ButterCup
This is Buttercup where we talk about Play.
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Ep 83 Andy Roszak
07/13/2026
Ep 83 Andy Roszak
Andy Roszak, JD, MPA, EMT-Paramedic, is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Childhood Preparedness (ICP), where he equips early childhood professionals and child-centered organizations nationwide with practical emergency preparedness training, tools, and resilience strategies. He is also the Founder of Head Start East, a nonprofit organization founded in 2025 to provide high-quality professional development, technical assistance, and events for the early childhood education field. Since 2018, Andy has supported the Region II Head Start Association in advancing preparedness, health, safety, and environmental health initiatives across New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. That work will conclude this year after a strong and impactful run. A trusted advisor to leading organizations including Sesame Street in Communities and the U.S. Marine Corps, Andy has delivered training to early childhood professionals in all 50 states and 35 Native American Tribal Nations. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Community and Environmental Health at Old Dominion University. Andy is the author of the award-winning Preparing for the Unexpected book series, developed specifically for early childhood professionals: Preschool Preparedness for an Active Shooter, winner of the 2020 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Award in two categories; Preschool Preparedness for an Emergency; and Recovering and Reopening after a Disaster. With more than twenty years of experience in emergency preparedness across local, regional, state, federal, and nonprofit levels, Andy’s previous roles include Senior Director of Emergency Preparedness at Child Care Aware of America, Senior Preparedness Advisor for Super Bowl XLVI, Senior Public Health Advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Senior Director of Environmental Health, Pandemic Preparedness, and Catastrophic Response at the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), where he worked closely with the CDC and 3,100 local health departments to strengthen community preparedness for pandemics, disasters, and public health emergencies. Andy began his career in the Chicago area as a firefighter, paramedic, and certified hazardous materials technician. He holds a Juris Doctor and Master of Public Administration from Southern Illinois University, a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science Management, and is a graduate of Harvard University’s Early Education Leadership Program. He is admitted to practice law in Illinois, the District of Columbia, and before the U.S. Supreme Court. Andy is the proud father of two young daughters and lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his family.
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Ep 82 Dr. Santa Ono
07/02/2026
Ep 82 Dr. Santa Ono
Professor Santa J. Ono is a senior academic leader and internationally recognized scientist whose career centers on leading globally connected research universities and large-scale innovation institutions, with a focus on institutional transformation, research expansion, technology-driven innovation, sustainability, and public engagement. He serves as President of the Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford and Global President of the Ellison Institutes, advancing discovery in health, food security, clean energy, climate, and artificial intelligence. He is developing a major new research campus at Oxford Science Park—more than 2.3 million square feet of laboratory space—and overseeing the recruitment of up to 7,000 scientists, engineers, and clinicians. He directs platforms in AI, robotics, generative biology, and clinical research, and leads education initiatives including the Ellison Scholars Programme and doctoral programs conferred by Oxford University. At Oxford he is Professor of Ophthalmology & Immunology and a Senior Research Fellow at Worcester College. Previously, as President of the University of Michigan, he built a $1.2 billion AI research ecosystem, surpassed $2 billion in annual research expenditures, expanded access through the Go Blue Guarantee and Wolverine Pathways, and helped raise $4.3 billion toward a $6 billion campaign. As President of the University of British Columbia, he led major research expansion and sustainability leadership—UBC rose to the top rank in North America for impact on the UN Sustainable Development Goals—and helped establish the $2 billion Digital Technology Supercluster. Earlier, he served as President of the University of Cincinnati and in senior roles at Emory University. He has published 170 papers, served on numerous editorial boards, consulted for leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and advised national science panels in the U.S. and Canada. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
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EP 81 Jani Kozlowski
06/23/2026
EP 81 Jani Kozlowski
Jani Kozlowski, MA is a passionate early childhood professional with a disability, a child of a parent with a disability, and a mother of a son with a disability. This collection of unique perspectives frames her work as an author, presenter, research investigator and consultant. Jani provides professional development and technical assistance for state leaders, educators and other practitioners. She currently leads initiatives focused on early childhood inclusion at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Jani is the author of Every Child Can Fly: An Early Childhood Educator’s Guide to Inclusion and companion guide for families, Empowering Your Child to Fly: A Families’ Guide to Early Childhood Inclusion. Jani has been an early childhood inclusion advocate for over thirty years. Website: Newsletter: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn:
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Ep 80 Dr. Brian Boyd
05/14/2026
Ep 80 Dr. Brian Boyd
Brian Boyd, Ph.D., is the William C. Friday Distinguished Professor in Education and Director of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A special educator by training, Dr. Boyd’s research focuses on the development and implementation of evidence-based practices that bridge school, home, and community contexts. His scholarship also includes a significant focus on the development of rigorous outcome measures for autistic children, ensuring that progress can be accurately captured across diverse settings. Dr. Boyd’s recent work addresses critical gaps in equity, specifically examining risk and cultural resilience for Black autistic children and their families. He currently serves as President of the International Society for Autism Research. His research program has been continuously funded by federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). He also serves on multiple scientific advisory boards dedicated to improving outcomes for historically underserved and under-researched communities.
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79 Dr. Peter Moss
04/06/2026
79 Dr. Peter Moss
Dr. Peter Moss is an Emeritus Professor at the Thomas Coram Research Unit, UCL Institute of Education, University College London. His research and writing interests cover early childhood education, education and democracy, and the relationship between employment, care and gender. Much of his work has been cross-national, especially covering Europe and the Anglosphere. He is co-founder of the International Network on Leave Policies and (with Gunilla Dahlberg) was the initial editor for the Contesting Early Childhood book series. He has published widely, his most recent books being Early Childhood in the Anglosphere: Systemic failings and transformative possibilities (with Linda Mitchell; 2024, UCL Press) and Care Leaves and Care Time for All: Towards caring democracies, economies and worlds (with Andrea Doucet; April 2026, Policy Press).
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Ep 78 STEM for Children
03/28/2026
Ep 78 STEM for Children
Erin Klauk is an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Wyoming and Co-Director of the UW Science Initiative Roadshow and Community Engagement Program. With a background in the earth sciences and geoscience education, Erin is passionate about connecting people of all ages with Earth science through hands-on, place-based learning. Before joining the university, she spent nearly two decades as a high school Earth science teacher, developing engaging, NGSS-aligned lessons and mentoring students in scientific thinking. Erin’s career in education began as a Yellowstone National Park ranger, where she first discovered the power of sharing science through storytelling and exploration. Outside of work, she enjoys skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and spending as much time outdoors as possible. Dr. Jessica (Jessie) Marcolini is the Director of the Science and Math Teacher Center (SMTC) within the College of Education at the University of Wyoming. The SMTC is devoted to excellence in preK-20 science and mathematics teaching and learning and facilitates professional development that supports educators in Wyoming and across the United States. Jessie earned her Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Florida Gulf Coast University where she investigated the impacts of K-12 STEM professional development on teachers' sense of self efficacy. Her major research and teaching interest include STEM Education, Faculty/Teacher Professional Development, Sustainability, and Environmental Education. Dr. Karagh Brummond is the Co-Director of the UW Top-Tier Science Initiative’s Roadshow & Community Engagement Program and an Assistant Instructional Professor in the Honors College at the University of Wyoming. She holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Wyoming and currently teaches Neuroscience and Law. In her engagement role, Karagh helps to lead statewide STEM engagement efforts, partnering with K-12 schools and communities to deliver hands-on STEM learning throughout the state of Wyoming.
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Ep 77 Sarah Goehring and Kenzee Knott
02/11/2026
Ep 77 Sarah Goehring and Kenzee Knott
“Meet the Helpers” As Director of Programs, Sarah Goehring supports educators and caregivers learning from the life and work of Fred Rogers. Sarah serves as the Director of the Fred Rogers Scholars Program for undergraduate students at Saint Vincent College, supports communities of learning for children's helpers, and assists with programmatic and event coordination for the Institute. Prior to her current role, Sarah joined the Institute as a Fred Rogers Scholar and work-study student while earning a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Saint Vincent College. She then earned an M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from Saint Vincent College while working as a Graduate Assistant at the Institute. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys baking and spending time with her husband and son. Kenzee’s role as a program associate allows her to celebrate and convey Fred Rogers’ values and long-lasting impact on our neighborhood and beyond. Her involvement in Educators' Neighborhood inspires educators to connect in the spirit of empathy, kindness, and community. Kenzee engages in the study of archival material through various speaking and research opportunities. She also collaborates with undergraduate students in the Fred Rogers Scholars program as they embody Fred’s important values through community outreach efforts. Before her role as a program associate, she worked at the Fred Rogers Institute as a work-study while obtaining her B.A. in English with a secondary education certification at Saint Vincent College. She was a Fred Rogers Scholar as well. She acquired her M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from SVC during the fall of 2025. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her border collie, Winston, and read.
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Ep 76 Alisha Rone
01/21/2026
Ep 76 Alisha Rone
Alisha was born and raised in Wyoming and graduated from the University of Wyoming with a BA in Psychology and Communications. Alisha then moved to Boise, Idaho where she spent most of her career as Development and Marketing Director for Saint Alphonsus Hospital. After 10 years in Boise, she returned to Wyoming to be the Executive Director of the Wyoming Medical Center Foundation. Alisha focused on capital projects such as building a new tower for the hospital and wellness center as well as specific programs such as providing support for cancer patients and a hospitality house for out of town patients. In 2017, Alisha became the Executive Director of the Child Development Center. The CDC serves over 700 children with early intervention therapies, preschool services, and free development screenings for the community. In 2024, Alisha received her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction as well as her Early Childhood Special Education Endorsement from the University of Wyoming. Alisha has sat on Wyoming’s Early Intervention Council, the Wyoming State Bar Board of Professional Responsibility, Wyoming’s Charter for Plans of Safe Care, and Wyoming’s Department of Family Services Steering Committee. She leads a staff of 120 and through her leadership has a 90% staff satisfaction rating. The CDC has excelled under her leadership by opening an outpatient clinic for children birth to twenty-one years of age, a pediatric audiology clinic, and a quick care clinic. The CDC has received number one preschool and development center from Oil City News and the Casper Star Tribune, the State of Wyoming’s Model Program for Inclusion, and won the Daniels Fund Salute to Excellence Award. In her spare time Alisha enjoys spending time with her husband Mike and two boys, Max, and Micky, in Wyoming’s great outdoors.
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Ep 75 Heather Bernt-Santy & Amy Reyes
12/21/2025
Ep 75 Heather Bernt-Santy & Amy Reyes
Heather Bernt-Santy, author of “Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood” has been living her commitment to children, their families and their teachers for over 30 years. You may know Heather from her work as the host of the popular early care and education podcast “That Early Childhood Nerd,” but she also loves her work as a speaker, consultant, writer and professor. She has held just about every position possible in the field of early care and education: teacher, director, family child care provider, education director—you name it, she’s probably tried it! Heather is an enthusiastic believer in children’s right to play and of the research that tells us play IS right. Amy Reyes has been serving in the Early Childhood space in Wyoming for many years and plays an important role in bridging gaps in ECE across the United States. She is an expert in Early Learning, with specializations in Social Emotional Learning specifically digital tech wellness, Outdoor Learning and Early Literacy. She has over 26 years of combined experience in child development and early childhood education, with expertise in leadership, strategic planning, inclusion models and transformational change. Amy spent her career as a Head Start Director also spending a good portion of her career as a kindergarten teacher. Amy holds degrees in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Early Childhood Education, Outdoor Learning and Education, Child Development, and Organizational Leadership with a minor in law. Amy currently works as the State of Wyoming's State Early Learning and Literacy Specialist with the Wyoming Department of Education. Amy is an advocate for outdoor learning and emotional intelligence regarding digital tech addiction. She has integrated outdoor learning into over 200 classrooms across her home state of Wyoming with the Get Wild Wyoming Initiative. Amy is an early childhood speaker and motivator who firmly believes children learn best in outdoor learning settings where they are able to self regulate through natural colors, shapes, sounds, feelings and most importantly disconnected from devices.
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EP 74 Barbara Bocedi
10/05/2025
EP 74 Barbara Bocedi
Barbara Bocedi is a professional language interpreter. Her training is in classical studies with a secondary school certificate in Italian, Latin, and Greek. Ms. Bocedi has a higher-education diploma in English-German to Italian translation. She has over 25 years as a translator, interpreter and teacher of English, German and Italian to foreigners, instructor of private classes and business courses. In addition to being a translator with Italian agency, Ms. Bocedi worked at IBM and then as a translator/localizer in the software industry in Dublin. She started a freelance business in 2001 and moved back to Italy. Currently, Ms. Bocedi passionately manages her language business, carrying out translation and proofreading from English to Italian and vice-versa, and from German into Italian, in various fields; Ms. Bocedi is also a business and consecutive interpreter and teaches English and German, as well as Italian.
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EP 73 Dr. Tracy Spies
09/05/2025
EP 73 Dr. Tracy Spies
Dr. Tracy Spies is the Fisher Family Professor in Literacy Education at the University of Wyoming. Prior to her appointment at the University of Wyoming she was a Professor of Multilingual Education at the University of Nevada Las Vegas and the Co-Director of the Gayle A. Zeiter Literacy Development Center. Before beginning her journey in academia, she worked as a bilingual teacher in kindergarten, second and fourth grades. She served in administrative roles as a literacy coordinator, assistant principal, and principal. She centers her work in teacher preparation and research around the question, What does meaningful access really mean? This question keeps her inquiries and educator preparation focused on creating high quality language environments for multilingual learners with a concentrated focus on multilingual learners with disabilities. She recently designed and implemented a 50/50 dual language STEAM curriculum for 4- and 5-year-olds focused on building children’s language and literacy skills in science across English and Spanish
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Ep 72 Rosalba Bortolotti
08/21/2025
Ep 72 Rosalba Bortolotti
Rosalba is a highly experienced pedagogist with over 29 years dedicated to early childhood education and pedagogical research. Holding a degree in Early Childhood Education with a specialization in Psychology, she began her career as an educator in 1994. Her deep interest led her to explore and research the innovative Reggio Emilia approach, including direct visits to its renowned schools. As the former owner of a private nursery school that also served as a learning lab, Rosalba pioneered a new approach to early learning in her community, advocating for the rights of both children and educators. She has shared her expertise as an Early Childhood Education professor at a college and has served as a pedagogical consultant for over two decades, guiding various educational institutions. In this capacity, she also develops comprehensive modules, offering educators structured series for deeper knowledge development and access to valuable resources. Rosalba embraces modern professional learning, developing online workshops, webinars, and contributing to podcasts for various agencies and organizations. These virtual spaces offer a wide community of educators, artists, chefs, families, and researchers opportunities for professional development and collaboration. She continues to present at workshops and conferences, both in person and virtually. Passionate about intentional material use, Rosalba advocates for thoughtful engagement with resources, drawing inspiration from the Reggio Emilia approach to foster deeper connections with the environment. She emphasizes shifting from a culture of consumption to one of creative resourcefulness, promoting resilience and sustainability in early learning. Viewing children as future citizens, Rosalba champions educational practices that empower them to explore and grow, fostering their development as responsible contributors to society. Her expertise also extends to food pedagogies, collaborating with chefs to develop workshops for educators, families, and children, and contributing a chapter to "Beautiful Stuff in Nature" on the journey of a tomato. Currently, Rosalba continues her work as a consultant, speaker, and pedagogical companion, actively writing blogs and contributing to the Pedagogist Network Ontario. She is also a certified Play Worker and volunteers as chair of the York Region Nature Collaborative, connecting educators with outdoor learning experiences. Her extensive background and innovative methods consistently contribute to the advancement of early childhood education. For updates and current events, visit or connect on social media: @acorncollaborative (IG) and Rosalba Bortolotti (FB, LinkedIn).
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Ep 71 Dr Demet Gulaldi
06/18/2025
Ep 71 Dr Demet Gulaldi
Dr. Demet Gulaldi is a child development specialist with over 33 years of experience, particularly in working with children with special needs and their families. She graduated from Hacettepe University in Ankara. Turkiye and began her professional journey in Istanbul after growing up and studying in Ankara. Midway through her career, she received the prestigious Humphrey Fellowship and completed postgraduate studies in the United States in the field of early intervention. Her areas of focus include early childhood development, early intervention, developmental assessments, and family guidance. She has conducted research in attachment theory, especially on mother-child interaction and positive parenting. She also works with families individually using the evidence-based VIPP (Video-feedback Intervention to Promote Positive Parenting) method. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at Üsküdar University, Department of Child Development in Istanbul. She teaches undergraduate and graduate-level courses in early intervention, child development, and developmental theories, while continuing her research in the areas of attachment and parent-child relationships. She leads the Child Development and Early Childhood Studies Center at Uskudar university. She is recently studying on investigation fatherhood and child development perspective form fathers. Her recent research explores fatherhood and child development from the perspective of fathers. In addition to her academic work, Dr. Gülaldi is actively involved with non-governmental organizations and currently serves as a consultant to UNICEF Türkiye, where she contributes to the development of national strategies on early childhood and early intervention programs. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the Council of International Fellowship (CIF) and a member of the Humphrey Fellowship Association Türkiye.
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Ep 70 Denise Luscombe
05/20/2025
Ep 70 Denise Luscombe
Denise is a paediatric physiotherapist who works as a Early Childhood Intervention Consultant and Director of Postural Care Australia. She is Chair of Professionals and Researchers in Early Childhood Intervention (PRECI). Denise has worked in the field of paediatrics,disability and ECI for over 35 years. In the early 2000’s Denise led a project changing the WA State Government Disability Services Commission ECI model to a key worker (Team around the Child) model. Denise was a Consultant on the Commission’s Statewide Consultancy Team supporting the implementation of recommended practices in ECI and paediatric physiotherapy throughout WA including remote / very remote regions. Denise is a founding member and current chair of PRECI and the PRECI Project lead for the development of the National Best Practice Framework in Early Childhood Intervention in Australia. This Framework is cross-sector, cross-discipline, cross-diagnosis and cross-service delivery model. To support families with their journey in ECI, Denise was involved in a video series titled ‘Your child, your family and early childhood intervention: Family Perspectives (https://youtu.be/DbuV4isNLDI) translated into 5 different languages, and guides supporting understanding of the national guidelines titled ‘Working Together, therapy in the early years’, (2019). Denise is passionate about supporting families and therapists to understand the importance of 24 hour postural care, with a particular focus on supported lying.
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Ep 69 Dr. Anna Maria Serrano
04/08/2025
Ep 69 Dr. Anna Maria Serrano
Dr. ANA MARIA SERRANO - Associate Professor - Institute of Education (IE), researcher at the Center for Research in Child Studies (CIEC), University of Minho, Portugal. Has a degree in Psychology from the University of Coimbra. Holds a master's degree in Early Intervention from the University of Cincinnati, USA, as a Fulbright Scholar, and a PhD in Child Studies, a Special Education specialty from the Institute for Child Studies at the University of Minho. She is a professor in the field of Special Education and developed and coordinates one of the first master's programs in Early Childhood Intervention in Portugal (1996). She is member of the National Association for Early Intervention (ANIP), President of the European Association for Early Intervention –EURLYAID, and a member of the Board of Directors of the International Society of Early Childhood Intervention. And she is part of the National System of Early Childhood Intervention (SNIPI), North Subcommittee's Supervision Nucleus. Lives in a city in the North of Portugal – Braga.
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Ep 68 Prof. Dr. Isabel María Gómez Bareto & Dr. Carlos Montoya Fernández
03/25/2025
Ep 68 Prof. Dr. Isabel María Gómez Bareto & Dr. Carlos Montoya Fernández
Prof. Dr. Isabel María Gómez Bareto. PhD in Education. Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Pedagogy department, area of Didactics and School Organization in the Faculty of Education of Albacete (University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain). Member of the research group LabinTic (Laboratory for the Integration of Technology in the Classroom). Her lines of research are based on intercultural education, initial teacher education and professional development, teaching-learning processes, and socioemotional development. Her scientific production is based on the participation in numerous regional, national and international congresses, as well as on the publication of 4 books and more than 25 articles indexed in high impact indices (JCR and SJR). Dr. Carlos Montoya Fernández. PhD in Education. Postdoctoral researcher in the Pedagogy department, area of Didactics and School Organization in the Faculty of Education of Albacete (University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain). Member of the research group LabinTic (Laboratory for the Integration of Technology in the Classroom). He began his academic career four years ago, and his lines of research are based on the fields of Early Childhood Education, learning and development processes, play, authentic assessment, teacher professional development, and interculturality. To date, he has won two awards associated with the research quality of the doctoral thesis, at the regional and national levels. His scientific production is based on the participation in more than 20 regional, national and international congresses, as well as on the publication of 5 book chapters and 5 articles indexed in high impact indices (JCR and SJR). In addition, he has acted as a reviewer for IGI Global Publishing, the journal Early Years, the European Early Childhood Research Journal, and the Revista Complutense de Educación.
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EP 67 Early Childhood Practices in Norway with Dr. Kine Melfald Tveten
02/23/2025
EP 67 Early Childhood Practices in Norway with Dr. Kine Melfald Tveten
Dr. Kine Melfald Tveten is a pediatric physical therapist from Norway with 13 years of clinical experience in developmental neurology and movement disorders. She earned her PhD in infant motor function assessment and is currently a postdoctoral researcher with the transdisciplinary MoveEarly project in Bergen, Norway. Her research focuses on movement, play, and exploration in early childhood, driven by her passion for promoting the joy of movement. Dr. Tveten is also an advanced practitioner within Sherborne Developmental Movement and loves to have interactive and creative presentations.
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Ep 66 Parents as Teachers
01/30/2025
Ep 66 Parents as Teachers
Jessie Brewster and Ruth Troyanek join me to talk about Parents as Teachers. Jessie Brewster was raised in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley in Montana. As a stay at home Mom of 3 wonderful kids, she attained an Associate of Arts Degree with an emphasis in Communication Studies at University of Montana. Jessie started her career in 2017 as a Family Advocate at a Resource Center at the edge of the Blackfeet Reservation working with families and youth. Her career brought her and her family to Laramie, Wyoming where she was able to become a Parent Educator for Albany County. Jessie has a passion for supporting parents on their journeys through a holistic and understanding approach. She also enjoys an array of hobbies such as sewing, crocheting, painting, and hiking with her family. Ruth Troyanek has lived in Laramie for 16 years, previously serving the community as a public librarian. Her favorite role at the public library was serving as the Youth Services Librarian, leading programs for young children. She is excited to again serve families as a Parent Educator. Ruth and her family enjoy biking and camping.
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Ep 65 Dr. Ehi Edokhamhen
01/22/2025
Ep 65 Dr. Ehi Edokhamhen
Dr. Ehi Edokhamhen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Tennessee State University, Nashville TN. With a background in Early Childhood Education and Psychology, Dr. Edokhamhen's expertise spans teaching, research, and service. With a research focus on teacher education and workforce development, Edokhamhen has conducted research with Head Start teachers. Edokhamhen is an active member of professional associations such as National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (NAECTE), Association for Constructivist Teaching (ACT), and Literacy Association of Tennessee. Dr. Edokhamhen is originally from Nigeria. He is married and has a 9 month old son.
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Ep 64 Sarah Browne
12/28/2024
Ep 64 Sarah Browne
Sarah is an Atelierista, Presenter and the Social Media curator for the Africa Reggio Emilia Alliance (AREA). She is currently the resident Atelierista at Reddam House Waterfall Early Learning School and co-ordinates the Reggio Emilia approach professional development at the school and is part of their Social Media Team. Sarah is passionate about the Reggio Emilia approach and promoting the rights of every child in every context. She has attended two of Reggio Children International Study Groups to Reggio Emilia, Italy, leading the April 2024 Africa Reggio Emilia Alliance (AREA) Study Group. Whilst in Reggio Emilia, she was able to engage in research on the Culture of the Atelier and role of the Atelierista in the Reggio Emilia approach, spending time with a Reggio Children Atelierista, Marco Spaggiari and in the Documentation Studio with Marina Castagnetti. Sarah renamed her workspace, the Everywhere Atelier, a Reggio Emilia inspired laboratory of research, and aims to ensure that the culture of the atelier diffuses throughout the school and beyond like the fragrance of perfume. Sarah qualified in 1996 with a HDipEd in Pre-Primary and Junior Primary phase, with a major in Visual Arts. Sarah has taught for 28 years in different positions with children ranging from birth to age 12 in various schools in various positions, including being in a Visual Art position in South Africa, in Johannesburg and KwaZulu Natal. She has since been able to follow her passion and fill the role of Atelierista in the Reddam House Waterfall Early Learning School since January 2020. LinkedIn: Facebook: @aterlierista Instagram: @the_everywhereatelier Instagram: Africa Reggio Emilia Alliance (AREA) Social Media Platforms: LinkedIn: Facebook: Instagram: Webpage:
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Ep 63 Dr Junlei Li
11/19/2024
Ep 63 Dr Junlei Li
Junlei Li, Ph.D. is the Program Chair of the Human Development and Education and the Saul Zaentz Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education. As a developmental psychologist, his research and practice focus on supporting the helpers – those who serve children and families on the frontlines of education and social services. Studying orphanages, child care, schools, youth programs, he co-develops the “Simple Interactions” approach () to help affirm what ordinary people do extraordinarily well with children in everyday moments. His work is significantly inspired by the pioneering work of Fred Rogers when he served as the Co-Director and Rita M. McGinley Chair for Early Learning and Children’s Media at the Fred Rogers Center.
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Ep 62 Dr. Scott Chamberlin
10/29/2024
Ep 62 Dr. Scott Chamberlin
Dr. Scott Chamberlin is a professor at the University of Wyoming in the field of mathematics education. His research interests include the use of problem solving activities with upper elementary and middle grade gifted students. Specifically, he investigates student affect and creativity as they relate to mathematical problem solving. Recently, he validated the Chamberlin Affective Instrument for Mathematical Problem Solving (CAIMPS), which may be used by classroom teachers to formally assess student affect as they complete problem-solving tasks in mathematics. Another interest of Dr. Chamberlin pertains to student development of highly creative mathematical solutions while completing mathematical problem solving tasks. Much of this work is a direct result of his work with Model-eliciting Activities (MEAs). MEAs are problem-solving tasks in which solvers are expected to create mathematical models to explain and generate understanding about phenomena and concepts in mathematics.
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Ep 61 Anne Hillerman
08/17/2024
Ep 61 Anne Hillerman
Things you could learn from this BUTTERCUP episode: The role of mentorship in her career as a writer. What a diary with a lock did for her during childhood. How her Mom and her Dad, Tony Hillerman, inspired her reading and writing life. What it means to Anne to be seduced by research. Her connections to the American western landscapes, Navajo nation, and mystery genre. Role of mentorship in her stories with strong and powerful female character Bernadette Manuelito (Navajo Nation police office), retired lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, and office Jim Chee. The way Anne sets up her daily routine to write. How a mentor changed her life when she was an intern at a news service job for 90 days for a news service as a copy editor then later a reporter to work at the New Mexican. More from Anne Hillerman here: Website: https://annehillerman.com/ Facebook: @authotannehillerman Anne Hillerman is the author of best-selling mystery novels and executive producer of the Dark Winds television series on AMC. Her 10th mystery, tentatively titled Solstice of the Shadows, will be released in 2025. All of her novels have been New York Times Best Sellers. Anne moved to the Southwest with her parents as a toddler, and has happily lived in Santa Fe and Tucson ever since. The eldest of author Tony Hillerman’s six children, she began her career as a journalist. Her non-fiction book Tony Hillerman’s Landscape, on the Road with Chee and Leaphorn led to the exciting world of mystery fiction. After her father’s death, Anne decided to continue the Jim Chee/Joe Leaphorn mystery series with her debut novel, Spider Woman’s Daughter. The book elevated a minor character, Officer Bernadette Manuelito, to the role of major crime solver. It received the Spur Award from Western Writers of America as the best first mystery. Anne has been honored with many other awards including several New Mexico/Arizona book awards for best mystery, New Mexico Book of the Year, the Frank Waters Awards, The Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award, The Rounders Award, the Will Rogers Medallion, the Wrangler Award (for Dark Winds), and many others. AMC’s Dark Winds series grew from stories and characters by Tony and Anne Hillerman. The production stars Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten and Deanna Allison among others. The show has been honored with two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes, a Western Heritage Awards for the best fictional television drama of 2023 and 2024, and several Vision Awards from the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications. In 2024 it was nominated for an Edgar award for best screen play from Mystery Writers of American. Dark Winds is one of the most watched shows on AMC and AMC + When Anne’s not working, she loves to walk with her dogs, read, cook, travel and enjoy the night sky. She lives in Santa Fe and Tucson.
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Ep 60 Dr. Micki Ostrosky
05/04/2024
Ep 60 Dr. Micki Ostrosky
Micki M. Ostrosky is Grayce Wicall Gauthier Professor of Education in the Department of Special Education and Interim Head of the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (UIUC). She has been at Illinois since 1991. Throughout her career, she has been involved in research and dissemination on the inclusion of children with disabilities, social and emotional competence, and challenging behavior. She was involved in the development of the Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Young Children. Micki is a former editor of Young Exceptional Children (YEC), and the co-editor of several YEC monographs. She has co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles and several books, including the Making Friends book (2016), which supports the acceptance of individuals with disabilities, The Project Approach for All Learners (2018), CHAMPPS: Children in Action Motor Program for PreschoolerS (20230, and Unpacking the Pyramid Model: A practical guide for preschool teachers.(2021). Micki has been recognized for her professional accomplishments with honors such as UIUC University Scholar, Goldstick Family Scholar, College of Education Senior Scholar, and the Division of Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children’s Award for Mentoring, and most recently DEC’s Mary McEvoy Service to the Field Award. Finally, Micki has been the advisor of more than 30 PhD students who have graduated from the University of Ilinois.
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Ep 59 Mentoring with Dr. Ilene Schwartz
04/29/2024
Ep 59 Mentoring with Dr. Ilene Schwartz
Dr. Ilene Schwartz is a professor in the Area of Special Education at the University of Washington and the Director of the Haring Center for Inclusive Education at UW. She earned her Ph.D. in child and developmental psychology from the University of Kansas and is a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA-D). Dr. Schwartz has an active research and professional training agenda with primary interests in the areas of autism, inclusive education, professional ethics, and the sustainability of educational interventions. Dr. Schwartz is the director of Project DATA, a model preschool program for children with autism that has been in operation since 1997 and was started as a model demonstration project with OSEP funding. She is currently working on projects to improve the quality of inclusive services for students with disabilities and strategies that can be used to improve access to services for young children with ASD in under resourced areas.
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Ep 58 Dr. Ann Anderson Berry
04/19/2024
Ep 58 Dr. Ann Anderson Berry
Dr. Ann Anderson Berry is a Professor and Vice-Chair of Research of the Department of Pediatrics and the Executive Director of the Child Health Research Institute at UNMC and Vice-President of Research at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center. Additionally, she serves as Division chief of Neonatology and is the founding Medical Director of the Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPQIC). Her research activities include funded federal and state research grants evaluating Perinatal nutrition and the impact on maternal and fetal outcomes, and grants to better understand Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS), the impact of intrauterine opioid exposure on brain development, and the compounded impact of poor nutrition and social stressors on infants with intrauterine opioid exposure. She is a constant advocate for Nebraska families and understands the importance of recognizing rural and urban needs when allocating perinatal resources. As a mentor to multiple students at the undergraduate, medical student and resident level as well as the PhD students she trains she works to prepare trainees to do impactful and outstanding work in their chosen fields. Dr. Anderson Berry serves on national committees for the American Society of Nutrition, the Pediatric Academic Society and the Association of Neonatologists. She completed her training at the University of Wyoming for undergraduate studies, Creighton University for her medical degree, her Pediatric Residency and PhD at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and her Fellowship in Neonatology at the University of Utah. She loves spend time with her two daughters and husband in the mountains of Wyoming.
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Ep 57 Zaentz Early Childhood Initiative
03/10/2024
Ep 57 Zaentz Early Childhood Initiative
Dr. Danila Crespin Zidovsky is the Senior Policy and Leadership Specialist at the Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative. Prior to joining Zaentz, Dr. Crespin Zidovsky served as Special Assistant to New Mexico’s Secretary of Education. She has served as senior staff for multiple political campaigns, both at the national and at the local level. She was an original member of U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich’s staff, as well as senior staff during his successful reelection campaign, when only a handful of Democratic representatives won their races across the country. Dr. Crespin Zidovsky has taught both in South Korea and New Mexico, and for numerous nonprofits focused on early education and social justice. She holds a Doctorate in Education Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Emily Wiklund Hayhurst is the Assistant Director of Learning Design and Communications at the Zaentz Early Education Initiative, where she develops professional learning programs, multimedia resources, and action-oriented tools for early education leaders, practitioners, and policymakers. Emily graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, earning a master’s degree in human development and psychology while participating in the Zaentz Fellows Program. Before coming to Harvard, she served as an early childhood educator in Washington, D.C.
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Ep 56 Dr Alessandra Landini
08/12/2023
Ep 56 Dr Alessandra Landini
Dr. Alessandra Landini is the Principal of the I.C. A. Manzoni in Reggio Emilia, with a PhD in Human Sciences, thesis in Physics Education from the Department of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, and a Master Degree in Organization and Management of Multicultural School Institutions from Alma Mater, Bologna. Her scientific education research project studies a vertical science curriculum based on storytelling and the use of metaphor, between early childhood and secondary school. Her doctoral thesis examined the approach to the study of energy in primary schools and the multi-metaphoric nature of the concept of energy. Her other areas of interest range from general didactics to innovative teaching. As a General Didactics’ expert at UNIMORE, she provides integrative teaching activities at the university. She collaborates with the "Metaphor and Narrative in Science" research center and provides teacher training on inclusive didactics as a national trainer for AID (Italian Dyslexia Association). Other areas of research focus on the use of descriptive evaluation in first and second grade secondary schools and teacher training as a community of practice, with particular attention to the development of creative skills in STEAM, integrating school and museum settings. Since 2020, she has been studying a vertical curriculum of Heritage and Citizenship with her institute, which leads teachers and students to immerse themselves in the city's territory and museum and cultural heritage.
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Ep 55 Dr. Robin McWilliam
06/09/2023
Ep 55 Dr. Robin McWilliam
Dr. Robin McWilliam is a professor of special education at The University of Alabama . Dr. McWilliam is also the Founder and Director of the Evidence-based International Early Intervention Office (EIEIO). His research interests are in early intervention (birth to age 6), specifically models of service delivery, working with families, and child engagement. Dr. McWilliam developed the Routines-Based Model of Early Intervention (Birth-6) and am involved in its implementation in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, and the U.S. Dr. McWilliam developed the international community of practice called The RAM Group, to provide research and technical assistance on the Routines-Based Model. Dr. McWilliam teaches doctoral students, lectures, conducts workshops, and writes. He serve as the International Editor of the scholarly journal Infants & Young Children and serves on numerous editorial boards.
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Ep 54 Dr Scott McConnell
01/24/2023
Ep 54 Dr Scott McConnell
Dr. Scott McConnell has been a teacher, program director, researcher and college professor interested in preschool and early elementary education for more than 40 years. Scott is a professor emeritus of educational psychology at the University of Minnesota and Director of Assessment Innovation at Renaissance Learning. Prior to joining Renaissance, Scott was part of a multi-university team that developed Individual Growth and Development Indicators, and he’s conducted research on their use in preschool classrooms. His professional interests focus on young children’s paths to becoming proficient readers, and the ways that systematic interventions like multi-tiered systems of support can help all children achieve that goal. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology at Portland State University and his master’s degree in school psychology and PhD in educational psychology at the University of Oregon. Scott lives in Minnesota, and he and his wife Laurie Davis are parents of four adult children.
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