Faye Snodgress is Chief Executive Officer of the Global Educational Community, an organization that works with schools to develop students who are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to thrive and fully participate locally and globally.  Through her roles at Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education, academic organizations, and UNESCO, she gained knowledge of sustainable education, global citizenship, social justice, authentic learner-centered learning, and social-emotional learning. During her tenure at Butler University, Faye was involved in policy efforts to provide quality early childhood education for all and establish in early childhood centers using the Reggio Emilia approach.

Her experience working in diverse business and education positions in multiple countries played a significant role in developing Faye appreciation for our deeply interconnected world and the critical importance of ensuring that all learners receive a quality education in achieving a sustainable society.  She is serving as an Altrusa International NGO representative to the Global NGO Executive Committee with the Department of Global Communications.

Vidya Ragoo is National Director of Home-Based Child Care at ParentChild+. She previously served as a specialist in New York State’s Quality Rating and Improvement System for home-based, center-based, and school-based programs, where she worked with the state’s Early Childhood Advisory Council on Leading with Racial Equity in birth to age five programs. During Vidya’s academic career at Georgetown University and Lesley University she gained knowledge and interest in sociology, women’s studies, early brain function, social-emotional development, and social justice. While pregnant with her first child, part-time work with a Family Health Center in early childhood education set the path for the rest of her career honing skills centered around child and community development.

Vidya brings a holistic, strengths-based approach to building adult capacity and community infrastructure that supports healthy outcomes for all families with young children to Childhood Education International. In her spare time she coaches leaders, teachers, and parents in social-emotional practices that result in healthier relationships with young children. Vidya has two children and two pets and lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Dr. Jesus Amezcua, Assistant Superintendent for Business in the Harris County Department of Education (Houston, Texas) oversees the financial operations of the Business Services Division while also providing finance consulting services to independent school districts and charter schools. He possesses over 31 years of leadership experience in accounting, highlighted by roles in mentoring and teaching about financial best practices, professional development standards, and ethics.

Dr. Amezcua’s unparalleled professionalism is underscored by the careful stewardship of multiple financial portfolios of over $200 million USD and pristine financial reporting that received accolades from accrediting institutions. Along with rigorous attention to detail, Dr. Amezcua career has long been connected to school systems that expand access to vulnerable populations. This unique blend of passion and skill makes Dr. Amezcua vital to the evolution of Childhood Education International as it seeks to expand workforce development of innovative education leaders worldwide.

Dr. Brandi N. King, Deputy Chief of Practice at Child Care Aware of America, has over 15 years’ experience as an educator, strategic thinker, and thought partner as an early childhood professional. She works as a champion for children and families promoting high quality childcare practices and strengthening professional development initiatives for those who work with families and children from birth to age eight.

Dr. King’s diverse experience guides Childhood Education International in areas of training and technical assistance (T/TA), workforce development, research, social emotional development, and capacity building that inform early childhood policy on professional growth opportunities for early care professionals. She is deeply committed to practice and policy that impacts systemic change at the local, state, and national levels. Dr. King graduated from Howard University with a doctoral degree in Psychology and completed a highly competitive Neuroscience postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Andre Eaton coordinates program expansion, program support, staff development, and additional training for all New York ParentChild+ sites. He assists program partner sites in coordinating with New York State and City Departments to ensure that all Program children and families are connected with the appropriate next educational steps and services. Andre works on developing new public and private funding streams, fostering relationships with new local partner agencies and state and local policy makers, and enhancing partnerships with business and other literacy and early childhood programs. Andre was selected in 2017 to be a member of the NYS Family Engagement Coalition Steering Committee, serving on the Support/Best Practices subcommittee. He is also a member of the Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council, where he serves as co-chair of the race equity committee, and is a board member of the NY State Association of Infant Mental Health.

Before coming to ParentChild+, he was the Southeastern Regional Director for Jumpstart for Young Children, Inc. and previously was the Executive Director of Covenant House Georgia. Andre has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/African & African America Studies from Brandeis University, a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Divinity Degree from Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University. He is a New York State Licensed Social Worker and holds a Student Supervisor Certificate from Fordham University.

Anil Vinayak currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer at CareSave Technologies, Inc (dba Homecare.com and Shiftmed) and is responsible for the financial stewardship of the organization and its subsidiaries. Prior to this, Anil worked as the Chief Financial Officer for the Council of Professional Recognition, a nonprofit organization focused on providing opportunities for early childhood education to advance their careers.

Throughout Anil’s 20+ year career he has held diverse financial strategy roles in for-profit, nonprofit, and small and large international companies and has led financial management programs in over 25 countries. His extensive professional portfolio includes multiple instances of contributing to exponential financial growth of companies such as WealthEngine and ProQuest. His career has been motivated by a passion to increase access to quality education, in particular for children and educators from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. Anil’s invaluable experience and knowledge bolster Childhood Education International’s growth and development as a premier organization for innovative education solutions.

Celina Cereceres is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner. She is Audit Partner at Whitley Penn, where she oversees the public sector practice for the firm in performing audits and other attestation engagements for school districts, universities and colleges, other large governments, and non-profit organizations. Since 2001, she has provided services to school districts, large local governmental entities receiving large amounts of federal and state assistance, as well as to non-profit entities. She strives to help entities reach their greatest potential.

Dorene Hurt is a passionate advocate for education for all and has previously led teams in diverse environments dedicated to increasing equitable learning opportunities. As a member of the Broad Superintendents Academy, Dorene has participated in the assessment of large urban school districts across the US, which frequently revealed challenges related to district-wide inequalities. This experience also was applied to similar assessments in countries in Europe and Africa, contributing to the broad perspective Dorene brings to the Childhood Education International Board.

Dorene’s life has instilled in her the beliefs that everyone’s life is of value, everyone deserves to be respected, and she could achieve anything if she weighed the opportunities, challenges, and work required for each goal. As a result, Dorene has demonstrated throughout her career that she is fiercely dedicated to positioning and leveraging educational systems as incubators of structures and strategies that mitigate social disparities.

Dr. Elizabeth O. Crawford is a professor of elementary education at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, specializing in curriculum design, teacher education, and global education. Her research and teaching are focused on promising practices that nurture teachers’ and students’ global competence, culminating in the recent publication of her co-authored book, Worldwise Learning: A Teacher’s Guide to Shaping a Just, Sustainable Future. Elizabeth is a past Global Teacher Education Fellow sponsored by the Longview Foundation and Girl Rising Educator Cohort Leader. She currently serves as a HundrED Ambassador, a member of the Advisory Council Member of the Institute for Humane Education, and an education consultant at the World Bank in the East Asia and Pacific region, where she supports research and provides technical assistance on early childhood policy and practice, teacher qualifications, and climate change education.

Elizabeth brings more than 20 years’ experience in K12 and higher education and international development as an educator, researcher, and advocate for quality education for all children. She firmly believes in the power of education and partnerships to transform lives and to build a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world. She holds a master’s degree in elementary education from Florida State University, an education specialist degree from the University of Alabama, and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership with an emphasis in Curriculum Leadership from the College of William & Mary.

Keami Harris is a passionate and resourceful leader, educator, and advocate developing and executing innovative strategies that support improved academic and social outcomes for underserved children and families. As Chief Equity and Strategy Officer with the Early Learning Funders Collaborative (ECFC), she helms strategic initiatives on a variety of early childhood and related initiatives. Keami moves equity efforts to the next level by working with the philanthropic community to move their equity work within their institutions and as a collective, bringing more philanthropic resources to BIPOC-led organizations.

Keami has worked in public education and national non-profit organizations focused on early childhood education for over 20 years. Keami led professional learning at Child Care Aware of America (CCAoA), developing innovative solutions and practices designed to strengthen the child care system and infrastructure across the nation. She has held leadership positions at the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE) and the National Black Child Development Institute in Washington, DC, which has the mission to improve and advance the lives of Black children and their families through education and advocacy. Keami holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Salisbury University and a master’s degree in education from Bowie State University.

Dr. Mary Otieno’s specialization is in educational planning, economics of education, and policy studies, with a focus on mainstreaming and strengthening education systems with respect to quality assurance and standards. She is a seasoned educator with teaching experience at all levels, and she has a particular interest in basic education, higher education, and girls’ education, as well as teacher education and education systems strengthening. Her research focus is on gender, ESD, and technology in both basic and higher education.

Mary is a Senior Lecturer of Educational Planning and Policy Studies Research at Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya, and previously served as a coordinator of the Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) Greater Nairobi, including membership in various committees – curriculum review, research, and product development – and serving as a mentor at the Chandaria Business Centre of Innovation and Incubation. She is the founder of the Siprosa Anyango Foundation, an NGO focusing on quality education and poverty, and she runs a lower cost ECD Center in Kenya. She works closely with the Ministry of Education, representing Kenya at the UNESCO meetings on education for sustainable development, and at the UNESCO meeting of its global network of international teacher education institutions.

Michael Liburd is the Director of Finance at The Campagna Center in Alexandria, Virginia, an organization that serves over 2,000 children and families each day by equipping them with a comprehensive set of tools needed to thrive. He brings over 20 years of financial reporting, budgeting, compliance, and facilities management experience to the Childhood Education International Board.

Previously he has worked as the Financial Analyst for the Cooperation for Enterprise Development (CFED) in Washington, DC and as a project manager at the American Red Cross. He has also managed audit reviews, federal awards, regulatory compliance, and instructed at the college level.  Michael earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of the District of Columbia as well as a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Howard University. His decorated track-record of community engagement and support enable Michael to execute his role as Treasurer with knowledge, agility, and heart.

Dr. Rose Cardarelli, a lifelong advocate for human security and education, currently serves as CEO for the Education for All Coalition. She is actively involved in several United Nations efforts, serving as an NGO education representative to the Global NGO Executive Committee with the Department of Global Communications, an appointed Rotary International Representative to UNICEF, and on the Committee on Teaching About the United Nations (CTAUN). Dr. Cardarelli is also a veteran military Medical Service Corps officer and former professor of human security.

Rose’s passion for humanitarian causes, refugee policy, and disaster response has been fortified over decades of professional experience in high stakes initiatives with the U.S. Department of Defense and several international NGOs. Her remarkable service includes conducting education and training programs in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. As former President of the Board, Rose’s unique ability to leverage influential networks to rapidly address urgent international emergencies routinely proves an invaluable resource in the pursuit of Childhood Education International’s mission.

Diane Whitehead, President and CEO of Childhood International, has dedicated her career to issues that affect the lives of children and families. She specializes in global education, children’s education and learning, the human right to education, nonprofit leadership, management, strategic direction-setting, and program development.

Through her strategic guidance and management of this 130+year-old organization, Diane has expanded its global reach, built partnerships with education-focused organizations around the world, designed impactful programs, and participated in key international education forums and United Nations’ initiatives, a recognition of her commitment to transforming education. As Chief Executive Officer, she is dedicated to building CE International’s relevancy, reach, and impact.

Diane is the creator of Education Diplomacy and co-author of the Education Diplomacy Professional Standards. She also co-authored the International Principles of Practice for Educators to guide and inspire practitioners and to elevate the education profession by highlighting the incredible service that educators provide to both international and human development. Both Education Diplomacy and the International Principles of Practice are forging new pathways for the professional development of educators.

Diane is committed to the nonprofit sector and believes that civil society organizations are critical to delivering programming that supports access and quality in education and increases the resources dedicated to the education and care of children, particularly children facing extreme challenges such as war, conflict, migration, food and water insecurity, life threatening pollution, and climate change.

Diane has spent much of her career advocating for improved economic outcomes and social change that promotes equity and social justice, as she believes these are essential to creating change for children and a better world for all. Diane has said, “No one has the power keep people apart based on race, ethnicity, country of origin, religious beliefs, or gender. We must find a way to live together and help our world to seek peace and harmony.” She firmly believes that education is essential to providing individuals with more opportunities in life and creating a more stable and secure world.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world”- Mahatma Gandhi

Diane is available to speak on education topics, leadership, change management, and the future of humanity. If you would like to invite Diane for a speaker engagement at a conference or event, please contact Kacy Kostiuk, Director of Communications, at kkostiuk@ceinternational1892.org.

Diane Whitehead, President and CEO of Childhood International, has dedicated her career to issues that affect the lives of children and families. She specializes in global education, children’s education and learning, the human right to education, nonprofit leadership, management, strategic direction-setting, and program development.

Through her strategic guidance and management of this 130+year-old organization, Diane has expanded its global reach, built partnerships with education-focused organizations around the world, designed impactful programs, and participated in key international education forums and United Nations’ initiatives, a recognition of her commitment to transforming education. As Chief Executive Officer, she is dedicated to building CE International’s relevancy, reach, and impact.

Diane is the creator of Education Diplomacy and co-author of the Education Diplomacy Professional Standards. She also co-authored the International Principles of Practice for Educators to guide and inspire practitioners and to elevate the education profession by highlighting the incredible service that educators provide to both international and human development. Both Education Diplomacy and the International Principles of Practice are forging new pathways for the professional development of educators.

Diane is committed to the nonprofit sector and believes that civil society organizations are critical to delivering programming that supports access and quality in education and increases the resources dedicated to the education and care of children, particularly children facing extreme challenges such as war, conflict, migration, food and water insecurity, life threatening pollution, and climate change.

Diane has spent much of her career advocating for improved economic outcomes and social change that promotes equity and social justice, as she believes these are essential to creating change for children and a better world for all. Diane has said, “No one has the power keep people apart based on race, ethnicity, country of origin, religious beliefs, or gender. We must find a way to live together and help our world to seek peace and harmony.” She firmly believes that education is essential to providing individuals with more opportunities in life and creating a more stable and secure world.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world”- Mahatma Gandhi

Diane is available to speak on education topics, leadership, change management, and the future of humanity. If you would like to invite Diane for a speaker engagement at a conference or event, please contact Kacy Kostiuk, Director of Communications, at kkostiuk@ceinternational1892.org.

Dayana Garcia, Chief Program Officer of Childhood Education International, has dedicated her career to elevating the importance of early childhood care and education at all levels. She brings extensive experience in the oversight and management of projects, contracts, and grants. Her leadership experiences and style focus on collaborative practices, data-driven decisions, and the use of innovative technological solutions to solve complex education challenges. Dayana is passionate about early childhood development and inclusive education that supports access to quality and equitable services for all children and families around the world.

Dayana’s quote to live by: “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” – Mother Theresa

Yvette G. Murphy is a skilled global education professional who is values-centered and has over 15 years’ experience supporting the learning and growth of children and educators worldwide through classroom teaching, program development, professional learning, and global advocacy. She is passionate about ensuring equity, inclusion, and social justice for most impacted and historically under-resourced and disadvantaged children and communities.

Yvette’s dynamic work experience in the private sector and with non-profit organizations demonstrates strong systems-thinking skills, a passion for innovation, and an ability to build bridges. She has a master’s degree in international education with a focus on non-formal and alternative education from The George Washington University.

Alisa is an educator with over a decade of experience in foreign language pedagogy. She has taught Spanish, Russian, and English as a Second Language to learners of all ages. Outside of the classroom, Alisa writes language development curriculum for students in grades K-12 with a focus on interactive and technology-aided learning. She is passionate about training teachers – especially those working with vulnerable and language-minority populations – to be effective in their practice. She is a graduate of Kenyon College and holds master’s degrees from Northeastern University and the University of Massachusetts with specializations in Education and Applied Linguistics.

Amlata Persaud, Global Education Specialist at Childhood Education International, is committed to work that supports equitable and inclusive provision of high-quality education for all persons around the world. She has worked in education research, training, project management and policy analysis roles in multiple countries around the world. As Global Education Specialist, Amlata supports the organization’s work in fostering education leadership and strengthening education systems as key pillars for educational reform.

Amlata’s favorite inspirational quote comes from a poem by Guyanese poet Martin Carter: “I do not sleep to dream, but dream to change the world.” (Looking at Your Hands, Martin Carter, 1950s)

Anne Watson Bauer, Director of Publications and Webmaster brings 30+ years of education publishing experience and guarantees timely production of CE International’s unique publications: Childhood Education Innovations, the Journal of Research in Childhood Education, and the online publication Childhood Explorer.

Anne enjoys walking through the woods and along the coastlines of Maine with her husband and German shepherd, taking thousands of photos.

Julie Kasper has an MA in TESOL from Teachers College, Columbia University and is a National Board Certified Teacher in English as a New Language. She taught in K-12 and adult education classrooms for more than 16 years, the majority of that time in secondary ESL classrooms in New York City and Tucson, Arizona. She served as Refugee School Coordinator for Tucson from 2014-2018 and joined the Center for Professional Learning (formerly Center for Learning in Practice) in the summer of 2018 to lead the Refugee Educator Academy initiative. In addition, Julie is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership as a University Fellow at the University of Arizona.

Kacy Kostiuk, Director of Communications, has more than 15 years of experience in communications, education, and intercultural exchange. She has led communications work at nonprofits and in university settings, and has taught English to language learners in the U.S. and abroad. She also served for five years as a City Councilmember in Takoma Park, Maryland, and was Chair of the National League of Cities Human Development Federal Advocacy Committee. In her free time, Kacy enjoys hiking, volunteering, and fiction writing.

Katherine Tek is an education professional with over 15 years of teaching and training experience and work on psychosocial support and social-emotional learning concepts for schools and international non-profit organizations. With a master’s in French language and literature, she has taught and worked on education projects in the U.S., Haiti, and Senegal. After completing a master’s in international education, she worked within mainly the U.S. emergencies space and focused on PSS/SEL programs. She is passionate about education quality and how we can all support children’s and teacher’s well-being and resilience building.  One of her favorite lines to stand by is from The Little Prince by Antoine de St. Exupéry: « On ne voit bien qu’avec le cœur. L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. »  In English: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, as what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

Meg Riley is a native of Minnesota and longtime resident of Arizona, where she lives with her husband and dog and her two daughters (during college breaks). After graduating from the University of Vermont with a political science degree, she returned to Minnesota to work on her master’s in teaching and start her teaching career. She has worked in a variety of education spaces, including eight years teaching middle school social studies and nine years teaching high school ESL. After leaving the classroom, she transitioned into managing federal AmeriCorps grants at Prescott College. These education grants were focused on implementing a community schools strategy in under-resourced public schools to reduce chronic absenteeism and increase graduation rates and postsecondary access to college and career. She later served as program director overseeing a large education grant and an economic opportunity grant utilizing AmeriCorps members working with preschool age to high school students and developing job readiness skills for opportunity youth. Meg continued working in federal grants at a large public school district writing grants and coordinating implementation of the funds, services, and monitoring for schools identified for federal improvement. In addition, she facilitated the Arizona cohort of the pilot Refugee Educator Academy and has assisted in the revitalization of the course.

Megan Harrington is a student at American University in Washington, D.C., studying public relations and political science. She has many years of experience working with children as a classroom volunteer. She is excited to bring her communications knowledge to Childhood Education International to help benefit children around the world. In her free time, Megan enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her cat.

Michelle Allen, Director of Operations, works to implement and manage smooth and efficient operations and systems to support CE International programs. With over 20 years of nonprofit organization experience, including extensive work in technology systems, accounting and budgeting, and office operations, Michelle is essential in maintaining the workflow at CE International.

Michelle enjoys riding her motorcycle and spending time with her grandchildren.

Rachel Brown, Business Development Director, possesses unique multisector expertise that primarily focuses on global health activities in sub-Saharan Africa, along with extensive experience in the education, democracy and governance, and economic development sectors. Her remarkable profile includes the successful execution of the USAID-funded Mali Education Emergency Support Activity, a program designed to increase equitable access to basic education for children in the conflict-affected regions of Mali. Rachel’s experience and passion prove essential in identifying and engaging in mutually beneficial business opportunities for CE International and a wide array of international peers.

The most beautiful sunset Rachel has ever seen was hiking Huayna Potosi in Bolivia, where she was at about the same elevation as the Mount Everest base camp.

Sarah Bracken brings over 15 years of education experience as a secondary classroom teacher, instructional coach, online course facilitator, and curriculum writer. She spent her childhood living abroad in Zagreb, Hong Kong, Montreal, and Manila which is probably why she gravitated toward teaching positions where she could learn from and support culturally and linguistically diverse newcomers. Sarah is a Nationally Board Certified teacher with a B.A. from the University of Virginia and a master’s in teaching from The Evergreen State College. She taught in Washington state, Maryland, Virginia, and Alaska before joining CPL as a consultant in 2020, and then as a senior project associate in 2024.

Sarah calls western North Carolina home. She tries to play outside with her family every day, whether it’s kayaking, hiking, camper-ing, or running through a sprinkler in the backyard.

Dr. Sara Watson is Director of CE International’s Center for Business Champions. Sara founded and was the National and then Global Director of ReadyNation/ReadyNation International, designing, fundraising for, and leading the joint organization for 14 years. Her hands-on work included personally persuading more than a thousand executives to join campaigns for early childhood investments, and supporting them to take action. She worked with local partners in Brazil, Australia, Romania and Uganda to create their own networks of business champions for early childhood.

Sara has spoken at more than 15 international meetings of child development and business leaders on how to build partnerships between the sectors.  She led the organization of more than a dozen national (U.S.) and two Global Business Summits on Early Childhood and the first European Business Forum on Early Childhood for audiences of business executives. Sara also co-chaired ECDAN’s Advocacy Task Force in 2016-2018.  Before creating ReadyNation, she led The Pew Charitable Trusts’ national advocacy campaign for pre-K.  Dr. Watson is now an independent consultant and the founder and principal of Watson Strategies, LLC. She serves in a consulting capacity with CE International. Sara holds Master of Public Policy and Ph.D. degrees from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Elisabeth Shuman serves on the advisory board of the NGO Committee on UNICEF, which works to uphold the rights of children everywhere, making her a key representative of CE International. Elisabeth has extensive experience working in several committees in the UN, organizing various conferences and outreach efforts, including communicating with CSO organizations in the Global South, allowing her to extend CE Internationals connections around the globe.

An insatiable learner, Elisabeth is trying to master the art of bicycle repair and learning Japanese with, in her own words, limited success.

Justine Heckmann, who has served as a UN Representative in Geneva for CE International since August 2016, has dedicated her professional career to human rights and international cooperation. She specializes in child rights working with the NGO Terre des Hommes Suisse, managing projects with a focus on children’s education, protection and participation. Justine’s frequent presence at Human Rights Council sessions and meetings organized by the Child Rights Connect network ensures CE International has place in the critical conversations surrounding child rights.

Specializing in South American projects, she lived in Bolivia working in an orphanage helping the children in their education process.