Brian Puerling

Brian J. Puerling, MSECE, NBCT is an Early Childhood professional who has held several roles supporting districts, schools, school leaders, teachers, children, and their families. He has been a district leader supporting professional learning for all 1,500 PK teachers in the Chicago Public Schools. Prior to that he was been a Specialist for the district offering 1:1 support for 32 schools. He has also served as an Interim Head of School for an Montessori school in Chicago, a program leader for nine years at Catherine Cook School in Chicago, and a curriculum leader at day care centers in the Chicago area. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he served as a department lead that supported children in foster care while all education was remote. He has also been an early fellow career fellow and former guest blogger for the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media, he is the recipient of the National PBS Innovative Educator Award and the National PBS Teachers’ Choice Award. Brian is a former preschool teacher for the Chicago Public Schools, he has also worked as an early childhood teacher coach, a curriculum reviewer and a professional development facilitator for various local organizations such as the Chicago Public Schools and as well as overseas for the Early Childhood Council of New Zealand. As a consultant, he worked with PBS to develop online, self-paced course for preschool teachers supporting media literacy. He has also served as an educational consultant for Nickelodeon and is a former member of the Nickelodeon Curriculum and Content Advisory Board. As a former member of the Sesame Workshop Teacher Council, he shared his knowledge of trends in early childhood education and technology to help guide the planning for future Sesame Street television shows. He holds a master of science degree in early childhood education from the Erikson Institute and a bachelor of science degree in early childhood and elementary education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, as well as a Certificate of Advanced Education Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.