“What’s Going to Happen Next? Incorporating Storytelling Into Your Curriculum”
Come experience the joy of storytelling in a wide variety of forms. Learn ways to incorporate storytelling across your program and to develop your own unique storytelling culture. Find out how storytelling can build community, enhance learning, create curriculum, and be just plain fun!!
BIOGRAPHY:
JACKY HOWELL, MA
Jacky Howell, MA – Early Childhood Education Consultant and Owner, Azspire, LLC
With over 54 years of experience in early childhood education, Jacky Howell brings a lifelong commitment to supporting young children, families, and the educators who care for them. Her work has spanned multiple roles, including teacher, administrator, trainer, coach, and technical assistant—each informed by a deep belief in the power of quality early learning experiences.
Jacky earned her Master’s degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College and has spent more than 35 years as a course instructor and presenter on topics related to child development, curriculum, and best practices in early care and education. For the past two decades, she has mentored and provided technical assistance to educators and programs across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.
A frequent keynote speaker and presenter, Jacky has shared her insights at local, national, and international conferences, including the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Annual Conference and Professional Learning Institute. Her writing has been featured in multiple early childhood publications, including a regular column in Teaching Young Children, and she is the co-author of two notable books: Rituals and Traditions: Fostering a Sense of Community in Preschool (NAEYC, 2015) and Reflection, Perspective-Taking, and Social Justice: Stories of Empathy and Kindness in the Early Childhood Classroom (Redleaf Press, 2024).
Currently, Jacky consults with early childhood programs throughout the DC metro area, offering professional development, coaching, and workshops—both in person and virtually. Her work focuses on helping educators create inclusive, compassionate, and community-centered environments for all children.
Her passions include exploring themes of kindness, empathy, learning through experiences, social justice, classroom community, and the role of women in sports—along with a personal love of nature and animals. Jacky remains deeply inspired by the resilience and potential of young children and is dedicated to creating spaces that honor and nurture their growth.