Dawn Underwood

Executive Director

Email: dawn@elcwhiteland.com | (317) 908-9165


Hi families! I’m Dawn, and I’ve worked with preschoolers and their families in Johnson County since 2006. In 2010, I founded the nonprofit Early Learning Community to make high-quality early education accessible to all. I hold a bachelor's in Psychology and a master’s in Early Childhood Education from Ball State.

In addition to leading ELC, I teach early childhood courses at Ivy Tech and serve as a professional development specialist for the CDA Council.

I’ve been married to my husband, John, for 38 years, and we have two adult children—Erika and Hunter—and a granddaughter, Rynn, who is now in her second year at ELC! It’s a joy to lead this program alongside our incredible teaching team. I’m passionate about creating a safe, loving space where children grow through play, discovery, and meaningful relationships.