CDA Credential - Preschool, Part 11

Charlotte Hendricks
PhD

Amanda Schwartz
PhD

Amanda Schwartz, Ph.D. is an educator and Federal contractor who has worked at national, regional, state, and local levels. While her expertise is focused on special education, health, early childhood education, and family engagement, Dr. Schwartz has worked on program management and emergency preparedness issues related to children and families. As a team member on several Federal projects, Dr. Schwartz worked in technical assistance, resource development, research, and monitoring. Throughout her career, Dr. Schwartz has developed professional development opportunities and publications to facilitate the use of research-based interventions and support data-driven decision-making by practitioners, technical assistance providers, and Federal staff in the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. 

Tara Warwick
MS OTR/L

Tara Warwick, MS, OTR/L, is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, obtaining her Bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy in 2000 and completing her Master’s degree in rehabilitation sciences with an emphasis in pediatrics in 2005. She has spent her entire career focusing on improving the quality of services for children, primarily targeting children with autism.  She currently co-owns a pediatric therapy practice called Today’s Therapy Solutions and is a consultant for the Oklahoma Autism Center through the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center – Child Study Center. Tara’s specialties include working with children with autism and challenging behavior. She has extensive experience and expertise in behavior management, sensory processing, self-care training (potty training, eating/feeding, dressing, play, etc.), and assistive technology.  She has conducted trainings and provided consultations for schools, parents and health and child care professionals all across the state.

Erika Flores
BS, MEd

Erika Flores is the founder of ChildrenFlow, an organization whose mission is to empower young children’s development through evidence-based professional development to teachers, coaches, trainers, and administrators. She has over 20 years of experience in the early education field in various capacities and in different countries. Erika has brought her expertise to large statewide strategy and implementation programs, school districts, Head Start programs, non-profit organizations and to the private sector. Before founding ChildrenFlow, Erika worked at Teachstone as a Client Relations Director, at the University of Virginia as a Researcher, and at DePaul University as faculty teaching courses to graduate and undergraduate students. Erika has also taught young children in Mexico and the US. Erika earned her MEd from the University of Illinois at Chicago and her BS in Psychology from the Universidad de Monterrey.

Karen Deerwester
EdS

Owner of Family Time, Inc.

Karen Deerwester is the owner of Family Time Coaching & Consulting, the director at Family Time classes at B’nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton and the host of the weekly podcast See Me Hear Me Love Me. Karen is the author of three parenting books: The Entitlement-Free Child (Sourcebooks 2009), The Playskool Guide to Potty Training (Sourcebooks 2008), and The Potty Training Answer Book (Sourcebooks 2007) which won the 2008 NAPPA Gold Award for parenting resources. Karen has also appeared on numerous TV and radio programs including MSNBC, NBC, and NPR, as well as contributed parenting/early childhood advice to Parents Magazine, Parenting Magazine, Real Simple, Women’s Day, and Essence Magazine.

Heather Olsen
EdD

Heather Olsen, EdD is an educator and consultant who has worked at the local, state, and national levels.  While her expertise has been on the health and safety of the outdoor environment, Dr. Olsen has worked with a number of youth agencies related to playground safety and outdoor curriculum.  Dr. Olsen has lead a number of professional development workshops and trainings on the topic of outdoor play, playground injury prevention, and planning.  Dr. Olsen has been a principal investigator on several federal projects, including curriculum development, educational outreach materials, and publications. Over the years, Dr. Olsen has collaborated and partnered on projects with the US Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Child Care Licensing Divisions, and actively participates with the development of playground safety standards.

Cara Koscinski
BS, MOT OTR/L

Pediatric occupational therapist, Cara Koscinski, MOT, OTR/L, author of The Pocket Occupational Therapist Book Series, is a veteran clinician specializing in Sensory Processing Disorder, reflex integration, trauma-informed care, and autism. In addition to her longstanding work as a private practice OT, Cara is a successful entrepreneur, having started two companies. Her products can be found in special needs catalogs and websites across the US. Cara’s latest venture is The Pocket Occupational Therapist Book Series. As an author, Cara brings her expertise as a pediatric occupational therapist and mother of two children with autism to parents, caregivers, families, and educators in an easy-to-read, easy-to-follow format. She has six published books. Cara speaks regularly across the US and provides OT consultations, trainings, and seminars as The Pocket Occupational Therapist. She serves on the Advisory Board of Autism Asperger’s Digest Magazine. She is currently working on her doctorate in occupational therapy.

Michelle Lombardo
DC

Michelle Lombardo is the author of The OrganWise Guys series, which promotes the benefits of good nutrition and preventive healthcare practices through creative characters playing the roles of the vital body organs. She has written over 40 books and was Creative Director on multiple OrganWise Guys Videos and other media.  She also conducts dozens of “train the trainer” sessions on these materials each year nationwide.  Michelle is President of The OrganWise Guys Inc. and Project Manager of Thriving Communities, Thriving Children II (TCTC2); a $1.1 million grant awarded to continue obesity prevention efforts with an added emphasis on literacy rate improvement.