# If Not Now, Then When? Early Childhood Education, LRE, and Inclusion with Melissa McCollough and Jani Kozlowski

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/think-inclusive-316100/if-not-now-then-when-early-childhood-education-lre-and-inclusion-with-melissa-mccollough-and-jani-kozlowski
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/think-inclusive-316100/if-not-now-then-when-early-childhood-education-lre-and-inclusion-with-melissa-mccollough-and-jani-kozlowski.md
Podcast: [Think Inclusive](https://stenobird.com/podcast/think-inclusive-316100)
Published: 2026-07-23T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://rss.com/podcasts/think-inclusive-pod/3013347
Audio file: https://content.rss.com/episodes/339589/3013347/think-inclusive-pod/2026_07_22_19_19_20_d49cc9fd-63b3-4e1f-b71b-1d92f4762820.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/think-inclusive-316100/episodes/if-not-now-then-when-early-childhood-education-lre-and-inclusion-with-melissa-mccollough-and-jani-kozlowski
Duration seconds: 3224

## Resource

Melissa McCollough is the Principal and Director of Early Childhood for the East Moline School District in Illinois. A pioneer in inclusive early childhood education, she oversees a program where every preschool classroom is an inclusive one. Melissa is recognized for her innovative approaches to early childhood education and her dedication to creating inclusive learning environments for all children. Jani Kozlowski is a Technical Assistance Specialist with the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center at the University of North Carolina’s Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute. She is also the author of “Every Child Can Fly,” and is well-versed in strategies for inclusive education. Her expertise involves providing support and training to enhance early childhood inclusion practices. In this episode of Think Inclusive, host Tim Villegas engages in a meaningful discussion with Melissa McCollough and Jani Kozlowski about the essence of inclusive early childhood education. They delve into how inclusive practices can be organically integrated at the early stages of schooling, ensuring that children with disabilities are educated alongside their typically developing peers in welcoming environments. Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/if-not-now-then-when-early-childhood-education-lre-and-inclusion-with-melissa-mccollough-and-jani-kozlowski-1337/

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## Transcript

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