CHRISTINA AUBEL has spent thirty years in the non-profit sector working with low-income children and families. She’s worked in Head Start, a coop-preschool, a childcare center for homeless children, preschool and childcare centers, as an art specialist, and as a mentor teacher. She facilitates workshops about the value of the art-making process and the design of classroom environments. Christina says most children don’t ask to make art; they ask to work with clay and paint, and they ask to draw. We put it in a box and call it art, but children relate to the process of making art because it is during the process that they express their ideas, invent, create, imagine - think. Contact Christina at ctaubel@nwlink.com for presentations or consultations on topics such as: Art as a means to develop critical thinking skills or The Art of Placement: Creating Meaningful Learning Environments.

KISHA P WILLIAMSON-CHAMPION has been in the Early Care and Education field since 1983. Her first teaching job allowed her to discover the importance of emergent curriculum and valuing children’s opinions and curiosity. Over the years, she has taken on many responsibilities including being an Executive Director of a non-profit preschool program. Working directly with children from infancy to school-age allowed her to facilitate learning and gain knowledge, which in turn continues to be one of her greatest experiences. Kisha found her niche presenting workshops at conferences early on in her career. This opportunity ignited her passion toward striving to ensure that every child is treated as a unique individual by the adults caring for them. One of her biggest joys is assisting others to find their enthusiasm for life-long learning, creating hands-on experiences and developing opportunities that will allow for adult learners to reignite their passions for the children and families that they serve. Kisha is a native of California where she earned a BA from CSULB and Master of Science in Child Development from the University of La Verne. Currently, she is a Professor at a community college where she can continue to develop her personal goal of “being the teacher she always wanted” on a daily basis. Kisha can be reached by phone at (562)424-0288 or email at dkone23@aol.com. She is looking forward to spending time with you and creating a wonderful learning experience together.

Currently a Studio Teacher of a non-profit preschool in Atlanta, LATISHA FLOWERS has worked with young children for over 11 years. In the past, she has worked as a preschool teacher for twenty-one 2-5 year olds. LaTisha currently works with teachers and children providing experiences with creative materials (clay, paint, natural materials, etc.). Areas of interest for LaTisha include creating magical environments for children and exploring the use of materials. Contact LaTisha at latisha.flowers@yahoo.com.

Currently a Director of a Non-Profit Preschool, IJUMAA JORDAN has worked with young children and families for over fifteen years beginning her career as teacher’s assistant in an infant classroom. Since then she has worked as a preschool teacher in both private and public school settings. She has also been an Early Education Specialist facilitating an outdoor playgroup for preschoolers and their Grandparents. Ijumaa is giving priority to training requests on creating engaging learning environments, co-creating child-centered curriculum, and social-justice/anti-bias work in the preschool classroom. Ijumaa lives in the Los Angeles area and is available to travel on the weekends. She can be reached at Ijumaaj@hotmail.com.

GINA LEWIS has been in the field of early childhood education for 30 years. She has worked with three and four year olds in a preschool setting, assisted in the creation of a family child care network in a low-income housing community, supported family child care providers contracted with Head Start, provided technical assistance to child care providers through a resource and referral agency and taught college classes. Her interests in creating nurturing environments for young children and documenting children’s stories stems from her participation in the Spring 2001 Study Tour to Reggio Emilia, Italy and the Courage and Renewal work of Dr. Parker J. Palmer. Contact Gina at timboylewis@qwest.net for workshop presentations and consultations on creating environments that nurture young children's growth and development and documenting children's stories that depict their intelligence and competence and the joys of childhood.

KELLY MATTHEWS has worked in a variety of early education settings for the last 15 years, from owning her own family child care business to working as a lead teacher in a bilingual (English – Arabic) Head Start classroom. Kelly is currently working with her mentor on a book for early childhood caregivers and teachers, as well as focusing on her passion facilitating learning experiences with adults who work with young children. She’s traveled from Seattle, WA to Rochester, NY delivering keynotes and other learning sessions. Areas of interest for Kelly are building strong relationships among families, children, and staff, practicing perspective-taking as a teacher disposition, and positive guidance. Contact Kelly at APlaceForYouConsult@yahoo.com to discuss trainings, keynotes, and other learning opportunities available.

RATISHA MCDOWELL has more than 15 years of experience working with children and teaching adults. She has worked in a variety of settings including directing a Head Start program and teaching early childhood education courses at the local community colleges in her area. Currently she is a Program Resource Manager for Child Development Inc. Her particular areas of interest include conference facilitating, coaching and mentoring teachers and site supervisors in the areas of administration, classroom organization, and reflective teaching practices. She can be reached at ratishamcdowell@yahoo.com for workshop presentations, consulting and facilitating.

KAMISHA L. MORRISON has more than 7 years of experience working with youth and their families in a variety of settings, as a preschool Co-Director and teacher, elementary school reading coach, and high school service learning coordinator. Currently, she does in home care and conference facilitating. Her particular areas of interest include: creating engaging learning environments especially as it pertains to organization and materials, following children’s leads, planning for young children, reflective teaching, and promoting self-reflection. She can be reached at lucillemorrison@hotmail.com for workshop presentations, consulting and facilitating.

RUKIA ROGERS has worked with young children and their families for over 20 years in a number of ways, including work as preschool & toddler teacher and most recently as an atelierista or studio teacher. Rukia is deeply committed to improving the quality of education accessible to all children. She has helped to forge an on-going collaboration with Emory University researching the rights of young children as it pertains to Early Childcare settings in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. Rukia has a unique interest in reflective practices especially as it relates to curriculum planning for young children, the role of documentation in early child care centers, building partnerships with families, creating engaging learning environments and using materials as thinking tools. Contact Rukia for training or consultation at jeff30106@yahoo.com.