our mission...

... is to support and advocate for early educators to gain knowledge, skills, and recognition to provide quality early education every day

our vision...

...is to see all early educators respected, well-compensated, healthy, and equipped to provide high-quality care and experiences.

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. 

Ro Lewis
EQuIPD for Resilience & Quality Enhancement Coordinator

Like so many other folks, I entered the ECE field when I was raising young children. I had been teaching community college and had taught middle school before moving to the triad but had never considered early childhood until my toddler son's teacher suddenly left her position. Needless to say, I found my place and my passion working with little people, their families, and their teachers!
Trish Nelson
Guiding Healthy Behaviors in Early Childhood Coordinator
My adventures into Early Childhood education began early during my college years as a preschool teacher. I always gravitated towards the education world and began as an Elementary Ed major. I knew I had arrived at my final destination in the Human Development and Family studies department at UNC Greensboro when the common themes of hands-on, developmentally appropriate practice where children learn by doing was the mantra! Between incredible professors and internships, my passion for advocating for the importance of the early years grew exponentially. Over the past twenty plus years in the field, I've primarily been in a coaching and technical assistance role focused on children aged birth through five. I’ve also worked in inclusive environments as a Toddler Teacher with mixed aged groupings. A common thread that has always remained central to my philosophy is the important role that nature, gardening and movement play in healthy child development. 

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, curriculum development experiences, director leadership, 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. 
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.