Renée Ecckles-Hardy
The Training and Development Committee Co-Chair
Renée is a licensed school psychologist with extensive experience serving children and families in educational settings. She also served for six years as the IDEA Part B Data Manager and Program Evaluator for the West Virginia Department of Education, where she used data to drive meaningful outcomes for students with disabilities across the state.
As the current Vice President and Dean of Students at Amerion College (formerly Huntington Junior College), Renée oversees the full student lifecycle, from recruitment and admissions through graduation. She directs registrar and academic records operations, leads student services initiatives, and ensures efficient compliance reporting and data analytics. In partnership with academic affairs, Renée supports faculty, advises and counsels students, and teaches as needed, consistently prioritizing operational excellence and a welcoming, student-centered experience.
An award-winning, Gold Global Book Award-winning author of more than 40 books published under Brown Butterfly Books™, Renée's children's books center Black and Brown protagonists and children with disabilities, reflecting her deep commitment to diversity, inclusion, and social emotional learning through literacy. She believes wholeheartedly that all children should see all children in the books they read.
Through Brown Butterfly Publishing Company, Renée serves aspiring authors as a publishing consultant and book coach, empowering writers to share their stories with the world. As the Anchored Purpose Coach, she also works as a certified life coach equipping women over 50 to silence self-doubt, reclaim their sense of purpose, and walk boldly into their next chapter with clarity and confidence.
To the Inspiring Dreams Network Board, Renée brings a rare combination of educational expertise, data leadership, and community-centered passion. Her commitment to at-risk youth, social emotional learning, expanded literacy access, and meaningful parent engagement makes her a dedicated and purposeful voice for the young people and families IDN exists to serve.