Young Child Expo & Conference

Dr. Shelia Evans-Tranumn (Fordham Award Recipient), Former Associate Commissioner of Education in NYS and National and International Consultant, Chairperson of Casey Family Program Foundation and Executive Director of UFT Charter Schools, NYC

Dr. Evans-Tranumn is a product of New York City public schools, a graduate of North Carolina Central University, holds a master’s degree from Long Island University, and has completed class requirements for a doctorate at New York University. In December 2003, she received an Honorary Doctorate from Medgar Evers College. Dr. Evans-Tranumn is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Reliance Award for Excellence in Education, the Administrative Women in Education Trailblazer Award, and the Albany NAACP Freedom Award and the New York State NAACP “Measure of a Woman” Award in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In addition, Dr. Evans-Tranumn was presented a proclamation from the City Council of New York City for commitment to the children and families of New York City. Dr. Evans-Tranumn is listed in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, and was also inducted into Who’s Who in American Education, Who’s Who in Black America, Who’s Who Among Women, Gilford’s Who’s Who, and Who’s Who in the Millennium which is reserved for only 2000 Americans. In 2003, Dr. Evans-Tranumn was invited to the White House by President George Bush for her work in accountability under No Child Left Behind. Dr. Evans-Tranumn has appeared on numerous radio and television programs including Inside Albany, Best Talk in Town, Like It Is, and Positively Black.

Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, President, The Child Mind Institute, NYC

Dr. Koplewicz is one of the nation’s leading child and adolescent psychiatrists and president of the Child Mind Institute, an organization dedicated to transforming mental health care for children everywhere. Dr. Koplewicz founded the NYU Child Study Center in 1997, and was director of the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research from 2006-2011. An awarding-winning, master clinician and advocate for children and teens with psychiatric disorders, Dr. Koplewicz has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Oprah, and NPR, and his writing has been featured in the New York Times, the Huffington Post, and other national publications. Since 1997, he has been the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. Dr. Koplewicz is the author of several acclaimed books, including It's Nobody's Fault: New Hope and Help for Difficult Children and Their Parents and More Than Moody: Recognizing and Treating Adolescent Depression.

Bob McGrath, Original Cast Member & Music Teacher of Sesame Street, Author, Recording Artist, and Concert Performer, NYC

Bob McGrath is an original cast member of Sesame Street since 1969. Music has always been a big part of Bob McGrath's life. He has recorded DVD's, CDs and sing- alongs, and has performed in thousands of children's concerts, frequently with symphony orchestras, encouraging his young fans to explore the world of music. Mr. McGrath has authored eight books including Uh-Oh Gotta Go (on potty training) and Oops, Excuse Me Please (on manners). He co-authored an educational music curriculum book for Alfred Publishing Co., called Music for Fun, as well as a Professional Development DVD, Curriculum Connections, for Educational Activities which connects 6 important literacy skills with 6 simple songs. Bob is a committed advocate for children, and has participated in telethons and other fundraising events for more than 30 years. He is the recipient of the National Music Council's American Eagle Award, MENC'S Fame Award for furthering the cause of music education, chaired National UNICEF Day and hosted World Children's Day at the United Nations. He has also served as host and artistic director for the International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap for more than 15 years. Bob received his bachelor’s degree in music at the University of Michigan, and a master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music. He has five children and eight grandchildren. Bob and his wife Ann recently celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary. You can visit Bob at www.bobmcgrath.com.

Tamar Andrews, MA, Early Childhood Education Director, Temple Isaiah, Adjunct Faculty National University, UCLA, Santa Monica College, CA

Ms. Andrews has been an educator for over 25 years and has presented at conferences and workshops all across the country showing teachers how to love teaching again. Ms. Andrews received her degrees from California State University and has recently submitted her doctoral dissertation for approval. As the director of Temple Isaiah Early Childhood Education Center in Los Angeles, she oversees a school of 400 preschool aged children. Ms. Andrews is also an adjunct faculty member at National University, Santa Monica College and UCLA and teaches CPR/First Aid to teachers. She has published articles on curriculum and materials. Ms. Andrews is also the mother of four children, one of whom is autistic. As such, she is also actively involved in advocating for special education services and integrating all children into mainstream programs.

Alison Berkley, MS, Co-Director, Emerge & See Education Center, NYC

Ms. Berkley is a special education teacher with 8 years of special education experience. For the past 3 years she has co-founded and developed Emerge & See, and has worked previously for students ranging in age and ability as a classroom teacher, an alternate-to-home-school provider, and as a SEIT (Special Education Interim Teacher). Ms. Berkley has had multiple trainings in Developmental Individual Difference Relationship-based /Floortime and Applied Behavior Analysis and possesses strong ability in implementing assessments, curriculum adaptation and development, and research and data collection. Ms. Berkley received her master of science in teaching degree in childhood education) from Pace University where she was awarded a Certificate of Excellence by the dean. Her passion for progressive education utilizing the newest technologies and informed by the latest research is evident throughout the offerings of the Emerge & See Education Center.

Kathleen Cashin, PhD, Regent of the State of NY for Presenting the Second Judicial District (Brooklyn), Clinical Professor, Fordham University, NYC

Dr. Cashin was elected by a joint session of the Legislature to the Board of Regents to a four-year term representing the 2nd Judicial District on March 8, 2011. Regent Cashin has served the students of New York City with distinction for over 35 years as a teacher, principal, superintendent, regional superintendent and as CEO of the Knowledge Network. Dr. Cashin’s work resulted in the greatest growth over three years in both literacy and math. Dr. Cashin was named "Distinguished Educator of the Year" by the New York City Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and has a doctorate from Fordham University. Regent Cashin was an adjunct professor at Brooklyn College and is currently a clinical professor at Fordham University. Dr. Cashin has dedicated herself to educating children and ensuring that every child receives an equal opportunity to develop into a contributing member of society. Regent Cashin extends her commitment to students and learning at all levels though her service on the Board of Regents.

Sherri Donovan, Lawyer, Sherri Donovan & Associates, NYC

Ms. Donovan is a matrimonial attorney, author, speaker and certified mediator. In 1988 Ms. Donovan founded Sherri Donovan and Associates, a matrimonial and family law firm that focuses on divorce, custody, child support and maintenance, domestic partnerships and pre-nuptials. She is nimble at mediation, collaborative negotiations and litigation. Ms. Donovan is a cum laude graduate of New York Law School and lectures about divorce for audiences as diverse as the United Nations, Ameriprise Financial, the New York County Lawyers Association, MSNBC and CBS. Ms. Donovan is a member of the United States Supreme Court Bar, New York State Bar Association, Family Law Section, Matrimonial Committee of the Women’s Bar Association, Matrimonial Committee of the New York County Bar Association, New York City Bar Association, and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.

Jen Egan, MA, Regional Director of Learning Centers, Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes, NYC

Ms. Egan is a Regional Director for Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes. She oversees the operations, instruction, and outreach for learning centers in New York and Connecticut. She has been with the organization for sixteen years and has served as a workshop presenter, school district consultant, and learning center director. Ms. Egan has worked directly with hundreds of children helping them improve their reading and comprehension skills. She has appeared at numerous national conferences, Imus in the Morning, and on various other radio shows across the country.

Anne R. Farrar-Anton, MSCP, PhD, Psychology Supervisor, Pediatric Neuropsychologist, Tomorrows Children's Institute, Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center, NJ

Dr. Farrar-Anton is a licensed psychologist. She has been employed at Hackensack University Medical Center for the past 11 years and has been with the Tomorrows Children’s Institute for the past 6 years working with patients with oncology and hematological disorders. She earned her doctoral degree in counseling psychology from Seton Hall University. She completed a fellowship in neuropsychology at the medical center and then completed a master’s degree in clinical psychopharmacology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She conducts neuropsychological evaluations and provides psychotherapy to children and families. She utilizes a biopsychosocial approach to assist patients in coping to cope with stressors.

Amanda Friedman MS & SBL, Co-Director, Emerge & See Education Center, NYC

Ms. Friedman is a special education teacher with over 13 years experience within the educational field. She has completed the Administrative Certification Program from the College of Saint Rose/CITE. Amanda has worked with students ranging in age from 3 – 25 years with an array of differences including autism, intellectual disability, and emotional disturbances (e.g., post traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, oppositional defiance disorder, etc.). She has acted as the Vice President for the Hudson Valley Autism Society, currently sits on the Autism Speaks Walk for Autism Committee, and is a parent advocate for families at Committees on Special Education, and school meetings. Amanda has been through certified trainings in Applied Behavior Analysis, Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication related handicapped Children, BART, and multiple trainings in Developmental Individual Difference Relationship-based /Floortime.

Tara Gessner, MA, OTR, Occupational Therapist, New York Occupational Therapy for Children, NYC

Ms. Gessner is a pediatric occupational therapist with 25 years of clinical experience. As founder of New York Occupational Therapy for Children she consults about sensory integration issues with families and educational programs. Ms. Gessner has a clinical interest and expertise in working with children compromised by sensory processing disorders and helping families to learn the essential tools needed to support these children. She has developed sensory regulatory techniques for educational programs. Ms. Gessner is certified in The Sensory Integration and Praxis Test and holds additional certifications in the Interactive Metronome and Neurobiofeedback. She has received numerous awards for her work with children. Ms. Gessner received her undergraduate degree in occupational therapy from New York University and her graduate degree in developmental psychology from Columbia University.

Mark Goldenberg DC, DABCN, FACFN, Doctor, International Academy of Functional Neurology and Rehabilitation, CT

Dr. Goldenberg is a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist and Fellow of the American College of Functional Neurology, who specializes in the treatment of learning disabilities, dyslexia, attention deficit disorders and autistic spectrum disorders. His published papers include Hemipheric Integration Therapy in the Treatment of ADHD. He has presented his work at the Annual Conference of the Connecticut Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities, the Annual Conference of the Connecticut School Counselors Association, and the Bridgeport Hospital REACH program outpatient facility for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Debra Harwood, PhD, Assistant Professor, Brock University, Ontario, Canada

Dr. Harwood is a member of the Faculty of Education of Brock University where she teaches courses and conducts research in the field of Early Childhood Education. She has been involved in early childhood education for more than 20 years. Her research pursuits examine holistic education and family practices to support optimal learning and caring environments for the early years.

Sheldon H. Horowitz, EdD, Director, LD Resources & Essential Information, National Center for Learning Disabilities, NYC

Dr. Horowitz is the Director of LD Resources & Essential Information at the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD). Prior to his arrival at NCLD he directed hospital-based evaluation and treatment programs in psychiatry and developmental pediatrics, and has taught at primary, secondary, and college levels. He has provided leadership on many of NCLD's key projects and programs, including national summits, Every Child is Learning, Get Ready to Read!, Living with LD, Recognition & Response, LD Talks, LD News, LD Insights, Research Roundup, Transitioning to Kindergarten Toolkit, and the Early Learning Observation & Rating Scale.

Laura Hynes, LMSW, Relationship Development Intervention Program Certified Consultant, Founder and Director of Extraordinary Minds, Extraordinary Minds, NYC

Ms. Hynes is a licensed social worker and certified Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) consultant. She graduated from Stony Brook University with a BA in psychology and a minor in child and family studies in 2001. She continued on to New York University where she obtained a master’s degree in social work in 2005 with a specialty in children and families. Laura's postgraduate employment was with the NYC Early Intervention Program and the Committee on Preschool Special Education. In October of 2008, Ms. Hynes became the only certified RDI consultant on Staten Island and is currently one of only four in New York City. Ms. Hynes founded Extraordinary Minds in 2007 and currently serves as director.

Barbara Kasok, Author, Readtogether, MA

Ms. Kasok is co-author of Help Me Get Ready To Read: The Practical Guide For Reading Aloud To Children During Their First Five Years. She is certified as a consulting teacher of reading in Massachusetts, taught in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and in federally funded Title I reading programs (K-4) in Massachusetts. As a project manager at Silver Burdett Ginn (Simon and Schuster), she worked with reading specialists from Boston University, University of Colorado, and University of Virginia to develop K-8 reading programs. Ms. Kasok has written reading, language arts, and social studies materials for Houghton Mifflin, Harcourt, and Scholastic.

Renee Khatami, Random House Children's Books, NYC

Renée Khatami is an author and designer who has worked in book publishing for many years, and received numerous awards for her work. She holds masters degrees from Pratt Institute in communication design, and New York University¹s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development in art education. Random House Books for Young Readers recently published LITTLE PINK BOOK (spring 2011) and LITTLE BLACK BOOK (fall 2011). These are multi-sensory board books for toddlers, each one exploring an individual color. The books bring together her lifelong interest in the combination of words, color, and images, and their impact on children. Renée lives in Manhattan with her husband and two daughters.

Steven Kurtz, PhD, ABPP, Senior Director, Child Mind Institute, NYC

Dr. Kurtz is one of the nation’s leading experts in the treatment of children’s anxiety and behavioral problems, particularly Selective Mutism (SM). He founded Brave Buddies, an intensive treatment program using an analog classroom model to help children with SM practice and master talking in the real-life situations they face every day, such as in a morning meeting, on field trips, snacks, and Show-and-Share. Dr. Kurtz is a former New York University professor, an international advocate for children, and has appeared on ABC's Nightline, PBS's Keeping Kids Healthy, NBC's Today Show, and CBS’s Early Show. Dr. Kurtz is currently a Senior Director at the Child Mind Institute.

Susan Marx, MA, Author, Readtogether, MA

Ms. Marx is co-author of Help Me Get Ready To Read: The Practical Guide For Reading Aloud To Children During Their First Five Years. As a parent educator, she has facilitated over 700 Families First positive parenting workshops on creating home-school partnerships, understanding children’s temperament and personality, using positive parenting strategies to affect behavioral changes in children, fostering children’s self-esteem, improving communication between parents and children, and getting children ready for kindergarten. Ms. Marx has written reading, language arts, and social studies materials for DC Heath, Silver Burdett Ginn, Macmillan, and Houghton Mifflin.

Michael Moretsky, MEd, Client Outreach Representative, Committee For Children, WA

Mr. Moretsky received his Certificate of Advance Graduate Study from the University of Massachusetts-Boston in 1997. Since that time he has been certified as a school psychologist by the Departments of Education in the states of Massachusetts and Washington. Mr. Moretsky’s work has required him to make several presentations to school staff, student body, parents, and community on such subjects as violence, relationships, drugs, special education, and mental disabilities. Previously Mr. Moretsky has gained experience working with at-risk youth in group homes and facilities. He has been with the Committee for Children for 11 years. In that time he has been a trainer in Committee for Children’s award winning programs and an outreach representative. He is experienced in many of the challenges schools and districts face when implementing social-emotional-learning programs.

Patty O’Grady, PhD, Professor, University of Tampa, FL

Dr. O’Grady earned a PhD in Developmental Psychology and Special Education from the University of Maryland College Park, an MS in Clinical Psychology from the California State University at San Jose, and a BS in Psychology from the University of San Francisco. She has twenty-five years experience in education as a clinician, teacher, administrator, and professor with special emphasis in neuroscience and early childhood education. She is a frequent invited presenter at national and international conferences and the author of numerous articles on early childhood and special education - most recently in John Hopkins New Horizon’s for Learning.

Aileen Pidgeon, PhD, Assistant Professor, Bond University, Ontario, Canada

Dr. Pidgeon is Assistant Professor and clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychology at Bond University. She lectures on child, adolescent, and family psychopathology and psychotherapy, and supervises advanced psychology interns. A major focus of her work is the development and evaluation of Pathways Triple P parenting program which targets domains of parenting that may adversely affect a parent’s capacity to parent children well. These targets include positive parenting and effective child management strategies and attributional retraining to increase parents’ capacity to regulate their strong emotions. Dr. Pidgeon regularly delivers presentations and workshops at conferences on parenting and ways to increase parents’ capacity to develop strong relationships with children. In her private practice, she provides psychological evaluations, behavioral family therapy, and mindfulness based cognitive therapy for children, adolescents and parents.

Lynda Rosini MA/RD/CNSD/CSO/CDE, Hackensack University Medical Center, NJ

Ms. Rosini is a pediatric dietitian board certified in nutrition support, oncology and a certified diabetes educator. She received her undergraduate degree from Vassar College and her master’s degree in clinical nutrition from New York University. She has been practicing pediatric nutrition for 28 years. She currently works at Hackensack University Medical Center as part of the pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant teams as well as pediatric diabetes, endocrinology, and feeding therapy.

Ann M Selmi, PhD, Associate Professor, California State University, Dominguez Hills, CA

For over 30 years, Dr. Selmi has taught young children and their teachers. She has worked with families in some of the most challenging areas of the United States. She worked for two nationally-recognized research studies, the Cochlear Implant Program for Young Children in Los Angeles and for Dr. Marc Bornstein at the National Institutes of Health. She has written articles on the relationship between play and learning, and currently is writing a textbook about how to use play narratives to enhance early literacy skills. She knows and understands the challenges that today’s at-risk preschoolers are facing.

Anya Silver, MA, BCBA, Lead ABA Clinical Supervisor, Bilinguals Inc/Achieve Beyond, NYC

Ms. Silver completed her master’s degree in child development at Tufts University and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has been working in the field of autism for 19 years and is an active member of the autism community. Ms. Silver presents at local and national conferences on topics related to autism intervention. She has published articles on humanistic and behavioral perspectives as well as teaching deception skills to students with autism spectrum disorders.

Lynda Rosini MA/RD/CNSD/CSO/CDE, Hackensack University Medical Center, NJ

Ms. Rosini is a pediatric dietitian board certified in nutrition support, oncology, and is a certified diabetes educator. She received her undergraduate degree from Vassar College and her master’s degree in clinical nutrition from New York University. She has been practicing pediatric nutrition for 28 years. She currently works at Hackensack University Medical Center as part of the pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant teams as well as pediatric diabetes, endocrinology and feeding therapy.

Rae Schaper BS, Med, Author, Trainer, Consultant, Read It Once Again, SC

Ms. Schaper is the creator of a preschool literacy based curriculum and has published 31 curriculum units and a preschool classroom management guide. Her literary curriculums have been implemented in public school districts and childcare facilities throughout the United States and Canada. Ms. Schaper also serves as a preschool curriculum consultant. She received her BA in special education from the University of Oshkosh, WI, and her MEd in early childhood education from the University of South Carolina Upstate. She taught at Presbyterian and Converse College in SC as well as having taught early childhood special education for the public school systems in SC and WI.