As Talent & Professional Development Manager, Saba currently operates the Professional Development Consortium for Wonders Learning. This training organization provides opportunities for Early Childhood Education trainers to collaborate around trends and issues in the field of ECE. Saba believes in educating, empowering, and equipping young children with strong social, emotional, and cognitive foundations as they begin their journey into the world.

Saba has worked in the field of early childhood education for 17 years, serving in every capacity from Afterschool Aide to Program Director. She has held positions with NAEYC and working in partnership with CAEP. Saba holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Masters in Special Education with a primary focus on Emotional and Learning Disabilities.

Lauren is an approved MSDE Trainer for the state of Maryland as well as a certified Core of Knowledge trainer for the District of Columbia. She also serves as an instructional coach for curriculum implementation, classroom practices and program leadership, and leads as a train of trainers for Zero to Three.

Throughout the course of her 20-year career, Lauren has become a true resource for early childhood educators and programs. She has served in the role of Special Education Teacher, Program Coordinator, Center Director, Regional Director, Director of Education, and currently as a Consultant and Trainer. As President of Bond Education Services & Training (BEST), she is committed to equipping early childhood professionals to be their best by equipping them with the knowledge and tools needed to provide excellence in early education and to lead with passion. Lauren takes a hands-on approach to maximizing classroom management, childcare operations, quality assurance, classroom environment development, and much more. She strongly advocates for high quality in early education, with a special expertise in supporting and leading initiatives to attain and maintain MSDE and NAEYC accreditation. Additionally, Lauren is a toddler and Pre-K reliable CLASS observer, a Maryland Accreditation Program validator, a MSDE certified Core of Knowledge Trainer, Zero to Three Consultant and Certified Trainer, OSSE Certified trainer for the District of Columbia. She has trained for community colleges, local resource networks as well as presented at state and national conferences such as the NAEYC Annual Conference. Lauren has completed Master’s level coursework at Ellis College of New York Institute of Technology and Bowie State University, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Bowie State University.

When Lauren isn’t training, she takes every opportunity to travel and see the world, sample lots of food, and hang out with the teenagers she serves as youth ministry director alongside her husband.

As the founder of the Silver Spring Day School Training Institute, and a longtime MD approved trainer, Emily creates innovative Core of Knowledge workshops for early childhood educators. Her years of experience in teaching, training and coaching enable her to offer active workshops that give providers both a new perspective on their work and practical strategies for the classroom. Emily has created classes in gender diversity, implicit bias, intercultural communication, conflict resolution skills, and inclusive communities.

As an educator, Emily’s roles have included Teacher of adults as a community college instructor, Teacher of children in a Pre-K classroom, Administrator at Silver Spring Day School, Teacher Coach for the University of Maryland’s CSW program, and Maryland-approved Trainer. She trains the Pyramid Model, Zero to Three Critical Competencies, Early Learning Assessment (ELA), Eco-Healthy Childcare, Strengthening Business Practices, and more. Emily is currently a member of the Diversity and Inclusion committee for SSDS and has served her community as a volunteer ESOL instructor, counselor, and Girl Scout leader. She earned a Management degree from Boston College with a concentration in Organizational Studies and a Masters in Teaching of English from University of Massachusetts/Boston.

As a mother of five and teacher and mentor of many, Emily is passionate about creating a world in which each child receives what they need to thrive and grow into a successful adult. She enjoys hiking, gardening, and traveling this amazing planet.

As an Early Childhood Training and coaching specialist, Ashley provides trainings to early childhood teachers, mental health consultants, and early intervention providers on social emotional development, and infant and early childhood mental health topics. She is currently responsible for curriculum updates to the Pyramid Model training suite in Maryland and supports program-wide implementation of the social-emotional framework into early childhood agencies across the state.

Ashley has worked for several years in early childhood development, adult education, and coaching. Prior to her work in Maryland, she served as a Maternal & Child Health Specialist with the Peace Corps in Guatemala. In this position, she used adult learning methodologies to train health professionals on behavior change theory to support the development of early childhood development programs.

Ashey loves supporting the mental health needs of her friends, family, and herself; cuddling with her cat; spending time with loved ones; journaling; and traveling to new and different places.

As a certified Trainer, Robert thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to engage in conversations with Early Childhood Educators.

Robert’s career began as the first male hired in a public school in Pennsylvania to teach kindergarten. As a statement to his commitment to the field, Robert earned his doctoral degree in Early Childhood Education. He is a reliable observer of CLASS with the Toddler and Pre-K instruments, certified by Zero to Three to offer the Critical Core Competencies for Infant Toddler Educators, and a certified trainer in Washington, DC and Chicago. He served as the President and Past President of the District of Columbia Association for the Education of Young Children and the Treasure of the Board of Directors of the Infant Toddler Family Daycare organization and was selected as Exchange Leader in 2021.

As a Principal Consultant at Alan Guttman Consulting, Alan develops and sustains organizational leadership, quality monitoring, data management, and educational practice.

Alan has been providing expert education and management consulting services for over 20 years to early care and education programs, including Head Start. He brings over 35 years of experience leading, managing, and teaching in public and private early childhood programs in New York, California, Washington DC, and Maryland. Alan earned his Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, received California and New York State Teaching Credentials, and is also a UCLA/Head Start Management Fellow.

Alan is passionate about the importance of child engagement in play and learning. He is also an avid haiku writer, bike rider, and bodysurfer.

As the Founder and Educational Trainer at MMH Early Childhood Training and Consulting LLC, Michele is responsible for designing and facilitating trainings to help early childhood educators develop individual plans to improve: their environments; teaching practices to support young children’s growth and development; and overall program quality. She personalizes each training to meet the diverse needs of adult learners. Michele’s trainings provide resources and strategies to help participants connect with the content, strengthen their relationships with their children and families, and create appropriate environments to support ALL children.

Michele graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a BA in Psychology and holds a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Towson University. She has been active in the field of training and educational development, focusing on early childhood education, staff development, advocating for special needs children, and supporting adult learners through many roles. Over her 20+ years in Early Childhood, Michele has worked as a Program Coordinator, Training and Curriculum Specialist, Director and College Adjunct. Currently, Michele serves as a PDS for the Council for Professional Recognition, an approved trainer for the Maryland Department of Education, approved affiliate trainer for Maryland Family Network, Zero to Three Certified Trainer, Certified Maryland Pyramid Model Trainer, and peer book reviewer for MVP Kids.

In her free time, Michele enjoys reading, spending time with family, and putting her toes in the sand.

Dr. Orinthia Harris, affectionately known as “Dr. OH,” is the founder and executive director of STEMearly LLC. As a state-approved trainer, she uses her expertise in STEM & SEL to design and deliver high-quality professional development and programming for teachers, school leaders, and their families.

Dr. OH is an excellent orator with the ability to effectively engage a variety of audiences. She has presented on a variety of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) topics for organizations and conferences, including Anne Arundel County (MD) Public Schools Office of Equity and Accelerated Achievement, Friendship Public Charter School’s (DC), and the Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency Head Start Association (NC). Dr. Harris has been featured in several podcasts as an expert on anti-racist education, including Cultivating Resilience (CR) Podcast. She is the author of “Getting Uncomfortable: Antiracism and Mindfulness,” and is currently collaborating with several trauma-informed education leaders to write a textbook on antiracism in Early Childhood Education.

When she’s not working, Dr. OH can be found spending time in God’s Word in order to create memorable experiences that help her family and friends positively engage with God and each other. Her aim is to be used as a bridge for racial reconciliation and healing.

Petrea is the CEO of XYZ the end result LLC, a Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) training organization since 2013. Her mission is to provide research-based training workshops that address brain development, social-emotional development, diversity and equity, and inclusionary practices.

Petrea focuses her training on building the capacity of educators to become advocates for change. Her most recent work in June 2021 focused on Baltimore City, Maryland’s youngest children, and closing the literacy gap. In collaboration with Johns Hopkins University and the Baltimore City Child Care Coalition, Petrea spearheaded the “North Start Literacy Movement,” focusing on representational literature for young children. She has presented at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) on African American males and the importance of positive imagery in children’s literature, and published two articles for Child Care Exchange magazine (May/June 2018 & May/June 2020) on this very important topic. Petrea has a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education: Curriculum and Instruction.

Petrea is the mother of a son and daughter and the grandmother of a brand-new granddaughter. Her hobbies include collecting children’s books, reading, hiking and listening to jazz with her husband. Her passion is to inspire young children to read.

Amanda works with educators and administrators to develop the best ways to support children and families through real-time learning, problem-solving and reflective supervision. As a consultant, former teacher, and parent of two children, she understands how important it is to have access to the latest and most innovative thinking about early care and education.

Since 1996, Amanda has served in various roles, including as teacher, technical assistance provider, writer, researcher, and evaluator. Her work settings have spanned early intervention and preschool special education, federal and regional technical assistance, child care, Head Start, and private preschool and early care programs. She has served as an Adjunct Professor and University Supervisor in the Early Childhood Special Education programs at George Washington University and currently works as an Instructor and Supervisor at the University of Maryland’s dual certification program for Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education. Amanda also serves in leadership positions within the Council of Exceptional Children and its Division of Early Childhood. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College, Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education from George Washington University, and Doctoral degree in Teaching and Learning from New York University.

Amanda stays focused on the lives of children and families through her community activities: she runs a girl scout troop, volunteers for PTA and school activities, and supports local activities for children.

Dr. Carlena Vaden is the Founder and Owner of Divine Illumination Agency. She leads training in child development, curriculum, special needs, health, safety and nutrition, professionalism, community, zero to three, basic health and safety, and breastfeeding awareness.  

Dr. Vaden has led and pioneered several different school-based and non-school-based projects to increase leadership functionality and affirm moral support for institutions. These projects have included seminar sessions, consulting for leadership services, and educational consulting for instructional and managerial support. Dr. Vaden is also a Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Professional Development Trainer, MSDE Excels Program Quality Assessor, MSDE Accreditation Validator, and approved trainer with the Office of The Superintendent in the District of Columbia. Dr. Vaden became a certified Child Development Associate (CDA) Professional Development Specialist in 2015 and is CLASS certified in Pre-K. In addition to her significant achievements in her professional work experience, Dr. Vaden has also found time to give back to the community as a volunteer. From 2008 to 2010, she became a viable part of an advocacy agency, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). 

Outside of education, Dr. Vaden is passionate about the arts – anything related to music, dancing, painting, and singing!  

As the Early Childhood Program Director and Associate Professor at Carroll Community College, Carole teaches and prepares pre- and in-service teachers towards ECE degree completion. She is fortunate to have taught pre-school children through college students, and considers fair and equitable developmentally appropriate practices and the importance of relationships the cornerstone of her teaching philosophy. She also presents workshops, both within the college and externally, to enhance teaching skills and strategies such as active learning techniques.

Carole has been a college instructor for 22 years, teaching face-to-face and asynchronously with adult learners. She was honored to be named the outstanding College Mentor in 2022. Currently, Carole serves as the Governor-appointed representative for the Maryland Consortium of Early Childhood Education Programs at Two-and-Four Year Colleges and Universities for the Maryland State Early Childhood Advisory Council. She is also a long-time member of NAEYC, having attended and presented at their annual conferences over the past 40 years. Carole holds a Masters of Education in Early Childhood Education and a Maryland State Teaching Certificate (Pre-K through Third Grade).

Nature and its value in teaching is Carole’s passion and nothing delights her more than modeling how to connect children and students with all the wonders and learning opportunities that are provided by going outside. Allowing all children access to green spaces and nature-based programs frames Carole’s work with her students and encourages alternative ways to excite children about both academic and intellectual curiosity and learning.