Eduardo Pérez named new director of bilingual early learning lab at WIU

Western Illinois University (WIU) has a new director for their bilingual early learning lab.

Eduardo Pérez has been named as the new director of the WIU-Quad Cities Spanish Bilingual Early Learning and Family Empowerment Lab Site. Pérez brings over a decade of experience in early childhood and bilingual education to his role.

Pérez will oversee all operations, hiring and the strategic direction of the Early Learning Center. He will also work as an adjunct professor, teaching bilingual courses.

In 2023, he received the Plano Premier Award from School District Plano 88, an honor voted on by his colleagues and parents. Pérez has received recognition from the WIDA Consortium and the Illinois Board of Education’s KIDS initiative, which works to ensure every child in Illinois is ready for kindergarten.

Before taking the position with WIU, Pérez taught kindergarten and pre-school age students. He has shared his expertise at conferences across the state. He earned a master’s degree in early childhood education from Northern Illinois University and is working towards a second master’s degree in educational leadership from WIU.

“WIU is thrilled to welcome Eduardo Pérez, an amazing professional with a proven commitment to early childhood education and multilingualism, as the director of the WIU-Quad Cities Spanish Bilingual Early Learning and Family Empowerment Lab Site,” WIU-QC Executive Director of Outreach and Campus Operations Audrey Adamson said. “His leadership and dedication will undoubtedly inspire positive change and elevate the learning experiences of our young students and their families.”

For more information on WIU’s Early Learning Center, expected to open in late August, email Perez at ee-perez2@wiu.edu .

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