Amber Herndon is the visionary leader of The Middle Matters Institute, Amber leverages her Texas EC-12 Principal, ESL, and SPED certifications to bridge the gap between policy and practice. Amber specializes in human-centered leadership, learning disabilities, and emergent literacy. By designing kinesthetic, interactive training, Amber empowers educators to create inclusive, evidence-based environments where every learner thrives.

Early Childhood Education and emergent literacy is at the heart of Dr. Carol Morgan's educator experiences-including service as Head Start Director. Most recently, Dr. Morgan has worked with struggling readers K-3, and hopes to be able to serve others for customized sessions using her diverse experiences.

Dr. Preeti. Jain is an associate professor of early childhood education at the University of Houston – Clear Lake.

Dr. Jain has over 22 years of experience in early childhood education, having served as a teacher, administrator, consultant, assessor, trainer, coach, and curriculum specialist. Dr. Jain speaks Gujrati, Hindi, and English.

Elizabeth “Ellie” Escamilla, B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Our Lady of the Lake University, has over 15 years of experience as a teacher, mentor, and consultant.

Alba Bunnell, PhD was born in Nicaragua and raised in the United States, Dr. Bunnell is an early childhood education leader with over 30 years of experience as a program director and professional trainer. She holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology and specializes in social and emotional development, trauma-informed practices, and developmentally appropriate education.

Elizabeth Rau Ripperger is a Texas early childhood professional with over 35 years of experience as a licensed educator, center owner, program director, and trainer.

Georgieana Carreon has over 20 years of experience in early childhood education, she serves as Director of Tiny Tot Learning Center, a 4-Star Texas Rising Star facility.

Jasmine Davis is an early childhood professional development trainer and consultant committed to strengthening early learning environments.

Zona M. Dargan is an Early Childhood Education Specialist with 30 years of experience in teaching, coaching, and professional development.

Delicia Parker‘s trainer/consultant journey is driven by a passion for shaping the future of quality care for young children.

Scarlett Tandy has two decades of experience in early childhood education across both public and private settings, she brings a strong foundation in developmentally appropriate practice, curriculum design, and teacher support.

Kaylan Mills is an experienced and credentialed early childhood professional with over 8 years of progressive experience in child development, training, and program support.

Thania Gonzalez grew up in Brownsville – located at the southernmost tip of Texas.
Thania has been an infant, toddler and preschool teacher in Early Head Start/ Head Start.

Jennifer Weeks has a true passion for the field of Early Childhood Education. As a trainer, her goal is to empower teachers and program leaders by building their confidence and competence in instructional practices, while providing meaningful support and honoring the expertise they bring to their work.

Teddie Gamel comes with over 25 years experience in the early care and education industry. She has served as a past Owner, Trainer, Trainer Consultant, Regional Director, and Executive Director.

Sarai Smith is an Executive Director in Early Childhood Education and the founder of Preschool Junk Chronicles, a coaching and training platform created to support teachers, directors, and families.

Pamela Arnold is a seasoned Early Childhood Consultant and Trainer with over 30 years of experience in training teachers and parents on a wide range of early childhood topics.

Michelle Coston began working alongside families to support and care for their infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, Michelle reflected on her own experiences of uninterrupted exploration and play.

Kimberly is a seasoned early childhood professional with over 35 years of experience, known for her skills as an administrator, coach, trainer, and implementation specialist.

Melissa Ply is a Early Education Specialist who works with site administrators to individualize trainings that incorporate theory, authentic examples for immediate implementation on how to support children’s learning and development, along with a bit of humor for staff trainings.