Contributors

Mary Anderson is a music educator with more than twelve years of experience teaching preschool and elementary general music. Raised in a musical household and inspired by dedicated teachers, Mary understands how music connects people and helps children participate, explore, and grow. She holds degrees in Trumpet Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University and Music Education from Boston University.

Ms. Joanie Calem has been teaching inclusive music since 1983 and enjoys finding ways to bring children together through music and stories. Her performances highlight the importance of connection and caring for others, whether people, animals, or nature. Joanie encourages her audience to participate and to embrace the call to care for one another.

Hayes Greenfield, founder of Creative Sound Play and author of Creative Sound Play for Young Learners, has been a teaching artist for more than 30 years. He regularly works with educators at the National Head Start Association and the National Association for the Education of Young Children to transform transition times into effective routines that guide children seamlessly from one activity to another.

Cassandra Hostetler has been in the early childhood field for more than 30 years. She is from Massachusetts, where she taught children ages 15 months to 5 years old for many years at both community and corporate early childhood programs before earning her Master's in Early Childhood Education from Tufts University. Cassandra moved to DC and worked at NAEYC for a few years before returning to center directing for the last fifteen years. She directed a corporate program and, most recently, a play-based, Reggio-inspired program. She has witnessed how the early childhood field has changed in these thirty years as we learn the importance of genuine play-based environments for children.

Rae Pica has been devoted to the development and education of the whole child for four decades. As a consultant she has shared her expertise with such groups as the Sesame Street Research Department, the Head Start Bureau, Centers for Disease Control, and Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues. Rae is the author of 20 books and a blogger, keynote speaker, and online course creator.

Moni Ritchie Hadley is a children’s book author who transforms sky-gazing dreams into stories for young readers. Her imagination was shaped by a childhood moving between the US and Japan as a military kid. A UCLA psychology graduate and former LAUSD home/hospital teacher, she now uses her unique background to craft heartfelt and creative stories for young children.

Dr. Kim specializes in educational technology integration and teaches courses in virtual learning and web development. Dr. Kim's dedication to preparing educators for technology-rich learning environments has made her an invaluable resource to the edtech community.

Dr. Lee’s research interests center on talent development, teacher preparation, and gifted education for young learners and underserved populations. Prior to her transition to higher education, she drew on her expertise as an elementary and preschool educator in both the United States and South Korea.

Dr. Lee is a Full Professor of Early Childhood and Elementary Mathematics Education in the Department of Teacher and Administrator Preparation UTA.  She has over 20 years of experience in teaching higher ed, she has published 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, and is a frequent presenter at national and international education conferences. Her teaching interests include computational thinking integration, AI literacy, and teacher preparation for STEM instruction. Dr. Lee's research focuses on early mathematics education and its connection to children’s problem-solving skills, with particular emphasis on computational thinking.

Dr. Sara Beth Nelson is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Information Studies. Before becoming a professor, she worked in public and school libraries. In addition to researching oral traditions, Sarah Beth studies the American open-mic storytelling movement. She also performs as a storyteller at fringe festivals, open-mic events, and other venues.  

Dr. Yu’s research highlights the integration of artificial intelligence into early childhood education to personalize instruction and enhance developmental outcomes. As an immigrant, bilingual educator, and parent, Dr. Yu leverages this emerging technology to design inclusive, equitable, and innovative learning environments. She is dedicated to empowering educators and creating meaningful, culturally responsive experiences that support every child's growth.

Smita Mathur is a professor in the Department of Early Elementary and Reading Education in the College of Education at James Madison University. Her research interests are related to play across cultural groups and teacher preparation. She has served as the president of The Association for the Study of Play.

Alana Dresden has over 20 years of experience in education, ranging from early childhood to adulthood. Alana earned a BA in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an MS in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Bilingual Education from UW-Milwaukee. Alana assisted in developing the Supporting Dual Language Learners Credential at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where she is currently teaching. Alana's experience includes teaching in an inclusive classroom at the elementary school level, being an Education Coordinator at an early childhood center, and being an adjunct instructor in the Early Childhood Department at Waukesha County Technical College, Bryant and Stratton College, and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Dr. Sandra Duncan is an internationally recognized expert in early childhood environments with decades of hands-on experience in ECE programs. Her vision is to preserve the miracle and magic of childhood through indoor and outdoor play environments. She has authored books and currently teaches higher ed courses on the design of early learning spaces. She is a senior early childhood specialist with Education Design International, a globally acclaimed architectural firm specializing in innovative schools and learning environment design.

Alan Guttman holds a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from New York University and has served in leadership, management, training, and teaching roles in early care and education programs for 39 years. Since 1998 he has conducted trainings and workshops on child abuse reporting at the national level at NAEYC and National Head Start Association annual conferences; at state level conferences in California, Maryland, and Virginia; and for individual organizations including American Indian Head Start programs. Alan was a professional consultant and contributor to the JAWDA Standards Handbook for the Prevention of Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, and Exploitation published by Arabian Child in the United Arab Emirates. As a former Director of public school district, private non-profit, and Head Start early childhood programs, he has developed and implemented child abuse reporting policies and procedures that protect both children and mandated reporters.

Mary is a recent retiree with over 35 years of early childhood experience and leadership. Her past 30 years were at Reach-Up Head Start. Mary was a teacher, an education coordinator, and a professional development coordinator, and she finished her career as Reach-Up’s executive director. Mary holds an MN teaching license in parent education and is passionate about supporting educators and administrators in reaching their full potential. Mary currently shares her time with her grandchildren and continues to do consulting work in early childhood and education leadership.

Angèle is an author, speaker, and consultant in early childhood education. She makes professional and research information easy to read and practice. Readers and clients like her practical and thoughtful approach to teaching dual language learners, kindergarten readiness, early literacy, family engagement, and supporting educators and leaders. Angèle is a former member of the NAEYC governing board and past president of MNAEYC. She belongs to a multilingual, multicultural, cross-continental family, and she lives in Minnesota.

Meghan L. Green, Ed.D, is an Assistant Professor of Sociolinguistic Justice in Early Childhood Teacher Education at Erikson Institute in Chicago, IL. Over the past 17 years, she has served in early childhood education as a researcher, an adjunct professor, a pre-kindergarten to 4th-grade teacher, a university field-based liaison, and an anti-bias and anti-racist training facilitator. Meghan’s research interests include the impact of teachers’ lived experiences on their use of cultural sustaining pedagogy, anti-racist and anti-bias teacher education in college/university settings, and anti-bias and anti-racist early childhood education.

Tonia Durden, Ph.D., is a Clinical Professor and Birth through 5 Program Coordinator within the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education at Georgia State University. Dr. Durden’s primary scholarship and research trajectory focuses on exploring how to develop and support African American children’s socio-cultural development and create racially equitable learning experiences for children of color. She has engaged in various advocacy efforts professionally and personally, focusing on advancing equity and excellence of Black people across the African diaspora and serving on committees, supporting initiatives, and engaging in scholarship focused on dismantling institutional racism and cultural annihilationist practices.

Diana is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia. She has developed and delivered mental health services for the children and their families, and professional development for early childhood educators. Diana is bilingual in Spanish and has experience working with the complexities of multicultural families. She is an advisory Board member of Early Childhood Mental Health, VA. Diana is a certified Pyramid Model trainer and coach. She has taught as an adjunct faculty in the counseling art therapy programs of George Washington University and served as a faculty leader for medical students of Georgetown University.

Danielle Fuentes Johnson is an independent consultant for Prenatal to Five Fiscal Strategies, specializing in ECE systems change. Danielle’s work includes efforts to have home-based child care (HBCC) recognized and supported on par with school-based settings, embedding emerging bilingual learners in ECE systems, exploring how the immigration and refugee process impacts young children, and building Latiné Leadership in early childhood systems. Previous work has included serving as a case manager for Early Intervention, Early Head Start, adults with intellectual disabilities, and unaccompanied minors. Danielle lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Charlottesville, VA with her husband and young son.

Stacey Park has over 23 years of experience in early childhood education, working with toddlers and preschool children in a classroom setting and as an early childhood program director. She has extensive experience in teaching adults through the development and implementation of professional learning opportunities for early childhood educators and as a college instructor. Stacey is currently serving as a full-time instructor of early childhood and elementary education for Frostburg State University and as an adjunct instructor of education at Lord Fairfax Community College. She is passionate about improving the quality of early care and education for all young children and is a member of NAEYC.

Candace has worked in early childhood care and education for 19 years as an educator, program director, trainer, and coach. As Vice President of Equity and Program Supports at Think Small, she manages the development of long-range and annual goals supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies across the organization and provides overall leadership to the Quality Coaching, Capacity Building, Professional Development, and Outreach & Engagement teams.Since joining Think Small, Candace has become an influential leader focusing on advancing equity for BIPOC children, families, and staff within the statewide early childhood system. She serves on the Voices and Choices for Children Coalition, 80x3 Advisory Committee, and Parent Aware Racial Equity Action Workgroup. She is a Board Director for the Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children (MNAEYC).Candace holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Studies from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and leadership certificates in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University and the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business. Candace is also an IDI Qualified Administrator and Embracing Equity Leadership Residency alum.

Carrie Scruggs is an early childhood consultant for The Source for Learning. Carrie has over 20 years of experience in the early childhood field. Some of the positions she held were: Au Pair Coordinator, Center Director for a faith based early childhood program & a multi-site program, Education Manager at a Head Start agency, and Executive Director of a nonprofit center serving underprivileged children and families. Carrie earned her AS in Early Childhood Education from Pierce College in Tacoma, WA, her BA from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, and her MS in School Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University. Carrie is also a CDA Professional Development Specialist and contracts with early childhood programs to assist with quality improvement plans and program accreditation.

Toni Cacace-Beshears recently retired as CEO of Children's Harbor (Places and Programs for Children, Inc.) in Chesapeake, VA. Throughout her career, she has worked to improve the quality of early childhood education and early childhood teachers in a variety of settings. She has been a frequent presenter at meetings of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children. She currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at TCC and Board member for The Source for Learning. She holds an M.S. in Child Care Administration from NOVA University and is a recipient of the 2018 VAAEYC Outstanding Service to Children Award.

Rosemary Anderson Kendall, Ph.D., has more than 45 years in the early childhood education field. Over the years, she has been an early childhood educator, program director, parent educator, author, and researcher. She has expertise in child development and early childhood education, adult learning and professional development, partnerships, child care subsidies, child care licensing, child care financing, and early care and education state systems. Rosemary has been an active member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children her whole career and is currently immediate past co-president of the Northern Virginia AEYC.

Navine Fortune, Ed.D., is an early childhood professional with over 22 years of early childhood education experience. She is a program director and instructor for the School of Education’s Preschool Academy at Norfolk State University and an advocate who works diligently on behalf of children, families, and early childhood professionals on local, state, and national levels. Navine earned her doctorate in early childhood education from Walden University. Early childhood education is her passion. As a member of The School Readiness Committee (created by Virginia’s 2016 General Assembly via HB 46), Navine works with stakeholders to address the development and alignment of effective professional development and credentialing system for the early childhood education workforce in Virginia. She currently serves the professional early care and education community as the Public Policy Lead for the Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children and on the Board of Directors for Champions for Children: Prevent Child Abuse Hampton Roads. In addition to those roles, Navine is a facilitator of professional development opportunities on the local, state, and national levels and a Child Development Specialist for the National Council for Professional Recognition.

Dr. Mira Williams is an Associate Professor in the Educational Foundations and Exceptionalities Department at James Madison University. Dr. Williams earned a doctoral degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education from the University of Virginia. She also received her Master’s of Teaching and B.S. in Psychology from the University of Virginia. Dr. Williams taught for six years in inclusive early childhood preschool and elementary classrooms in Virginia. In addition, she served as an educational specialist, consulting with teachers and families of children with disabilities, focusing on differentiating instruction and providing curricular access to all children. She is a strong advocate of high-quality teacher preparation in the area of Early Childhood Inclusive and Special Education and is focused on social justice and equity for young children and their families. She presents locally and nationally on a range of topics related to improving teacher preparation, inclusive practices in early childhood education, and disrupting microaggressions in P-16 educational settings.

Mary Braxton has devoted over 28 years to the field of early childhood education as a professional working with children. She is an advocate for children and families. She currently works for a local nonprofit resource and referral agency, providing technical assistance services to early childhood programs. Mary continues to serve on various local and state early childhood boards, including Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children (VAAEYC) and Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA). She also provides training at national and multi-state conferences.

Marsha Chan is Professor Emerita at Mission College in Santa Clara CA, an author and the publications director at Sunburst Media. Marsha is the winner of numerous awards, including Teaching Excellence and Publication & Presentation Excellence. She has presented over 275 professional seminars and workshops at NAEYC, CAEYC, TESOL, CATESOL, PSLLT, and other early childhood institutions in the USA and abroad. Marsha is skilled in engaging participants involved in adult English language instruction and early childhood education. Her publications include: English for Child Care: Language Skills for Parents and Providers, English for Child Development: Language Skills for Parents and Providers, Phrase by Phrase Pronunciation in American English, and College Oral Communication 1. Marsha earned her BA and MA from Stanford University.

Rozemarijn Gesquiere is originally from Belgium; her mother tongue is Flemish. She relocated to the USA at the start of 2017 after having lived in Canada, France, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. In Dubai, Roze was Lead Librarian at Horizon English School for nearly 4 years, where she set up a new library and created a library program to promote a love of literacy. Her passion and dedication were rewarded when she won the “School Librarian of the UAE” award for 2 consecutive years at the prestigious Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. For the past 4 years, Roze has been a teacher at the Sunset Hills Montessori School in Reston, Virginia. She is currently the Language, Cultural, and Character Education teacher for 1st to 4th grade students. Roze uses books as an introduction and anchor point for her lessons on a daily basis. Roze is a master storyteller; her enthusiasm encourages and nurtures a love of reading and learning for her students.

Christy John, Ph.D., completed her degree in Early Childhood Education at Old Dominion University and has served as an Infant and Toddler Specialist and Caregiver for twenty years combined. Additionally, she has been providing early childhood professional development and training for over 13 years at the local, state, and national levels. Christy has also taught several courses at the community college and university levels. In addition to those roles, she currently serves the professional early care and education community as one of the Co-Presidents of the local National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), known as the South Eastern Chapter of VAAEYC. Her most important work has been raising and supporting her teen daughters.

Lauren Small helps early childhood directors and owners improve the quality of their programs by improving business practices. Her nationally recognized Early Education Business Program has helped over 200 early childhood programs increase profitability and enrollment on average by 20%. The program, whichcombines an industry-specific business management course with individual coaching, educates directors about the essentials of ECE business management.Lauren has been an entrepreneur educator for over 25 years and is a business analyst for the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center. In 2014, the Hampton Roads SBDC won the Small Business Administration’s “Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Center” Award because of Ms. Small’s groundbreaking work. She presented her program at the 2013 Virginia SBDC State Conference, the “Transforming Local Government” National Conference in 2013, and the 2015 and 2016 SBDC national conferences. Lauren has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia.

Julaine Rosner has over 20 years experience teaching English as a second language. Julaine has also completed additional coursework in Child Development and Parent Education. She is co-author of English for Child Care: Language Skills for Parents and Providers and English for Child Development: Language Skills for Parents and Providers. In addition, Julaine has presented at numerous regional, national, and international early childhood conferences such as CAEYC, NAEYC, CATESOL, and TESOL. Julaine earned her BA in Spanish from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and her MA in TESL from San Francisco State University.

MaryEllen Lyles is an ECE consultant for the Source for Learning. Her background includes over 25 years of experience within both for profit and nonprofit sectors. She holds a BA degree from University of Massachusetts in both Early Childhood and Psychology as well as a K-3 teaching certification. Her experience includes quality assurance, program development, NAEYC Early Childhood Program Accreditation, training and development, curriculum development/implementation and operational policy development. She is a certified trainer in several states and has served on several ECE advisory panels.

A. Ruth Okoye, Ed.D. is SFL’s Director of K12 Initiatives. She is an experienced teacher, technology integrator, and researcher who has taught and led professional development efforts in both university and K12 environments. Her areas of expertise include technology integration in K12 settings as well as developmental reading and writing. She holds a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Regent University.

Bev Schumacher is an Early Childhood Consultant for the Source for Learning. Bev earned a BS in Home Economics Education at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and has completed 9 Graduate level classes in Family Engagement and 12 Graduate Credits from varied universities in the United States. She brings practical knowledge to her training from over 35 years in the education field. Her passions are early learning and parent engagement. As President of Learning Props L.L.C she created educational games and books focused on school-readiness and family engagement. She published Menu for Building Family Partnerships in 2020, has worked as a parent involvement coordinator and researched best practices to involve families. Currently, she also presents at conferences and offers consulting services.

Donna Patton earned her B.A. in Social Work from George Mason University. For many years, she worked as a benefits program supervisor and manager for financial assistance programs in her community, gaining expertise in human resources and staff management. As a part of this role, she trained and mentored many potential managers.Donna also served as a child care coordinator for over 20 years. During her role as a coordinator, she was a member of the Virginia League of Social Service Executives Child Care Committee and worked with other community members to establish The Early Childhood Partnership, which has now grown into Smart Beginnings. Although, she is now retired, Donna continues to serve as a member of the Smart Beginnings, Great Prince William Board of Directors.

Gauri has over 20 years of experience working with young children with special needs & their families. She has expertise in family engagement, teaching, curriculum development, creation of data collection systems, individualizing instruction & professional development. Gauri is an experienced teacher and mentor. She has been a preschool coordinator and a parent educator working with toddlers & families. She graduated with a BA in Psychology from the University of Mumbai (Bombay) and holds a Master's Degree in Special Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and a General Education Credential from California State University, Los Angeles. She has held general & special education teaching endorsements in 3 states and is a CDA Professional Development Specialist.

Tre Maxie has over 20 years in executive leadership positions. He was a former policy-maker, serving as a member on the Washington State Board of Education from 2011-2016. During his multiple terms, he worked to advance state-wide innovative policies that strengthened outcomes for children and reduced achievement and opportunity gaps in early childhood and K-12 education. Tre is currently the Director of External Engagement for the Council for Professional Recognition. Tre attended Morehouse College, where he earned a B.A. in Political Science Pre-law. In addition, he earned a certificate in Creating Business Strategy from Columbia University. He also earned a certificate from the Executive Leadership Institute at the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington. Tre is recognized as a Certified Credentialing Specialist by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence.

Reece has been a teacher and administrator in the early childhood field for over 34 years. He earned his doctorate in Learning and Instruction with an emphasis on Reading Education from the University of Pittsburgh. He has taught pre-k, first-, second-graders, and university students in higher education. During the last eight years, Dr. Wilson prepared future teachers at James Madison University. After earning tenure and promotion at JMU, Reece wanted to work directly with children and families. He worked at Augusta County Public Schools as the Shenandoah Valley Head Start and Early Head Start program director. His research interests include developmentally appropriate practice, university laboratory schools, project-based learning, and play advocacy.

Suad Hooper has tremendous Head Start and Early Head Start experience.  Suad has also worked in several administrative capacities as well as a Head Start teacher during the 10+ years that she has dedicated to CAI.

Rochelle Pleasant has been in the field of early childhood for over 35 years. She has had varied roles in this field as a teaching assistant, a toddler/preschool teacher, program coordinator, both an assistant and director in early childhood programs. In recent years she was an infant toddler specialist for the state of Virginia, where she mentored, coached teachers to improve their levels of quality in-home and center-based programs. She has been an early childhood trainer and has offered trainings and workshops nationally and internationally. She has an A.A.S., Thomas Nelson Community College, B.S., Norfolk State University, and a M.A.E.D., Concordia University St. Paul in Early Childhood Education.  She is currently an adjunct Professor at Thomas Nelson Community College, where she teaches early childhood courses.   

Daryl Carter attended Central State University in Wilberforce, OH. Daryl is a leader in creating opportunities for fathers in Racine County, Wisconsin. Known in Racine as "Coach Carter," he coaches both fathers and several high school sports. In his work at the YMCA and Next Generation Now, he has successfully mentored over 200 fathers in programs such as Nurturing Fathers and Nurturing Parents. He has also ran support groups for dads, teaching them to engage with their children, and providing instruction in job-seeking skills.