MECE Leadership Bio

Don Piburn

Don Piburn began his career working as a teacher's assistant in a "reverse mainstreaming" preschool in 1983. He has since taught high school and inclusive preschool, earned a Masters of Science in Preschool Special Education, worked in early intervention research, and consulted extensively on including young children with special needs. Don was the 2001 President of the Hawaii Affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

He has written a column, articles, and presented widely on the importance of men in the lives of young children. In 2005 he received the NAEYC Men in Education Network (M.E.N.) Champion for Men and Children Award. Don is currently co-coordinating the Leadership Team of the Working Forum on Men in Early Care and Education, an ongoing project of the World Forum Foundation.