A Daughter of Head Start

 

Dr. El Brown’s journey began as a child in Head Start, where one teacher’s decision to see her through a different lens changed the course of her life. That moment of engagement became a buffer in a fragile ecosystem and positioned her to thrive as a first-generation college student and graduate.

 

From Teacher to Mother

Education gave her the chance to succeed, and she committed her life to ensuring that children and families feel safe, seen, and secure. She became a teacher in the U.S., Japan, and South Korea—driven by the belief that when children are surrounded by care and opportunity, their potential is limitless.

 

When she became a mother, Dr. El noticed her toddler displaying developmental differences. Drawing on her teaching skills, she created a program to evaluate and communicate his needs. That program became KinderJam®, which grew from her living room into a global initiative serving military and State Department communities in 11 countries and 16 states. KinderJam® earned her invitations to the White House for Michelle Obama’s Joining Forces initiative, a feature on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and recognition as Army Spouse of the Year.

 

Building a Top-Notch Village

Yet even with her expertise, it took three years of misaligned conversations with professionals before her son received an autism diagnosis. Knowing childhood is a window in time, she built what she now calls a Top-Notch Village™—a mission-aligned ecosystem that brought service providers, families, and community members onto the same page. That Top-Notch Village moved her son from being nonverbal at five to thriving as a college freshman, author, and leader.

 

Turning Experience Into Framework

Determined to give families and organizations the tools she wished she had sooner, Dr. El earned a Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education, with a secondary emphasis in Educational Psychology. From her lived experience and research, she created the Village Engagement Matrix™, a replicable framework showing how children, families, and village members can align through every stage of development.

 

Today, Dr. El is a sought-after speaker, trainer, and strategist. She blends research, story, and lived expertise to help organizations build Top-Notch Villages™ where children and families win.

 

Coming Full Circle

At her core, Dr. El believes early childhood education made all the difference in her life—it not only allowed her to thrive, but also positioned her to help her son thrive. She is purposed to return to where it all began—Head Start—ensuring children feel safe, seen, and secure, and that the adults who love and care for them have the strategies and support they need.