Buttercup

"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 sp

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

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 Lite

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.

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 scienc

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 w

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 earl

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, Den

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 th

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 (L

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.

Jessie Brewster and Ruth Troyanek join me to talk about Parents as Teachers.  http://wypat.org/ 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

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.

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

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 (www.simpleinteractions.org) 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.

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.

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, t

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 presch

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.

  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 undergraduat