our mission...

is to nurture and empower early care and education professionals with the tools for sustainability and success

our vision...

is to see all early care professionals as respected, compensated, self-efficacious, and valued so they are equipped to carry out authentic quality that best impacts young children in Guilford County 

who we are...

Dr. Deb Cassidy 
​PROJECT FOUNDER AND FOREVER CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN AND THE EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE
Dr. Linda Hestenes   
​Co-project Advisor  ​
Dr. Harriette Bailey
Co-project Advisor

Angie roberson
project director

I always knew that I would be a teacher. I used to “teach” my dolls when I was very young.  When I came to college at UNCG, I was enrolled in Elementary education because that was the youngest that I could teach.  I had my first practicum as a sophomore with 4th graders and I hated it! 

Someone from Birth through Kindergarten education came to talk to our seminar class as a new program at UNCG and switched to that major the next day and the rest is history.  

Tami Holtzman 
Administrative Assistant and Quality Enhancement Support ​

My drive for early education began in my senior year of high school when I started volunteering in a second-grade class at a local elementary school.

​My love for a certain student that I often tutored led me down the special education path. After I taught K-3 students for 12 years I began feeling the desire to work with younger children – just in time to qualify for a grant to get my master’s degree in Birth-Kindergarten at UNCG. That led right into getting a position teaching children ages 3 – 5 years who qualified for special education. I was hooked and still am.

Nicole McCaskill
​Community Learning Coordinator


​I have always enjoyed spending time with young children and when I started college, I considered majoring in elementary education. At the time I was working part time in a childcare center teaching 2 year olds. That experience led to me to take coursework in child development where I met Dr. Deb Cassidy.

​Through those early work experiences and classes, I decided the best fit for me was to focus my career on children ages birth-five. I have been in the field ever since as a teacher, director, quality assessor, trainer, and now quality enhancement coordinator. 

Rhodus Riggins, Jr. 
Quality Enhancement Coordinator

I never imagined or saw myself working in early childhood. I was on a totally different career path and trajectory. I was hired a research assistant in 1991 at FPG Child Development Institute working directly with infants, families, early childhood teachers, and administrators.

Seeing the amazing resiliency in our children and families as well as the hard work and dedication of teachers and administrators cemented my respect, admiration, passion, and fueled my commitment to early childhood for the past 30 years. 

Ashley Allen 
Work Environment & Compensation Coordinator

I came to UNCG to become a dance teacher, but crossed paths with Dr. Deb Cassidy…who sucked me in and was also my advisor.
I worked through college and had bought a townhouse. It was tiny, dumpy, old.  But I bought it because I was working and I could.  I graduated with my BK license and went to teach, but I wasn’t offered enough to take the jobs and keep my townhouse, so my career path quickly shifted gears.  Lots of odd jobs, pursued some other fields, but I always said one day, it’s gonna’ come back around, and when I do - things need to change. Here we are! 

I try to participate in every opportunity that presents itself to make things a little different or a little better. Early Educators deserve more, and we have work to do. 

Brooke Daniels
Quality Enhancement & Peer Mentoring Coordinator 



​I’ve always had a passion for working with children and I’ve always been drawn to watching them develop over time! I’m also the oldest cousin of 11 in my family and was asked to look after the younger ones.  In elementary school, I would volunteer in the Kindergarten classroom and help the children in the class. 

Tyla ricks
Graduate Research Assistant ​


​I have always wanted to teach young children and I remember when I was younger playing teacher with my stuffed animals. It has always been my passion to ensure that the next generation of young children knew that there are teachers who not only care about their academics but what impacts them, their families, and their community.

I came into the field of early childhood as a teacher and I will continue to teach, learn, and try to make a difference for teachers, children, and families who are impacted by the decisions made in the early childhood field.

What we do...

Through six interconnected activities, early care and education teachers, family child care providers, and administrators will experience professional development and educational planning, peer coaching, curriculum development experiences, director leadership, consultation of learning contexts for teachers, and quality enhancement for early care and education facilities.
We offer support in tailoring professional development plans to meet your individual needs - whether it is for continuing education or sharpening a specific skill or practice ... there is something available for everyone. 
The goal of our community learning events is for every educator to leave with information they can use immediately in the classroom. We are unique in that we offer follow up events where participants can discuss challenges and successes, along with lessons learned. Addressing topics at this deeper level allows adult learners better opportunities for understanding, reflection, and building communities of practice through the process. 
We provide tools to enhance your leadership skills and abilities. Through our interconnected activities, we are helping to organize a community of leaders that are informed and ready with the skills needed to improve their program, business or classroom practices, and work environment. 
A major focus of EQuIPD is peer mentoring. We will recruit coaches and teachers to participate in the project and become stronger leaders in early childhood education. 
Quality Enhancement in Guilford County is being addressed by working closely with other Technical Assistance providers.  
We offer supports around creating your best Work Environment and Work Life.  We work with individual programs, directors, and family child care home providers to be able to reflect on what their climate looks like today, and we use various methods to help them get to where they want to be in the future. We are advocates and supporters of worthy wages for early educators that reflect the skill, experience, and dedication that each one possesses. 
Leadership and advising to the project provided by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro through the Department of Human Development and Family Studies.