Buffett Early Childhood Institute

06/08/2026

✍️ New publication: The Buffett Institute's Amy Schmidtke, Mary Beth Pistillo, and Greta Morris contributed an article in the latest edition of Young Children, The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) journal.

"The Power of Teacher Agency: Leading from the Classroom" details the Teacher Leadership Network, an initiative growing the leadership skills of Omaha-area early educators.

Read here: https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/summer2026

06/05/2026

Nebraska parents, this is a great opportunity to grow your leadership skills and become an advocate for early childhood care and education!

Apply here: https://nebraskaearly.org/parent-ambassador-program/

06/04/2026

Congratulations to Nancy Whitesell, a Tribal Early Childhood Research Center and Native Children's Research Exchange colleague at the University of Colorado Anschutz, who was awarded the Society for Prevention Research - SPR Presidential Award at the annual SPR conference.

Whitesell is a longtime collaborator with Michelle Sarche, senior director of Tribal research, policy, and partnership at the Buffett Institute, with whom she helped establish both of these programs supporting Indigenous child development research.

06/03/2026

Buffett Institute staff and partners shared their research on early literacy, school support, partnering with Tribal communities on research, and more at the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools Early Childhood Research Summit.

The event highlighted the innovative early childhood research being conducted across the University of Nebraska System. Read more and view event photos in our new blog: https://buffettinstitute.nebraska.edu/blog/2026/06/buffett-institute-research-spotlights-early-literacy-workforce-well-being-at-2026-early-childhood-summit

06/02/2026

▶️ New video: Watch how campus-community partnerships are shaping the future of early childhood education through our Community Chairs program. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOTDFEXUkmw&t=106s

Featuring interviews with University of Nebraska System campus leaders and the Institute’s four Community Chairs, the video highlights how this collaboration advances research, training, and initiatives that support young children and families.

Meet our Community Chairs:
💡 Julia Torquati, Community Chair in Infant and Child Mental Health, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
💡 Debora Wisneski, John T. Langan Community Chair in Early Childhood Education, University of Nebraska at Omaha
💡 Paula Thompson, Cille and Ron Williams Community Chair for Early Childhood Education, University of Nebraska at Kearney
💡 Philip Lai, Cille and Ron Williams Community Chair for Early Childhood Education, University of Nebraska at Kearney

06/01/2026

A new brief led by Chelsea Wesner and a Community of Learning from the Tribal Early Childhood Research Center, which is co-led by Buffett Institute Senior Director of Tribal Research, Policy, and Partnerships Michelle Sarche, builds understanding of what family economic wellbeing looks like within Native American communities.

Based on a scoping review and perspectives of a Community of Learning comprised of health economists, researchers, Tribal TANF program directors, and federal program partners, a definition of family economic wellbeing was created that goes beyond family finances. It also includes opportunities for intergenerational mobility and access to economic resources, generosity, reciprocity made possible through a strong community safety net, and collective responsibility.

🔗 Read the full brief: https://coloradosph.cuanschutz.edu/docs/librariesprovider205/trc/2026-trc-brief_family-economic-wellbeing.pdf?sfvrsn=ae5484b4_1

05/30/2026

Communities like Holdrege are listening to the needs of families and child care providers, with a nonprofit offering incentives to early educators who care for infants and offer extended hours.

“When we did our initial survey for the childcare problem in Holdrege, the thing we found was that people didn't have the extended hours that they needed due to the businesses working 24 hours in our community, as well as no infant spots,” said McKenna Fahrenbruch, executive director of the Holdrege Area Early Childhood Partnership, Inc.

Read more from Nebraska Public Media, which used Buffett Institute data showing a 17,500+ child care gap in Nebraska.

The Holdredge Area Early Childhood Partnership doubled its incentive for childcare providers who are open longer hours. The incentive was first introduced as a way to help families working for businesses that are open 24 hours a day.

05/29/2026

Buffett Institute Executive Director Walter Gilliam was named a top early childhood thought leader on a national list curated by leadership coach Jonno White of Clarity Group Global.

This recognition reflects the Institute’s growing national policy, research, and practice work, including efforts focused on workforce health and well-being, child care gaps, and support for military families, as well as Gilliam’s landmark research on preschool suspension and expulsion.

The list also features Sharon Lynn Kagan and Jessie Rasmussen, both members of the Buffett Institute’s Board of Advisors. Read more: https://www.consultclarity.org/post/thought-leaders-early-childhood-usa

05/28/2026

“This program is one of the ways we’re building the next generation of researchers."

Read our new blog and view photos from the recent 2025-26 Graduate Scholars Spring Showcase, where Ph.D. students Colman Freel, Rebekah Rapoza, and Ali Shull presented the findings of their Institute-funded research projects.

https://buffettinstitute.nebraska.edu/blog/2026/05/buffett-institute-graduate-scholars-present-research-at-spring-showcase

Nebraska College of Education and Human Sciences University of Nebraska Medical Center - UNMC UNMC College of Medicine

From social media pressures on parents to the long-term health impacts of maternal stress and diabetes during pregnancy, the Buffett Early Childhood Institute’s Graduate Scholars are tackling some of today’s most pressing early childhood issues. 

05/27/2026

Join Amy Schmidtke, our director of educational practice, on Thursday at 2 p.m. CT/3 p.m. ET for a free webinar on early literacy instruction hosted by New America and The Center on Early Learning Success.

Schmidtke co-wrote a new state-of-the-field research brief on early literacy. Presenters will share findings from the brief, as well as insights on the research base for early literacy instruction and community-led innovations supporting literacy success in the early grades.

🔗 Register here:
https://buff.ly/C3NDryU