Claudia Cattage is a dedicated Early Childhood Education professional with over 30 years of experience. A recent graduate of Erikson Institute, Claudia earned her second Master of Arts in Education with a triple endorsement in Early Childhood, Special Education, and English as a Second Language (ESL). Her endorsements also include a Professional Educator License (PEL).
For the past 19 years, Claudia has served as a Mentor/Coach and Early/Head Start Lead Teacher at Educare Chicago, part of Start Early. In this role, she is responsible for fostering inclusive classroom communities for children, families, and staff, implementing curriculum and assessments, creating individualized plans, and supporting her colleagues’ professional practices.
With her extensive experience, Claudia excels in designing classroom environments that inspire learning, addressing the emotional needs of young children, supporting children who have experienced trauma, and coaching fellow educators. She incorporates action research and reflective practices to enhance her teaching and leadership skills.
In addition to her teaching and mentoring roles, Claudia contributes to the professional development of her peers through mentoring, panel discussions, and training sessions. Her career has included significant leadership experiences in teacher research and professional learning communities. Claudia is also a certified Developmental Therapist and is trained in the Greenspan Floor-Time Approach. Beyond her professional achievements, she is a proud mother of five adult children and a grandmother to four.