Bryana Casas, M.A.
Description: Are you passionate about helping children create deeper connections with the natural world? This workshop will focus on how to encourage environmental stewardship with the support of literature and pre literacy activities.
Bio: Bryana Casas is currently a Master Teacher at Pacific Oaks Children's School. She received her Master's in Early Childhood/Primary Education at California State University of Los Angeles.
She is a member of the LA STEM Collective. She has given professional development workshops at Pacific Oaks Children's School, the Early Childhood STEM Conference and the California Association for the Education of Young Children conference. She has also been a panel speaker, panel host, and organizer for the City of STEM and LA Maker Faire.
Sundrina Cottrell
Description: Join us for this fun, interactive, live storytelling workshop! Learn how to effectively use felts, puppets and props to engage learners and enhance English and Spanish literacy through math, science and social emotional curriculum! Get inspired AND take home a 20 page handout of application material that you can use immediately!
Bio: Since earning her child development degree-specializing in preschool-in 2011, Sundrina Cottrell has taught in a variety of settings and is driven by a passion for teaching early learners. Sundrina’s family puppet business of 30 years has facilitated relationships with a wide range of other teachers, care givers, librarians, and story tellers which fosters a community of shared knowledge and ideas. As a result of her two careers, Sundrina has realized a passion for presenting workshops to early educators like herself. She has been doing this for the past 10 years and she continues her own education in the conference setting. This presenter has a deep understanding of children, experience as a teacher, knowledge of the classroom and home care settings, years of detailed work with felts and puppets, and hours spent continuing her education and researching current curriculum. She is a wife, mother, teacher, student, puppet maker, curriculum specialist, and professional storyteller.
Juliana Escudero, M.A.
Description: Join us for a creative and engaging workshop where children ages 3 and up will explore important social justice themes through the magic of puppetry and storytelling. We'll begin by reading age-appropriate books that introduce concepts like fairness, kindness, and inclusion. These stories will serve as inspiration for our puppet-making activity. Children will have the opportunity to create their own unique puppets, bringing characters and ideas from the stories to life. This hands-on experience allows children to process and interpret these complex topics in a fun and accessible way, fostering their own understanding of social justice and empowering them to express their thoughts and feelings. This workshop encourages independent interpretation and creative expression, building confidence and fostering empathy in our youngest learners.
Bio: Juliana’s interest in the field of Early Childhood Education began with her Mexican tradition which was that the oldest children take care of the younger children in the family. Since Juliana was the youngest in her generation it was ingrained in her to teach the next generation of children. Also, Juliana’s mother had a home daycare, so her childhood was filled with infants and toddlers.
Her educational background helped her understand child development theorists, and curriculum inspired by Reggio Emilia. She studied at Cerritos Community College (AA Early Childhood Development), University of La Verne (BS Child Development), and California State University, Long Beach Early Childhood Development (MA). As she reached higher educational degrees, she searched for companies that valued her education and background experience.
She currently is a Lead Infant Teacher at Discovery Days Preschool. She has been previously employed by Pacific Oaks Children's School, Bright Horizons, The Children’s Center at Caltech, and Cerritos College Child Development Center. In addition to her work experience, she was a mentor for California Early Childhood Mentor Program which partnered with Rio Hondo College. As a mentor, Juliana empowered future generations of educators with planting a seed of passion and curiosity of continuous learning. Through her experience, education, and different roles as an Educator, Juliana is a storyteller and a “geek” when discussing the why’s of why an Educator presents material, routines, and scaffolding children’s interests.
Michelle Moen, M.A.
Description: This workshop will empower teachers to make (and use!) puppets. We will cover why puppets are important in classrooms, different types of puppets, and how to expand your puppet inventory inexpensively by using recyclable treasures.
Bio: Michelle received her Masters Degree from CSULB and teaches at El Camino College. She has over 20 years of experience teaching young children in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and California. She also keeps busy with her roles as a consultant, guest speaker, artist, and professional storyteller.
Lynette Ridgel
Description: Create lots, waste not. Explore how recyclables allow children to explore open-ended activities; allowing children to express their ideas and build upon their own experiences, bringing these experiences into their creative imagination.
Bio: Lynette’s teaching career started with operating an in-home based childcare facility for over 20 years. After raising her children, she decided to continue her education. She believes one is never too old or young to explore to gain knowledge.
Her Early Education journey has led her down many paths to enriching children’s knowledge by way of a creative curriculum to academic success. Lynette has obtained years of early childhood experience by working at home school enrichment program various colleges, state funded, and head start preschools, private schools, schools that assist children with special needs and school age programs. She has experienced many enriching school environments in such a way that it allows her to mentor others by thinking “outside of the box.” As an educator she has continued to grow and embrace the need for early education experiences for children and families and has been able to share new ideas that help children to engage creatively in a way which they hadn’t before.
“Who you are makes a difference”
