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Jennifer Marcella-Burdett is a Senior Research Associate at WestEd. She co-directs an evaluation of the California Statewide Early Math Initiative. Additionally, she is a lead content developer for the National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning, a project funded by Head Start to promote the implementation of research-based practices that lead to positive child outcomes in early childhood programs.

Sandra Moore is a full-time faculty member and Department Chair of the Early Childhood Education Department at Contra Costa College.

Moore taught preschool for many years before beginning her work with children and families at the Regional Center of the East Bay, then embarked on a 10-year career in the field of social work. She eventually committed to her love of teaching at Contra Costa College. She considers herself a lifelong learner and works to immerse herself in learning environments related to diversity, equality, and social justice.

Patricia Mullings Franco has been active in the professional development of caregivers and teachers of young children through universities across the country for many years. A large portion of that work has been with Head Start and Early Head Start Programs.

Alice Nakahata retired from a faculty position at City College of San Francisco. During her many years at that institution, she taught Early Childhood Education and Parent/Child Guidance classes. In addition, she served as grants coordinator, state preschool supervisor, and foster parent trainer. In recent years, she volunteered in teaching classes for Roots of Empathy, a national and international program for school aged children, designed to encourage sensitive relationships among children.

Emily Newton is a Senior Research Associate with WestEd. She conducts research and produces written products for projects on infant-toddler care, early childhood education, and formative assessment tools, including the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP). She was a principal writer/editor on the Infant/Toddler Learning and Development Program Guidelines, 2nd Edition. In her previous role as a consultant with WestEd, she also contributed to multiple projects as a child development research expert.

Arlene Paxton is the Content Area Team Director for Infant and Toddler Care at WestEd. In addition she is the director of the Program for Infant/Toddler Care Regional Support Network, a collaboration with the California Department of Social Service, Child Care and Development Division. With more than 20 years of experience working to design and develop systems that support professional development for early educators serving children birth to age 3 and their families, Ms.

Sandy Petersen works as a private consultant with infant-toddler programs. Since 1999 until her retirement in 2016, she held a variety of positions at ZERO TO THREE, mostly with the Early Head Start National Resource Center.

Prior to joining ZERO TO THREE, Petersen was a coordinator of training and technical assistance for early childhood at the Colorado Department of Education, involved in policy work and directing the training project When Children Soar with the Wind.