In this episode of Little Big Ideas, we sit down with our dear friend Rukia Rogers—early childhood educator, activist, and founder of The Highlander School in Atlanta, Georgia. This single-site school stands as a beacon of hope, possibility, and social justice, nurturing empathy and critical consciousness in children while deeply honoring the histories and struggles of its community. Inspired by the legacy of the Highlander Folk School and the civil rights movement, Rukia has built an early learning community that is both a hub of activism and a sanctuary of care—a place where children, families, and the land are interconnected and valued. Rukia’s vision reminds us what’s possible when education, community, and justice come together. Her leadership offers a powerful example of how even a small early childhood program can become a space of resistance, hope, and transformative change. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss.STORYPARK: Putting the child at the heart of childcare management Storypark is an all-in-one childcare management platform built to empower quality-focused early learning services to streamline operations, so they can focus on what matters most: nurturing every child’s unique potential. With all the tools you expect in a childcare management software, what makes Storypark special is our sector-leading family engagement and learning documentation tools that are at the heart of our platform. Shaped by early childhood education experts, and the only childcare software endorsed by the Canadian Child Care Federation, Storypark delivers proven impact you can depend on.

Talking with Dr. Hopi Martin feels like slowing down enough to hear the earth breathe. Every time we hear him speak, something new lands in our hearts. In this episode, he shares his path back to his ancestors, the land, and the seasonal rhythms that guide his work with children. He invites us to step out of the clock and into the natural cycles of learning. It’s a gentle reminder that when we bring children to the earth, she knows what to do and so do they. STORYPARK: Putting the child at the heart of childcare management Storypark is an all-in-one childcare management platform built to empower quality-focused early learning services to streamline operations, so they can focus on what matters most: nurturing every child’s unique potential. With all the tools you expect in a childcare management software, what makes Storypark special is our sector-leading family engagement and learning documentation tools that are at the heart of our platform. Shaped by early childhood education experts, and the only childcare software endorsed by the Canadian Child Care Federation, Storypark delivers proven impact you can depend on.

We sit down with author and educator Susan Stacey to explore what happens when educators move from simply following children's interests to co-constructing meaning with them. Together, we unpack how curiosity, uncertainty, and the voice of the educator can shape truly responsive curriculum.

What if care isn’t just something we do—but the most important part of how we show up for children? In this episode, Carol Garboden Murray invites us to rethink care as both an art and a science, full of rhythm, connection, and intention. We explore how everyday routines can become meaningful care rituals, and why relational care deserves to be taken seriously. It’s a powerful and hopeful conversation for educators ready to reimagine what it means to truly care. STORYPARK: Putting the child at the heart of childcare management. Storypark is an all-in-one childcare management platform built to empower quality-focused early learning services to streamline operations, so they can focus on what matters most: nurturing every child’s unique potential. With all the tools you expect in a childcare management software, what makes Storypark special is our sector-leading family engagement and learning documentation tools that are at the heart of our platform. Shaped by early childhood education experts, and the only childcare software endorsed by the Canadian Child Care Federation, Storypark delivers proven impact you can depend on.

This discussion with Deb Curtis explores our inherently social nature, and delves deep into the source of early development. Spoiler alert... It's all about relationships!Deb Curtis is a long-time early childhood educator, leader and published author of "Really Seeing Children" and several other important books.   Storypark: Putting the child at the heart of childcare management Storypark is an all-in-one childcare management platform built to empower quality-focused early learning services to streamline operations, so they can focus on what matters most: nurturing every child’s unique potential. With all the tools you expect in a childcare management software, what makes Storypark special is our sector-leading family engagement and learning documentation tools that are at the heart of our platform.  Shaped by early childhood education experts, and the only childcare software endorsed by the Canadian Child Care Federation, Storypark delivers proven impact you can depend on.

Join us for a fascinating discussion with Marc Battle about radically rethinking children’s rights. How can we ensure children are truly heard, even when it comes to the construction of their own early learning programs?