Boston area, but because of Biddle’s extensive experience and knowledge, she applied and was accepted.
There are 39 participants from all over the U.S. in this year’s PLC. In six sessions, participants work with Tiziana Filippini, a Pedagogista from Reggio Emilia, Italy. The cohorts meet every other month (October to May). They are part of an inquiry group of six or seven people between the meetings. The inquiry groups explore one of two areas: 1) how do educators welcome children or students to the new school year/to the classroom, or 2) how do educators create and manage a learning context? Biddle is in Mara Krechevzky’s inquiry group. Krechevzky collaborates with Howard Gardner and Project Zero at Harvard’s School of Education. Project Zero and Reggio Children’s well-known collaboration is entitled Making Learning Visible (2001). Biddle’s inquiry group is focusing on question 2. In a full circle moment, one of the other participants in this year’s PLC is a former student of Biddle’s.
Within the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance (NAREA), some networks sponsor study groups, professional development, and other initiatives for Reggio Emilia-inspired educators. Biddle helped develop Ohio Voices for Learning: A Reggio Inspired Forum (OVL), the network in Ohio. In addition, she facilitates the greater Dayton study group. Biddle has studied the Reggio Approach since 1991. She is the author of The 3Rs of Leadership and numerous articles on early childhood, leadership, and Reggio-inspired practices. She has visited Reggio Emilia, Italy four times as a member of a Study Tour. Biddle developed Antioch’s graduate certificate/concentration in Reggio Emilia Approach.
