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Advisory Board Member
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Background Infomation
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Osborne F. Abbey, Jr., Ed.D.
President & Chief Education Officer for Valley Forge Educational Services, Inc.
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Dr. Abbey is an experienced educator and administrator with a background in curriculum design and implementation, special education, technology, and financial planning. He is currently President and CEO of Valley Forge Educational Services, Inc., a non-profit corporation located in Malvern, PA., that specializes in the education of children on the Autism Spectrum or those with language-based learning challenges, such as dyslexia. VFES also provides a wide array of services for other organizations such as strategic planning, grant writing consulting, clinical services, child development consulting, and professional development. Dr. Abbey has taught university level courses in curriculum, gifted programs, educational administration, and research.
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Dawn Abel
Vice President, Wisconsin Early Childhood Association
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For the past 18 years, Dawn has owned and operated a licensed family child care. She has also instructed school-age children and worked closely with a home schooling support group for parents and children. Affiliations include 10 years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Family Child Care Association as well as three years as president. Dawn is currently Vice President of the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association and a facilitator for NAEYC Family Child Care Interest Forum.
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Rita Bigham
Pre-K Staff Development Director for WVIZ Public Broadcasting Systems (PBS)
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Rita Bigham serves as Director of Pre-K-12 Educational Services at WVIZ/PBS ideastream in Cleveland, Ohio. At PBS, Rita directs the development and implementation for all professional development for teachers Pre-K-12 including face-to-face and online training, and interactive video distance learning. Her leadership has enabled WVIZ/PBS ideastream to be a professional development leader for teachers in Ohio as well as nationally. Rita holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Ashland University and a Master's degree in Instructional Design from Kent State University. Previously, she was an elementary teacher where she taught all grades from 1-8 and moved on to technology teacher/coordinator and curriculum specialist. Professional memberships include Kappa Delta Pi, International Reading Association (IRA), Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), and National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Currently Rita serves on the Board of the Greater Cleveland Educational Development Council as well as on committees for eTech of Ohio.
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Dr. Deborah Ceglowski
Associate Professor of Elementary Education,
Ball State University
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Before becoming a professor at Ball State Univeristy, Dr. Ceglowski was an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and tuaght courses focused on Child and Family Development: emergent literacy, play, research methodology, and leadership. She received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. In 1998, Teacher's College Press published her book Inside a Head Start Center: Developing Policies from Practice. Additionally, she has published numerous articles and book chapters and served as the book review editor for Early Childhood Research Quarterly.
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Dr. Sandra Crosser
Professor, Ohio Northern University, Center for Teacher Education
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Prior to being a professor at Ohio Northern University, Dr. Crosser was an elementary school teacher. In addition, she was also the owner of a private preschool for 25 years. Beginning her career with Ohio Northern University in 1989, Dr. Crosser has taught courses on Child & Adolescent Development, Introduction to Early Childhood Education, Methods & Materials in Early Childhood Education, and Curriculum in Early Childhood. She has also published a book, What Do We Know About Early Childhood Education: Research Based Practice.
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Rick Caldwell
Coordinator of Outreach and Special Projects, 1st Years Child Care Resource & Referral
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Rick’s love of early childhood began while teaching exploratory Spanish to kindergartners. He earned a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education while teaching in Georgia’s Pre-Kindergarten Program, and was later employed by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning as a Pre-K Program Analyst. Having served as Quality Program Manager for the Georgia Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies for almost three years, he is currently Coordinator of Outreach and Special Projects for 1st Years Child Care Resource & Referral Agency located in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. Throughout his career, he has been an active contract trainer and adjunct instructor for local technical colleges.
With extensive experience educating child care providers, Rick continues to believe that long-term improvement in early childhood care and education services can only be achieved through building supportive, respectful relationships with providers and teachers.
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Marsha Engquist
President, Lake Shore Schools
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Marsha owns and operates Lake Shore Schools, a private, for-profit program serving children ages 15 months through 14 years. An outspoken advocate for licensure of all child care centers, Marsha believes that every child should be afforded equal quality care. Lake Shore Schools not only provides high-quality care, but activity-oriented curricula through student participation. Marsha also served four terms as President of the National Child Care Association (NCCA) as well as three terms as Vice President of Governmental Relations for NCCA. She is currently a member of numerous early childhood education advisory councils and associations. In October 2006, Marsha participated in the Governor's Summit on Early Childhood in Illinois.
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Leslie S. Eslinger
Education and Product Development Specialist, Becker's School Supplies
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Leslie has worked in the field of early childhood education for over 25 years as a teacher, administrator, and trainer. In 2006, she joined Becker's School Supplies as the Education and Product Development Specialist. She also provides professional development workshops to early childhood educators at regional and national conferences. Currently, Leslie is on the Board of Directors of USA Toy Library and focuses on the importance of play in the lives of young children. Redleaf Press published her first book, Theme Kits Made Easy, in 2002.
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Linda Geigle
Executive Director,
National Association for Family Child Care
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Since 2001, Linda has worked for the National Association for Family Child Care and is currently the Executive Director. Previously, she was the Executive Director of Children First, Inc. in Salt Lake City, Utah as well as a family child care provider. Linda is also a past President, Treasurer, and Secretary of the National Association for Family Child Care. She also held the positions of President and Secretary of the Professional Family Child Care Association of Utah.
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Dr. Judy Herr
Early Childhood Program Director and Early Childhood Professor, University of Wisconsin-Stout
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Dr. Judy Herr is currently the Early Childhood Program Director and a professor of Early Childhood Education at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She is the former Associate Dean for Curriculum and Instruction, Home Economics Graduate Program Director, and Director of the Child and Family Study Center. Dr. Herr is also the author of several early childhood college textbooks. She is currently on the Board of Director's of the Children's Kindness Network and an advisory board member for Early Childhood News.
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Donna Jonas
Director of Communications, McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership
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Currently, Donna is the Director of Communications for the McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership. Maintaining and developing relationships with corporate and community partners is one of her goals, as well as ensuring continued community awareness of the many projects and accomplishments of the McCormick Tribune Center. Prior to joining the McCormick Tribune Center, Donna taught MMI & LD/BD children. She was also the managing editor of National-Louis University's College of Education Quarterly publication, and served as Director of Development for a nonprofit agency helping developmentally challenged children and adults. Donna is also the acting chair of the McCormick Tribune Center's Leadership Connections Conference which hosts 500+ leaders in early child care annually. |
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Dr. Wilma Melendez
Program Professor of Early Childhood, Nova Southeastern University
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Dr. Wilma Robles de Meléndez is a program professor of early childhood education at the Fischler School of Education and Human Services at Nova Southeastern University. She teaches and coordinates the early childhood education and early literacy programs. Her extensive experience in the field of education includes having been a-classroom teacher, school principal, child care center director, and general kindergarten supervisor. An avid traveler and reader, her research areas are early literacy development for English language learners and multicultural education. She is actively engaged in the field and presents at the national and international level. Dr. Robles de Meléndez is the author of several publications including the Lee y serás Child Care Providers Workshops (Scholastic, 2005), Teaching Social Studies in Early Education (Delmar, 2000), and the second edition of her book Teaching Young Children in Multicultural Classrooms (Delmar, 2007). |
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Rae Pica
Children's Physical Activity Specialist and Co-Founder of the BAM Radio Network
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Rae has specialized in the area of children's physical activity for 27 years. A former adjunct instructor with the University of New Hampshire, Rae is the author of 17 books including Experiences in Movement, A Running Start, and the Moving & Learning series. She shares her knowledge with groups such as the Sesame Street Research Department, the Head Start Bureau, the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports through lively and informative workshops and keynote presentations. Rae has also served on the task force of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education and is currently the movement consultant for a new Canadian TV program, Bo on the Go. |
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Elaine Piper
Network Coordinator for the Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral Network
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Elaine's area of expertise in family child care. She was a family child care provider for 25 years as well as a member of the NAFCC Board of Directors for three years. Elaine holds a Master's Degree in Education with a specialization in School-Age Child Care from Concordia University. Currently, Elaine is the Family Child Care Specialist for the Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral Network. |
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Schellee Y. Rocher
Director of Provider Operations,
Los Angeles Universal Preschool
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Schellee has over 17 years experience in the field of early childhood education. She has held positions of Head Start Teacher and Director, public school teacher, and early childhood consultant for New York City's Administration for Children's Services. In the fall of 2002, Schellee joined Crystal Stairs and managed the Early Childhood Educational Unit. Currently, Schelle leads the Quality Support Team as the Director of Provider Operations at Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP), whose goal is to make voluntary, high-quality preschool available to every four-year old child in Los Angeles County by 2014. Schelle holds a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Development and a Master's Degree in Curriculum & Instruction. |
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Barbara Sawyer
Board Member,
National Association for Family Child Care
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Barbara is currently the director of Special Projects for the National Association for Family Child Care. She is also an active partner in a national training consortium, Child Care Consulting and Training Services, Inc. (C.A.T.S.) Barbara presents family child care individual leadership and skill building training across the country. |
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Ramee Serwanga
Provider Operations Consultant, Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP)
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Ramee began her early care and education career as an intern in one of UCLA's child development centers. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's in Human Development with a specialization in Early Childhood Education. For 10 years, Ramee has educated early childhood professionals and children as a volunteer, teacher, director, and consultant. Ramee is currently a consultant for Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP). |
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Hedda Sharapan
Director of Early Childhood Initiatives,
Family Communications, Producers of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
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When Fred Rogers began producing Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Hedda joined his staff and served as Assistant Director. Over the past 40 years, she has worked closely with Fred Rogers on his books for children and parents, parenting brochures, and viewer mail. She continues to carry on Fred Rogers' legacy through writing, speaking engagements, and developing and presenting training materials for early childhood educators. Hedda holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University. At Fred Rogers' suggestion, Hedda pursued graduate studies in Child Development and holds a Master's Degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. |
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Karen Jo Walsh
Owner & Curriculum Director,
Lake Shore Schools
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Since 1980, Karen has worked for Lake Shore Schools. Previously, Karen served as the Training Program Coordinator at the University of Chicago where she developed and coordinated training programs. Additionally, Karen implemented a two year program of training under Title XX through the Department of Children and Family Services. Karen also served as the Early Childhood Education Coordinator at the Education Resource Center in Chicago. |
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Sherry Workman
Executive Director,
National Association for Child Care Professionals
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Sherry holds a degree in Curriculum & Instruction with a Kindergarten endorsement. She taught in the public schools and also started her own preschool and private school; enrollment increased from 20 children to 160 in just four years. Sherry established and managed a child development center for Mercy Hospital of Laredo, TX. Being instrumental in initiating innovative programs to enhance early care and education training, Sherry created a company which managed a state child care association and developed a credentialing program for directors in Texas and Alabama. |