Buttercup

Michelle Kang serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a global association advocating for high quality early learning for all children. Prior to becoming CEO, Michelle served as NAEYC’s inaugural Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, in which she oversaw the strategy and daily operations for Membership, Early Learning Program Accreditation, Publications, Conference, Market Solutions and Global Engagement. During her tenure, the organization dramatically pivoted to serve the field through the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, including successfully conducting virtual conferences serving thousands of educators, the first-ever Symposium on Developmentally Appropriate Practice and a virtual Professional Learning Institute that delivered more than 235,000 certificates of professional development. She has guided the substantial system adjustments necessary to support child care and preschools attaining and maintaining accreditation through the pandemi

Iheoma U. Iruka, Ph.D., is a Research Professor in the Department of Public Policy, a Fellow at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG), and the Founding Director of the Equity Research Action Coalition at FPG at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Iruka is leading projects and initiatives focused on ensuring that minoritized children and children from low-income households, especially Black children, are thriving through the intersection of anti-bias, anti-racist, culturally grounded research, program, and policy. Some focus areas include family engagement and support, quality rating and improvement systems, and early care and education system and programs. Dr. Iruka serves on numerous national and local boards and committees, including the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the American Psychological Association’s Board of Educational Affairs, Brady Education Foundation, and Trust for Learning. In addition to being on the National Advisory Committee

Al Spain has over 50 years of operations leadership. His background reflects a career spanning general aviation, military, airline, and corporate aviation operations. Most recently, Captain Spain served as a founder and Senior Vice President Operations of JetBlue Airways Corporation in New York. He retired from JetBlue in 2006 and prior to JetBlue, he was Vice President Flight Operations for Continental Micronesia Airlines, a subsidiary of Continental Airlines. Captain Spain retired from Continental Airlines in 1998 after serving in Flight Standards and Training Division as well as a Captain in line flight operations. He was the FAA designated Director of Operations for both Continental Micronesia and JetBlue. He was domicile Chief Pilot for Oceanic Contractors, a privately owned airline operating in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Most recently, Captain Spain served on the Board of Directors of Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. He has recently served the US Federal Government’s Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO

Dr. Timothy Almon Askew holds a B.A. degree from Morehouse College, Summa Cum Laude with Phi Beta Kappa distinction as a junior-year inductee.  He received the master’s degree at Yale University.  Dr. Askew was an NCEA Doctoral Fellow  in the English Department at the University of South Florida. Pursuing an interdisciplinary degree in American Studies and focusing on American Literature and American Music,  he received the Ph.D.  degree at Emory University and had the distinction of being the first Ph.D. Marshal at the University. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including a 4-year Academic Scholarship, Morehouse College; Readers Digest Foundation Scholar, Morehouse College; University Fellowships, Yale University; National Consortium for Educational Access Doctoral Fellowship, The University of South Florida; University Fellowships, Emory University; The United Negro College Fund Dissertation Fellowship; Teacher of the Year, Clark Atlanta University; The N.A.A.C.P.  Image Award for Excellence in Teac

Dr. Walter S. Gilliam is the Elizabeth Mears & House Jameson Professor of Child Psychiatry and Psychology at the Yale Child Study Center and Director of Yale’s Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy. Dr. Gilliam is Vice President of ZERO TO THREE, a past president of Child Care Aware of America; board Treasurer for the Irving Harris Foundation, and a board director for First Children’s Finance, and All Our Kin; and a former Senior Advisor to the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Dr. Gilliam is co-recipient of the prestigious 2008 Grawemeyer Award in Education for the coauthored book, A Vision for Universal Preschool Education. Dr. Gilliam’s research involves early childhood education and intervention policy analysis (specifically how policies translate into effective services), ways to improve the quality of prekindergarten and child care services, the impact of early childhood education programs on children’s school readiness, and effective methods for reducin

Chrisanne Gayl is an education leader with over twenty years of policy experience at the federal, state, and local levels. As Chief Strategy and Policy Officer, Chrisanne oversees Trust for Learning's overall grant-making efforts and leads its policy strategy. Chrisanne served as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Education, where she was responsible for developing new policies and programs to expand high-quality learning opportunities and supportive services for the nation’s children. She has also worked as the Director of Federal Programs for the National School Boards Association and as an education advisor to the governor of California. Chrisanne has testified in front of Congress and has authored numerous publications. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University and received her undergraduate degree from Colby College.

Dr. Natalie Danner is the Early Childhood Content and Engagement Coordinator for the Illinois Early Learning Project. She has worked as an early childhood teacher educator in Nebraska, Oregon, and Connecticut.  Dr. Danner has over ten years of experience as an inclusive early childhood (Pre-K & K) teacher and school leader in New York City and Arizona, specializing in the Montessori approach. She earned her Ph.D. in early childhood special education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her research focuses on how teachers support young children with disabilities in their inclusive classrooms as well as the creation and adoption of the EI/ECSE personnel preparation (teacher education) standards. 

Dr. Bo Stjerne Thomsen is Vice-President, Chair of Learning Through Play, and member of the Leadership Team at the LEGO Foundation. As Chair and senior expert on how children and adults learn through play, he provides consultation at a bilateral, regional and multilateral level to international partners and leaders. He represents the LEGO Foundation and the LEGO Brand Group at international forums, and advises leadership teams across the LEGO entities, to attain the overall LEGO Brand Vision of becoming a global force for Learning Through Play. Over the years, Bo lead the international research agenda and organizational expertise on children’s development, play and learning for the LEGO Foundation and supporting the LEGO Group. In his previous roles as Director of the LEGO Learning Institute, Head of the Centre for Creativity, Play and Learning, and Global Head of Research, he built more than 15 international research partnerships and supported the implementation of evidence into projects across 20+ countrie

Rhian Evans Allvin Chief Executive Officer National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Rhian Evans Allvin serves as the chief executive officer of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a position she has held since August 2013. She is responsible for guiding the organization’s strategic direction as well as overseeing daily operations. NAEYC is the largest national professional association for early childhood educators. Its mission is to promote high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. NAEYC advances a diverse and dynamic early childhood profession and supports all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children. During Rhian’s tenure, NAEYC has successfully completed a dramatic structural transformation to: better serve members nationally and at the state and local levels; exert strong policy and advocacy leadership; and streamline NAEYC’s early childhood program accredita

I talk to three facilitators of the BizKids Club held through the Orange County Library System, which introduces kids to business and entrepreneurship. Michael Linden is a Technology Trainer for the Orange County Library System, where he's served the public for 15 years. He delivers in-person and online classes with a focus on accessibility, adaptation, and personal safety in computer applications and on mobile devices. He also provides one-on-one assistance for library visitors during scheduled Open Lab classes. Oliva Okolue is a Casual Technology Trainer for the Orange County Library System, where she has served part of the BizKids Program for 1.5 years. She is also the Owner and Designer for Livi Simone Designs, an online handmade accessories business. She assists in the BizKids Program by utilizing her experience as a business owner. Tony Orengo is an Instructional Technology Specialist at the Technology and Education Center. He has been a part of the Orange County Library System based in Orlando, Florida

Jennifer Ledford, PhD, BCBA-D, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education in the Early Childhood Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) programs. Dr. Ledford has expertise in single case research design, response prompting procedures, and classroom-based peer-mediated instruction. Her current research relates to improving use and synthesis of research in special education, treating food selectivity and increasing imitation for children with autism, and improving the use of evidence-informed practices by practitioners. She was recently awarded the Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children’s Award for Mentoring. Dr. Ledford is the author of more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and two textbooks related to single case design and instruction for young children.

David Dotson is currently the CEO of The Dollywood Foundation. During his 20 year tenure at The Dollywood Foundation, he has led the expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The program works with 2000 local partners to gift a new book each month to over 1.4 million preschool children in 5 countries. The Imagination Library has gifted 130 million books since the program’s inception.  The Foundation also provides $100,000 for scholarships each year to local high school students.  In November of 2016, he was asked to spearhead the effort to create The My People Fund to provide $12,000,000 of direct assistance to 900 families who lost their homes to the fires which swept through Sevier County, Tennesseee  just after Thanksgiving.  In addition, he coordinated the publication of several books by Dolly including Dream More, Dixie Fixins, I Am a Rainbow and the new edition of Coat of Many Colors. Other projects include the production of Dolly’s children album I Believe in You; oversight of Dolly’s museum, Ch

Award-winning journalist, professional speaker and author of We Need To Talk: How To Have Conversations That Matter, Celeste Headlee, released her latest book, Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving, in March 2020. A timely, actionable and illuminating manifesto, Do Nothing, reveals that despite our constant search for new ways to “hack” our bodies and minds for peak performance, human being are working more - not less, living harder - not smarter, and becoming more lonely and anxious. Celeste shines a light on a new path ahead with a call to institute a global shift in our thinking so we can stop sabotaging our well-being, put work aside and starting living instead of doing. She shares the keys to embracing what makes us human: our creativity, our social connections (Instagram DOESN’T count), our ability for reflective though, and our capacity for joy, and unveils strategies that allow us to regain control over our lives and break our addiction to false efficiency. Celeste

Entrepreneur, investor, business leader, rocket-scientist. Passionate about building, scaling and leading market transitions. Startup mindset; global outlook. Devout believer in the power of transformation and disruption to change and improve lives, communities, organizations – and the world. Author of Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist, which details Sylvia’s personal journey from the dirt streets of Las Cruces, New Mexico, to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the top executive tiers of Apple, Dell, IBM and other U.S. technology leaders.   Most recently served as CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. One of the most enduring non-profits in the world, Girl Scouts supports more than 2.5 million girls worldwide and generates more than $800 million annually through its iconic cookie program to support local Girl Scouting. Committed to STEM as a critical platform for providing girls with the skills they’ll need for entrepreneurship, coding, cybersecurity, robotics, and leadership. Stron

Zibby Owens is a CEO, author, influencer, podcast host, and media personality. She is the creator and host of award-winning podcast, “Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books,” in which she conducts warm, inquisitive conversations with authors as wide-ranging as Alicia Keys and Lena Dunham to Delia Owens and Jennifer Weiner. Before the pandemic, Zibby ran a literary salon, hosted her own book fairs, and was a frequent bookstore event moderator. During the quarantine, Zibby hosted a daily Instagram Live author talk show and launched an online magazine with original author-written essays called “We Found Time.” She also started Zibby’s Virtual Book Club. Zibby has recommended books in the Washington Post, Good Morning America and Real Simple and has appeared on Good Morning America, Good Day LA, Good Day DC, Good Day Dallas, and NY1. She has written for Marie Claire, Redbook, the New York Times online, and many other publications. Zibby currently has a two-book deal for children’s books with Penguin Random House. A g

Bill Isler is President Emeritus of  Fred Rogers Productions and a long time educator and advocate for children.  He began his career as a teacher and administrator, and later joined the Pennsylvania Department of Education, where he served as Executive Assistant to the Secretary of Education, Commissioner of Basic Education and Senior Program Advisor for Early childhood Education before joining the Fred Rogers Productions in 1984.  In 2005 he was named the Executive Director of The Fred Rogers Center, a position he held until 2008.  In addition to serving on the Board of The Fred Rogers Productions, he is a board member of the Grable Foundation, the Forbes Fund,  the Jewish Community Center   of Pittsburgh and he Co-chairs the Governors Early Learning Council. He is an honorary member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, served as Treasurer of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Chairperson of the Council of Great City Schools,  board member of the Jewish Health Care Foundation of

Arthur Sims is a graduate of Morehouse College (B.A., magna cum laude, 1990). He completed his law degree at Cornell University Law School (J.D., 1994).  Subsequently, he was involved in further study at University of Central Florida and the Rosen College of Hospitality Management (2001-2002, 2004-2006). Mr. Sims has diverse legal and business experience in the areas of general corporate, sports and entertainment, media and technology, hospitality and gaming as well as intellectual property law and hospitality related real estate development transactions. He has represented Fortune 500 corporations; resort developers, owners and operators; cruise lines; casino owners and operators; and gaming equipment manufacturers and owners in structuring and negotiating venture capital transactions, strategic alliances, franchise agreements, membership agreements, mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. Working with professional sports franchises and athletes, entertainment companies, entertainers, producers and produc

Mr. Harris Rosen, the president and owner of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, and Dr. Chuck Dziuban, Director of the Research Initiative for Teaching Effectiveness at the University of Central Florida, discuss the Parramore and Tangelo Park programs.  These programs benefit the children, families, communities and the public at large.  They stress that not only are these philanthropic programs to help those communities, but they have a significant positive economic impact far beyond the level of investment in these programs. More information can be found about these two programs, and other philanthropic efforts by Mr. Rosen, at tangeloparkprogram.com and rosengivesback.com. Rosen Hotels & Resorts information can be found on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/rosenhotels/ and on Instagram at @rosenhotels. Dr. Dziuban can be contacted at Charles.Dziuban@ucf.edu, for more information on the impact data that has been gathered on these programs, and he can be followed on Twitter at @papuga.

Dr. Julie Wei is an internationally recognized award-winning Pediatric Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon, speaker, creator of online courses for parents, and author of A Healthier Wei and co-author of Acid Reflux in Children. She currently serves as the Division Chief of Pediatric Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, and Audiology. Dr. Wei is a Professor of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Central Florida’s College of Medicine and serves as the Chair of Otolaryngology Education. A passionate children’s health advocate, Dr. Wei has been highlighted on TEDx “The Hidden Dangers of the Milk and Cookie Disease” and on The Doctors TV Show teaching audiences about how diet and dietary habits lead to acid reflux, which negatively impact children’s health. She has appeared on various national and local news outlets including Fox News Online. A prominent peer-reviewed author, Dr. Wei’s research has been published in scientific journals including Laryngoscope and the International Journal of Pe

Dr. Amanda Wilkerson is an Assistant Professor of Urban Education at the University of Central Florida in the College of Community Innovation and Education. Wilkerson has written educational materials and coordinated forums on significant social, educational, and community matters. Emerging social justice advocate and scholar, Dr. Wilkerson serves as the guest editor for the Urban Education Research and Policy Annuals Journal-Hillard Sizemore Special Edition. Wilkerson seeks to build a better world through cooperation, collaboration, and community action. As a part of her passion for higher education, Amanda is enhancing how students seize the promise of post-secondary education through access. Specifically, she creates and manages collaborative partnerships that provide important services for underserved student populations. As a passionate supporter of civic engagement, Amanda continues to work on community development projects, charitable missions, and advocacy initiatives for nonprofit organizations and g