Lauren Starnes

Lauren Starnes is an early childhood education expert and the author of Big Conversations with Little Children: Addressing Questions, Worries, and Fears, a resource that supports educators and families in responding to young children’s sensitive questions and concerns with developmentally appropriate, honest communication. She serves as senior vice president and chief academic officer at Goddard Systems, LLC, where she oversees curriculum and educational programming across The Goddard School franchise system, drawing on more than two decades of experience in curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation in early childhood and related educational settings.

Starnes has completed dual doctoral programs in child development and educational leadership, along with a master’s degree in child development and a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Her background includes leadership roles in early childhood education at Primrose Schools, university teaching, work in preschools, support for children with autism, and service as a school principal, and she is a frequent speaker and writer on early childhood topics and social-emotional learning.