Ellen Hall

Dr. Ellen Hall; Founder and Executive Director of Boulder Journey School and Advocate for the Rights of Children Ellen Lynn Hall, 70, an internationally recognized leader in early childhood education, passed away peacefully on March 7, 2018 in her Denver home. Her death followed a long and brave battle with pancreatic cancer. In 1984, Ellen founded Boulder Journey School, originally known as Make a Mess and Make Believe. Boulder Journey has grown into an innovative and world-renowned school for over 200 children, aged six weeks to six years, and their families. The philosophy and values of the school are inspired by a strong relationship with educators from the schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, and by the work of Boulder-based educators, Frances and David Hawkins. Through her school, her writing and her domestic and international consulting, Ellen inspired and influenced countless education professionals worldwide. Ellen’s many achievements include the creation of the Boulder Journey School Teacher Education Program in 1999, and the development of international study tours and conferences. These programs have influenced educators across North America and in over 26 countries around the world, inspiring young educators to embrace the way of thinking and educating young children that made Ellen so well respected in her field. The Teacher Education Program, in partnership with the University of Colorado Denver and the Colorado Department of Education, offers candidates a Teaching License in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s Degree in Education and Human Development. Ellen’s book, Seen and Heard: Children’s Rights in Early Childhood Education, written in 2011 with J. Rudkin, profoundly influenced educators’ views of children’s participation in their communities. At the time of her death, she was writing and editing a second book on Supportive Social Learning, an applied philosophy of learning and community building that Ellen and her faculty have been researching and developing for 30 years. Ellen was the co-founder and Vice President of Videatives, a web-based educational resource company, and co-founder and Board Chair of Hawkins Centers of Learning, an educational think-tank. She was co-leader of the Working Group on Children’s Rights and a member of the International Advisory Group of the World Forum Foundation. She was Board President of Dimensions Educational Research Foundation, Board Member of International Child Resource Institute, Board Member of Law and Civics Reading and Writing Institute and founding Board Member of North American Reggio Emilia Alliance. Ellen inspired and influenced so many people. She will be remembered for her passion, determination, and steadfast commitment to children and families, including her own. Among her many gifts was the ability to connect personally with a wide variety of people and she left a positive impression on all those she encountered. She was always looking for ways to express her love to people around her and help them achieve happiness and success in life. Born July 22, 1947 in Brooklyn, New York, to Shirley (Hyman) and Abraham Kleinman, Ellen was a graduate of University of Massachusetts Amherst and Smith College and received her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Innovation from the University of Colorado Denver. Foremost to Ellen was family. She treasured time with her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed outings, trips, and events with her family, especially the theater, museums, frequenting favorite restaurants as well as trying new ones, going to movies, and enjoying quality time with her children and grandchildren. Ellen was passionate about participating in their lives, and showed her love and commitment by supporting and engaging in their activities and interests. Ellen is survived by her husband, Dexter Lane and by her family. She was extremely proud of her children, daughter, Sheri Collins and her husband Bob, her son Adam Goldberg and her son, Sam Hall and wife, Danielle. Ellen adored her grandchildren, Nate, Corey and Caitlyn Collins and Caleb Goldberg. Also surviving is her sister, Sandra Kleinman, cousins, aunts, uncles and dear friends from around the world. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Voices of Children Documentary Project through the World Forum Foundation. http://shopping.na1.netsuite.com/s.nl/c.4239075/sc.27/category.114/.f