THOMAS RENDON
Tom is an author and consultant focusing on early childhood education. He has authored several articles, resources, chapters and a book relating with an emphasis on state level early childhood systems, governance, collaboration efforts, social emotional development and equity. He consults with two national Head Start technical assistance centers, the National Center on Health, Behavioral Health and Safety (as a state systems content expert) and the National Center for Parent, Family and Community Engagement (supporting father and male caregiver engagement). He has also consulted with the Pyramid Model Consortium. He is co-author of Saving Play: Addressing Standards through Play-Based Learning in Preschool and Kindergarten and his second book, Creativity in Young Children: What Science Tells Us and Our Hearts Know, will be published in 2025 by Redleaf Press.
He was the Head Start State Collaboration Office Coordinator with the Iowa Department of Education, a position he held 18 years along with a brief stint as the state coordinator for Even Start. He retired in March 2020. As Collaboration Office coordinator, he helped design and lead various statewide Head Start collaboration initiatives including Early Childhood Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, multi-tiered systems of support, oral health services, support for dual language learners, hearing screening, smoking cessation, health literacy, promoting nutrition and physical activity, promoting equity within early childhood services, and expanding inclusive opportunities for children with special needs. Through his tenure at the Collaboration Office, he maintained active leadership roles in Iowa’s Early Childhood Advisory Council and early childhood system building work.
Tom has a BS in Speech from Northwestern University, an MBA from the University of Iowa and is has completed coursework for a PhD from Kent State University in special education/early intervention. He is a frequent presenter at state, regional, and national conferences.