Julie Watkins

Field Consultant

Julie began working with children at her local childcare center when she was a teenager, not intending to become an educator. A simple comment from a parent who noticed the way the children responded to her presence in the classroom shifted her career trajectory into early education from that point forward. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Family Studies and earned a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Early Childhood Inclusive Education from Portland State University. She also holds Master’s certificates in Teacher Leadership and Autism Spectrum Disorders and is passionate about inclusion. Her experience includes over 20 years of classroom teaching with ages ranging from 1 to 6 years. More recently, she has joined the mission to bring tuition-free preschool to Multnomah County as an Instructional Coach with Preschool For All. She also teaches part-time in the Early Childhood Education program at Mt. Hood Community College and is Adjunct Faculty in Curriculum and Instruction at Portland State University. She finds inspiration in inquiry-based, negotiated curriculums and also in the beautiful natural landscapes of the Pacific Northwest and beyond.