OUR AWESOME LINEUP

Early Childhood Coach, Speaker, and Consultant/ Children's Book Author
Anisha Angella
Anisha has over 15 years of experience in early childhood education and is a childcare coach, consultant and specialist. She is located in Toronto, Canada but works internationally. Anisha specializes in online workshops and courses, childcare consulting like administrative support, team training, leadership training, quality control and branding and coaching childcare professionals. She also works with early childhood entrepreneurs who are looking to build a business in early childhood by becoming a coach, online facilitator or educator.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Business Structure; Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Organization; Human Resource Leadership; Operational Efficiency; Operations Management; Professional Development and Leadership
Topic: Reviving the ECE leader in YOU
Beth Cannon
Beth Cannon is an international speaker, educator and entrepreneur known for her passion for engaging leaders and inspiring teams. With 25+ years of experience in the education and business spaces, she is known for her niche in creating and teaching strategies and solutions through live or virtual experiences and retreats, and most recently…a digital course creator. In addition to leading thousands of educators each year through her professional development trainings, Beth leads a team of 40+ entertaining early educators through enrichment programs serving preschools and childcare centers – Stretch-n-Grow. She created the New Business Training Program and the Youth Fitness Certification for Stretch-n-Grow, International, and supports affiliates worldwide through curriculum and education. Beth has a Bachelors degree in Communications + Education Certification from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Business Structure; Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Organization; Human Resource Leadership; Operational Efficiency; Operations Management; Professional Development and Leadership
Topic: 5 Core Components to Transforming Your Employee Manual to Online Modules...using all free tools
Dani Christine
Dani Christine has been in the child care industry for over a decade. After gaining valuable experience as a babysitter and preschool teacher, she opened her first child care businesses in 2014. Years of operating a multi-site child care business and sharing her tips and techniques with providers around the world on her digital platform, YouTube.com/DaniChristine, lead Dani to expand her brand in 2019 and launch her consulting agency, Dani Christine, Inc. In addition to providing support for aspiring and new child care business owners, Dani uses the childcaresites.com platform to offer helpful resources for child care professionals.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Business Structure; Operational Efficiency
Topic: Raise Your Rates! Are You Charging Enough?
Noelle D'Intino
Noelle D’Intino graduated with her B.S. Speech and Language Pathology degree and ended up heading into the financial sector after graduation where she spent 14 years learning and leading the operational side of a major financial institution in the USA. After a merger of the bank, Noelle decided it was time to focus on some of her passions including her husband, Michael, of 18 years and daughter Gabriella. At a lunch, with her sister Sarah and father, the idea sparked – to create the most incredible educational environment for children and working families and thus the birth of ScribbleTime A Center for Early Learning. As Chief Executive Officer of ScribbleTime, Noelle leads the operations of a team of 32 staff and 114 students annually. In 2014, after 8 successful years and a long waiting list at the Center, Noelle and Sarah decided it was time to help other Centers reach similar success. The Director’s Club was started – opening the doors of the successful operations of a child care center to other Directors from across the USA – Noelle shares her leadership and knowledge of the business side of child care centers through consulting and workshops. Noelle is passionately living her mission of creating a safe learning environment for children in her community and watching Centers build an amazing team and enrollment one family at a time across our amazing country!
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Organization
Topic: Find Your Next Great Teacher & Student On Facebook
Marnie Forestieri
Marnie Forestieri is the CEO and founder of Young Innovators Academy and co-founder of Hopscotch CRM. She is an entrepreneur at heart with a passion for introducing innovative approaches and business models. As a successful operator of large childcare centers, she has been recognized nationally, presented at national conferences, and written books for parents, children, administrators, and educators. Marnie started her career as a CNN journalist, transitioned into the role of a VP of marketing for a telecommunications company, and launched a childcare franchise. Marnie is passionate about using research to develop content that introduces young learners across all market segments to the mindsets and skills that will help them become the fearless problem solvers of tomorrow. At Young Innovators Academy, Marnie leads a team of university professors, entrepreneurs, childcare professionals, marketing experts, and engineers. She holds a BS in business administration, a CDA, a director’s credential and is a graduate of the Stanford University Latino entrepreneurs’ program.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Business Structure; Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Organization; Human Resource Leadership; Operational Efficiency
Topic: Leading in Chaos
Veronica Green
Veronica Green is an Early Childhood Educator and Consultant with 9 years of experience in the early years sector nurturing children from infancy to school age through play. Inspiring Educators from all over the world through her blog and professional development trainings & resources to bring the magic of loose parts into their settings, changing our perspectives on behaviour with collaborative strategies & curating learning environments that are filled with wonder and curiosity. Veronica offers professional development online in many formats and is an executive member of Manitoba Reggio and the Secretary on The Board of Directors for Inspired By Wonder Inc. She is a lifelong learner and an advocate of children who are neurodivergent.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Professional Development and Leadership
Topic: 3 Areas of Professional Learning that are Missing in the Orientation Process that Reduce Turnover
Adva Hanan
Adva Hanan is an early childhood educator and entrepreneur. She worked in early childhood for 7 years, starting as a second language teacher and working up to a lead teaching position. In that time, Adva saw a big gap in the way early childhood teachers were supported inside the classroom. Since then she has made it her mission to help teachers lead their classrooms with self-trust and confidence. Adva’s goal is to change the way teachers are supported in the early childhood industry through podcasting, providing workshops and courses, and impacting teachers throughout.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Child Growth and Development; Professional Development and Leadership
Topic: Classroom Leadership: 3 steps to leading the classroom with self-trust and confidence
Monica Healer
Monica is the Executive Director of the Early Childhood Christian Network. She has a broad range of experience in almost every level of early childhood education – from classroom teacher to administrator. She believes administrators and staff should be equipped with the latest research-based training available in order to provide the highest quality experience for young children in their first school exposure. Monica has a BBA from Texas Tech University in Management Information Systems.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Professional Development and Leadership
Topic: Girls (and Guys) Just Wanna Have Fun!

Early Childhood Consultant and Author
Dr. Rebecca Isbell
Dr. Rebecca Isbell is an Early Childhood Consultant, inspirational keynote speaker, and author of 13 Early Childhood books.
Isbell has a wide range of experiences in the field of Early Childhood Education, including: Distinguished Professor, Director of the Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning and Development, and Director of a Laboratory School Program serving Infants-Kindergarten at the East Tennessee State University. In addition, she was a teacher of young children from 2- 6 years of age and a public school music teacher. She also coordinated a program for Gifted and Talented children.
Isbell presents in the United States and at Early Childhood Conferences worldwide. She has shared her expertise and insights in China, Singapore, Canada, Denmark, and Saudi Arabia. Her focus has been on the amazing creative capabilities of young children and the dedicated people who work with them. Isbell continues to help early childhood professionals and parents by providing them with the best learning experiences possible for young children during their critical early years.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Child Growth and Development; Learning Environments; Professional Development and Leadership; Responsive Interactions and Guidance
Topic: Small Groups with Big Benefits: Choice and Center time Possibilities
Evelyn Knight
It may seem like I have it together, but it hasn’t always been that way. I started working in ECE over 25 years ago. I have held almost every position in a Preschool or childcare center. I have owned 3 centers, one I built from the ground up, one I purchased while it was operating, and I purchased one that had been shut down due to regulation violations. For years, my centers owned me instead of me owning them. I worked at least 50 hours a week and used my family’s personal money to keep the doors open. During that period, the director and owner in me were in a battle between creating a high-quality center and a profitable one. My directors mind wanted a high-quality childcare center, not a daycare! The owner in me knew that making enough money to pay the bills had to come first. For a long time, I thought it was not possible to have a high-quality, developmentally appropriate center and turn a profit.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Business Structure; Child Growth and Development; Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Organization; Human Resource Leadership; Learning Environments; Operational Efficiency; Operations Management; Professional Development and Leadership; Responsive Interactions and Guidance
Topic: Creative Recruitment

CEO/Founder Child Care Business Professionals
Dr. Shira Leibowitz
A dynamic educator, author and educational business owner, Shira is CEO and founder of both Revabilities™ and Discovery Village. Revabilities™ is a Professional Learning Center helping educational business owners and directors bring their vision for learning to life, standing out by what they stand for, so they can create world class schools, attract aligned students and staff, and positively impact their students and communities, all while designing lives they love. Discovery Village is a premier project and play based childcare center and preschool located in Tarrytown, NY. Shira holds a Ph.D in Education and is an experienced school leader who served for 20 years as a principal of nursery through eighth grade independent schools in the greater New York City area. She is a faculty member in the doctoral program of education at Northeastern University. Shira is co-author of The Coach Approach To School Leadership: Leading Teachers to Higher Levels of Effectiveness. Her upcoming book, to be released June, 2022, is titled Havens of Hope: Ideas for Redesigning Education from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Havens of Hope shares the experiences of educators who not only led their schools through pandemic, but dramatically improved the quality of their schools in the process. Shira has translated their experiences into a framework for success, supporting educators to more clearly craft their powerful visions, reimagine and improve their programs, and make their next leadership breakthroughs.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Organization; Human Resource Leadership; Learning Environments; Professional Development and Leadership
Topic: Redesigning Your School or Class To Be a Haven Of Hope: Insights Gained Teaching & Leading Through The COVID-19 Pandemic
Vanessa Levin
Topic: Top 5 Shortcuts to Skyrocket Alphabet Success

Author, Humorist, Inspiring Keynote Speaker and Workshop Trainer Extraordinaire
Vernon Mason, Jr. M.Ed.
Vernon has been called the trifecta of childcare. He grew up in an “in-home” program. As his company grew, he has been the owner-director of small, medium, and large programs. After 28.5 years, including a decade of multi-site ownership, he sold his schools to a large regional provider. Along the way, Vernon completed a Master's in Early Childhood, wrote a couple of books, and became a popular speaker. Today Vernon is Senior Vice President of Growth and Development for The Nest Schools. Author of: Don't Go! A practical guide for tackling employee turnover. Get Out! But before you go…..Practical steps to turn your Zero into a Hero or set them free! Both available on Amazon
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Organization; Human Resource Leadership; Operational Efficiency; Operations Management; Professional Development and Leadership
Topic: Hiring 101: 10 Breakthrough Approaches to Hire in a Covid World!
Melody McGuire
Melody McGuire is a prolific educator whose mission is to bring awareness to the importance of early childhood education, (ECE) and care. She has served young children, families, and communities as an Early Childhood Educator for over two decades. Melody started her career in early childhood education as a volunteer and has held various positions within childcare facilities from the assistant teacher to the executive director. Previously, Melody served as a licensing consultant, a quality advisor for the state of Indiana’s quality rating and improvement system, an ECE adjunct instructor, independent coach, and author. In her career, she has ensured to support high quality early childhood education programs to the best of her ability in each role acquired and assigned. Melody continuously encourages collaboration amongst early childhood educators and walks with a high level of self-effacement because of her inspirations. She is the Founder of the Early Childhood Educators Circle Time™ and affectionately known as Ms. Melody. She can be found on social media platforms under the alias and hashtag of ECEwithMsMelody or ECEcircletime. Melody always looks for the “good” out of any circumstances and is a catalyst for human connection and great conversation. Melody is looking forward to providing inspirational words in a humorous and calm disposition that ignites and unleashes the ECE Superpowers within each participant.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Organization; Professional Development and Leadership
Topic: Unleash Your ECE Super Powers

Speaker, Trainer, Consultant, and Creator of Not Just Cute
Amanda Morgan
Amanda Morgan has been curious about how children think and learn ever since she was a child herself! After growing up and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in both Elementary and Early Childhood Education, as well as a Master of Science in Human Development, she taught in a variety of school settings, from preschoolers to professionals. Amanda is passionate about aligning what we know about how children grow and learn with what we do in the classroom. She works to close the gaps that exist between academia, decision-makers, educators, and parents so that we can all work together to improve early childhood education while also protecting and respecting the experience of childhood. Amanda advocates for intentional whole child development and the power of play by writing, speaking, training, and creating resources on her site, Not Just Cute.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Child Growth and Development; Learning Environments
Topic: Why We Play: Getting Parents on Board with the Power of Play
Prerna Richards
Prerna Richards is an international and national keynote speaker, social entrepreneur, coach, and consultant. She has been in the early childhood education field for the past 36 years. Her professional journey has allowed her to work in many different roles including being a preschool teacher and a Vice President of an early childhood division. The majority of her experience was in NAEYC accredited and trauma-informed learning programs. She is a registered master-level trainer with the Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System. Most recently she started her own consulting business, Together We Grow to provide professional development, coaching, and consulting for educators and individual families. She also has a YouTube channel under the same business name. She is currently also working as a Texas rising star assessor. She is deeply passionate about supporting the teachers who are providing care for the young learners. Every child deserves the best start in life that trained and prepared educators can provide. She is the winner of the Susan Hargrave Trainer of the Year Award from TXAEYC in October 2020.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Child Growth and Development; Human Resource Leadership; Learning Environments; Responsive Interactions and Guidance
Topic: A Leaders Role in Managing Challenging Behaviours
Rachel Supalla
Rachel Supalla is a national childcare coach for the Childcare success company and she is also a multi-site childcare owner with 3 brands and has the energy to spare. Rachel has been nationally recognized as a teacher and director trainer and is a certified professional development specialist that specializes in brain-based creative teaching practices and leadership development. Rachel has been awarded as top 20 business leaders under 40, innovative business of the year, and best childcare of Helena. She is busy raising 4 teens in Montana and studies brain development as a way to help her in parenting and creating new training strategies.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Business Structure; Child Growth and Development; Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Organization; Human Resource Leadership; Learning Environments; Operational Efficiency; Operations Management; Professional Development and Leadership; Responsive Interactions and Guidance
Topic: Playful ways to turn chaos in to calm in the classroom
Renee Terry
After being a special education teacher for 6 years, Renee’s passion for kids (and fitness) led her to purchase Stretch-n-Grow, an international children’s movement program franchise, in 2005. Renee is passionate about personal and professional growth and loves to empower, inspire and equip others to learn and grow as well! She believes early educators have one of the most important callings in the world as they are charged with molding the next generation during the most impressionable part of a child’s life. It's her calling to pour into directors and teachers so they can continue to invest in the lives of little ones.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Child Growth and Development
Topic: Movement Matters!

Executive Director
Heather Torres
Heather has been working in ECE since 2003 and in management of ECE since 2006. She is a national presenter and sits on the board of AELL.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Child Growth and Development
Topic: In order the understand children, we must understand ourselves
Carla Ward
Carla Ward is an Early Childhood Educator and the founder of Early Learning Foundations, a business dedicated to education and enhancing the work of Early Childhood Educators. She has held a variety of roles in the education field for more than 16 years. Carla is a certified Wonder-Based educator and brings a sense of wonder and passion into every aspect of her business, from hosting The Everything ECE Podcast, to workshop development, to digital course creation as well as running a full-time online tutoring business. Carla loves to share actionable and inspiring ideas with fellow educators both in the classroom and administrative roles to help support professional practices in Early Childhood Education.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Business Structure; Child Growth and Development; Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Organization; Learning Environments; Professional Development and Leadership
Topic: Meetings that Matter

Educator | Entrepreneur | Digital Course Creator | Founder
Scott Wayman
Scott Wayman is the Founder and CEO of Kangarootime, the leading software for childcare centers and preschools. In 2015, as a young parent-guardian, Scott was inspired to found Kangarootime when he discovered that many of the groundbreaking technologies being used in health systems and physician offices could greatly benefit childcare owners and leaders in the early education industry. He designed Kangarootime to bring the same efficiencies to childcare and to give childcare professionals the tools to scale their classrooms, automate their businesses and better communicate with the families they serve. Scott has a passion for providing tools, technologies, and resources to better the childcare industry.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Business Structure; Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Organization; Operational Efficiency; Operations Management; Professional Development and Leadership
Topic: Finding Your Why
Lynn Wenger
For over 25 years Lynn has been assisting business leaders in creating repeatable best practice processes and automated systems in order to improve operational efficiencies – all that tie to the bottom line profit. She firmly believes the use of technology dramatically assists leadership teams to optimize systems, proactively manage and measure what works well, and to pivot quickly once they have identified areas for improvement or replication across staff. Lynn brings her expertise to Early Childhood Education to help leadership digitize and analyze their paper-based systems surrounding quality best practices and compliance. In her role at 1Place Childcare, the 2019/20 survey of ECE Leadership reveals 52% have SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) daily/weekly/monthly checklists on a clipboard without formal documentation, 21% do not document “because they know what they are doing,” and the remainder store their completed checklists in a binder. How is it that 52% is acceptable? Let’s improve! Lynn has a heart for children of all ages in her roles serving as VP Operations at 1Place Childcare, also as an advocate and former board member of the Pregnancy Center of the Upper Valley, and as co-founder of Youth on Main serving middle school students.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Business Structure; Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Organization; Operational Efficiency; Operations Management; Professional Development and Leadership
Topic: Crisis Avoidance - Data, Compliance and Your Bottom Line
Avoid a Compliance Crisis! Compliance isn’t always thought of as having a direct impact on the bottom line….UNTIL….. Routine audits are missed, tell-tale data is overlooked, or maintenance tasks fall through the cracks creating liabilities leading to Child injury Licensing Citations Failed Health and Safety Inspection Poor review by staff or family Then – compliance is top of mind – Why wait for a “when” to create a crisis? What if there was a better way to proactively manage compliance and best practice to ensure what you inspect matches what you expect? Hint – it has to do with data to fuel best practice which leads to proactive compliance management. “Having robust back-end processes in place gives directors that all-important peace of mind and freedom from getting bogged down. If you do not have a repeatable and consistent sequence, you will miss something every time,” says Beth Cannon. Come learn how to ensure you are proactively managing best best practice and compliance to serve your bottom line.
Chanie Wilschanski
Chanie Wilschanski, Host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast, is an Early Childhood Leadership Coach, CEO, and Founder of Schools of Excellence. Chanie has worked with hundreds of EC Directors and School Owners who are working to build a School of Excellence with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, and collaborative culture. Chanie began her journey over a decade ago, teaching toddlers at the acclaimed Preschool of the Arts in New York City for 8 years until she continued her path into high studies and earned her Masters in EC and Special Education. In 2015, she started training teachers and school leaders on the HOW part of creating excellence in their schools. Now a wife and mother of 4, her hands are full and she understands what it takes to lead a large center and have a full-time job at home, and it breaks my heart when I see so many dedicated school leaders sacrificing all of their time with their family and all of their self-care (what self-care?) to a school that feels like it’s constantly getting away from them.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Organization; Human Resource Leadership; Operational Efficiency; Professional Development and Leadership
Topic: Maximize the Roles & Responsibilities of a High-Performing Team and grow your school AND enjoy freedom as the School Leader
Brandy Woods-Smith
Brandy Woods-Smith is a charismatic and passionate educator, entrepreneur, speaker, and consultant. She is known as a thought leader, change agent, community developer and to many, she is hailed the Millionaire Midwife. Ms. Woods-Smith attended Jarvis Christian College in East Texas. She finished her Master in Education Administration in 2005. After serving the public school system for 13 years, Woods opened Imagine Me Academy in 2013 and now has multiple locations. In her quest to help other aspiring entrepreneurs achieve success, she founded Powerhouses United and Childcare Millionaires, business incubators designed to give education, resources and teach financial literacy to entrepreneurs. Believe BIG! Expect BIG! Do BIG! is the mantra she lives by. Woods says, “Although BIG is not the most eloquent word, it gets the vision across clearly! With belief in my heart, the work of my hands, and the words in my mouth. I will accomplish what I am commissioned to do: Motivate! Educate! Produce!
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Business Structure; Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Organization; Operations Management
Topic: 12 Proven Ways to Improve Your Childcare Business in 100 Days or Less!

Master Trainer, Consultant, Children's Book Author, Online Show Host
Albert Wright
Albert Wright is a Master Trainer, children’s book author, and host of the weekly web show, “Two minutes with Albert”. He has over 20 years in the child care industry and had the privilege of being chosen as Trainer of the Year twice for the state of Texas, and is a much sought after Master Trainer who has presented on platforms such as conferences for the National Association of Education for Young Children, National Afterschool Association, and many more. He consults with Businesses, Schools, Churches, and Nonprofits to strengthen the relationships between the children, educators, administrators, and parents. Albert holds a BS in Child Development and earned his Masters of Education in Early Childhood Education while traveling as a Keynote and Featured Speaker. Albert has trained all over the United States, specifically working in and around Texas with Workforce Solutions and many of the AEYC affiliates. Albert believes that it is important to be both informative and entertaining while training because if people are entertained, they are more likely to retain the information. Albert seeks to train with the perfect balance of laughter and learning, which has turned Wright One Training clients into true fans of his work.
Generally Recognized ECE Core Competencies – Business Structure; Child Growth and Development; Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Organization; Human Resource Leadership; Learning Environments; Operational Efficiency; Operations Management; Professional Development and Leadership; Responsive Interactions and Guidance