<p>This week on The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with Laurent Li, an educator working both on the frontline with children and in post-secondary education, preparing future ECEs entering the field.</p><p>Together, they have an honest and reflective conversation about the growing gap between graduating and actually being classroom-ready, authentic inclusion culture, mentorship, onboarding, advocacy, and the basics we cannot afford to lose sight of in early childhood education.</p><p>From headcounts and visual schedules to connection, belonging, and what true inclusion really looks like beyond performative practices, this episode explores the heart of what it means to support children, families, and educators well.</p><p>This conversation is thoughtful, validating, and one every educator and leader should hear.</p><p><strong>LAURENT LI</strong></p><p>Laurent Li is a professor in the Faculty of Early Childhood Education at Seneca Polytechnic and an advocate for inclusive cultures and the creation of environments that support children with disabilities in demonstrating their capabilities. He is also a proud girl dad to two young daughters, ages 3 and 5, and, as a result, a devoted caffeine lover.</p><p><strong>LINKS</strong></p><p><strong>LinkedIn: </strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ljmli/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.linkedin.com/in/ljmli/</a> </p><p><br></p><p><strong>SUBSCRIBE &amp; REVIEW</strong></p><p>If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week! shape their early years.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>CONNECT WITH CARLA</strong></p><p><a href="https://carlatheece.com/latte-lounge-membership" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">The ECE Latte Lounge</a></p><p><strong>Email Newsletter:</strong> ⁠⁠<a href="https://early-learning-foundations.kit.com/b0fcdc38a5" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Click Here⁠</a> </p><p><strong>Website:</strong><a href="http://elfoundations.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"> </a><a href="http://carlatheece.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">carlatheece.com</a></p><p><strong>Instagram:</strong> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/carlatheece" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">@carlatheece</a></p><p><br></p>