Infants and Toddlers at Play: Choosing the Right Stuff for Learning and Development - Mary Benson Mcmullen

Brody, Dylan: - Dylan Brody (they/them), MSEd, is a doctoral \nstudent at the University of Georgia. They are currently the graduate research \nassistant for the Department of Educational Theory and Practice, with a focus \non critical studies. Dylan began working as a full-time teacher with infants \nand toddlers in 2010 and fell deeply in love with the complexity of teaching \nyoung children. They worked collaboratively with a coteacher in a setting that \nutilizes a continuity of care model, providing Dylan the space and support \nneeded to build intimate and meaningful connections with children and their \nfamilies over the course of a three-year cycle. This time allowed them to \ncreate a more deeply reflective teaching practice and mindful rapport with \nfamilies through daily moments of trust building. Dylan's primary research and \nteaching interests focus on ethics, equity, critical theory, mindfulness, and \nadvocacy for fellow teachers who experience marginalization. They prioritize \ncare practices and policies that allow all members of the community to feel \nsafer to be themselves and challenge the barriers in place that might prevent \nsuccess for all. Dylan hopes to work more closely in the future with early \nchildhood teachers in the LGBTQ+ community and to further advocate for trans \nvisibility and representation in the field. Dylan currently lives in Athens, \nGeorgia, with their beloved cat, Bean. \n\n