CHILDHOOD CONVERSATIONS & PARENTING CONVERSATIONS CONFERENCE
Spaces for All: Creating a Future Where Everyone Thrives
Childhood Conversations – Friday, May 2, 2025
Parenting Conversations – Saturday May 3, 2025
Hartford Marriot Downtown
Friday keynote - Dr. Ingrid M. Casady
Dr. Ingrid M. Canady is the leader of both an agency and a movement. Since joining SERC as a member of the consulting team more than 22 years ago, she became passionately engaged in the agency’s intentional and strategic journey on examining the hidden realities of institutionalized racism and its impact in today’s classrooms. Through the years as SERC’s Workforce Development Coordinator, Assistant Director, Associate Director, and Interim Executive Director, Ingrid demonstrated the importance of culturally conscious leadership to promote learning environments where all children are seen and heard. From the time the SERC Board of Directors unanimously voted her permanent Executive Director in 2016, Ingrid became the face of SERC’s mission to ensure an equitable and accessible education for all of Connecticut’s students. Full bio.
SAturday keynote - Althea Marshall Brooks
Althea Marshall Brooks currently serves as the Executive Director of Waterbury Bridge to Success (BTS) Community Partnership in Waterbury, Connecticut. A native of Waterbury, Mrs. Brooks is guided by an ardent commitment to holistic excellence and service. Since her appointment in the Fall of 2017, Althea has led Waterbury Bridge to Success’s overall strategic approach. Under her leadership, BTS has intentionally shifted power to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), youth, and caregivers to increase community-based engagement. Althea’s ability to streamline collaborative action supports BTS’s mission of ensuring the city’s youth and families have access to quality education and support for their social, emotional, and economic development and success.
SAturday Closing - Anne Marie “Jedda” Williams
Anne Marie “Jedda” Williams, founded K La Rue Educational Arts in Motion, LLC in 1987. She sees learning as an adventure; while integrating Arts and Education through creative movement, songs, drama, visual arts and a variety of dance forms for children of all ages, educators, and parents from diverse cultural backgrounds. K La Rue means created by a powerful source! Motivated to provide a creative learning environment for children and families, Anne Marie Williams sees learning as an adventure where children explore, expand and unlock the knowledge they possess. Ms. Williams, a native of Hartford, graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and Theatre Arts from the University of Hartford. She is an Educational Master Teaching Performer/Presenter with a specialization in early childhood education, serving as a resource for schools, teachers and parents in Greater Hartford for 37 years, K La Rue designs and produces programs, performances, residencies, and workshops that incorporate elements of theater, dance, song, music, and spoken word.
Cara Zelas – Cara Zelas is an early childhood educator, social emotional learning expert, Montessori teacher and dog therapy advocate who received a Bachelor of Media Communications and Bachelor of Elementary Education Degrees (Macquarie University, Sydney) as well as an Early Childhood Montessori Certification (West Side Montessori School, New York). Cara is the founder of Big World of Little Dude, an educational platform teaching children social and emotional skills by providing books for parents and the humanKIND Curriculum for teachers. Little Dude has taught Cara and countless children that being kind to others is contagious.
Rebecca Smith – Rebecca is a Speech Language Pathologist by training and completed her undergraduate degree with a major in Communications Sciences and a minor in Linguistics at the University of Connecticut. She received her graduate school training at the Pennsylvania State University. Prior to joining the Office of Early Childhood as (Child Find Coordinator), Rebecca served as a program director and has provided in home support as an early interventionist for over twenty years.
Tracey Cheney – Tracy Cheney is a wife and mother, as well as a Grand-Ma! She is Vice President of Dr. Day Care, Inc. and is a professional consultant who has been in the field of early childhood education for the past 34 years. Her experience includes teaching young children, as well as being an administrator in a variety of different capacities.
Jona Shook, MT-BC – Jona Shook is the Director of Services and Owner of Infinity Music Therapy Services. She is a nationally board certified and licensed music therapist specializing in neuroaffirming practices, mental health services, and perinatal music therapy. In addition to clinical services, Jona consults with afterschool programs, special education programs, mental health facilities, eldercare programs, early intervention, and more. Jona is currently working toward her Master of Law Degree through Regent University.
LaToya Fernandez – LaToya Fernandez is a dedicated leader in restorative practices, committed to healing communities. With a background as an award-winning author, educator, and administrator, she has catalyzed reform in various areas, including reshaping discipline policies in schools, local government, and the criminal legal system. Government officials have sought LaToya’s leadership to support community-led reforms with healing and harm repair. As the founder of YouthHype, she empowers marginalized youth, recognized with June 19th declared as YouthHype Day in Santa Clara, California. LaToya champions restorative justice principles and initiatives, providing statewide trainings in Connecticut for educators, administrators, and students. Her leadership and advocacy for marginalized communities have earned congressional acknowledgment and awards from state assemblies. LaToya’s commitment to social justice and restorative practices inspires meaningful change nationwide.
Jennifer DeLancery Agro – With a combined 35 years of experience in early childhood education, Jen and Jessica are dedicated teachers who believe in the power of play-based, Reggio-inspired learning. They are passionate about creating meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that spark curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning in young children.
Elizabeth Whitney
Jeddalarue of K LA RUE – My name is Anne Marie Williams better known as “JeddaLaRue”. I am Cherokee Jamaican, African American and a native of Hartford, mother of two remarkable daughters and Jedda to seven gorgeous granddaughters and two handsome grandsons.
Elizabeth Chambers, Rachel Vannatta – Elizabeth and Rachel are part of the Parent, Infant and Early Childhood Team within Innovations Institute at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. In their work, they support Pyramid Model implementation throughout Connecticut’s early learning landscape.
Brianna Beckstrand, Jennefer Ryan – Brianna comes from a remote town in Wisconsin. Moving to Connecticut in 2015 away from all family, she quickly learned the importance and value of community support. She tapped into her college background in social work and resource development to meet the needs of her then-young daughters. She stumbled upon the Enfield Family Resource Center (FRC) and immersed herself into everything they offered. Brianna saw the power of connection, shared experience, and the elevation of family voice through programs such as Circle of Security, Parent Support Group, and Raising Readers. It was through the FRC Playgroups that she became enamored by all Enfield had to offer for young children. She made her way to Enfield KITE in 2018 as their Family Engagement Coordinator. Brianna’s passion for Enfield children and their families only grew as she was able to blend her experience in early childhood and nonprofit to effect change for families in her own community. In 2021 she stepped into the Director role, carrying KITE strategies and initiatives not only locally, but to the regional and state levels. When she is not working, you can find her landscaping, finishing your sentences with song lyrics, and spending copious amounts of time with her husband and daughters.
EA Aschenbrenner – EA Aschenbrenner has worked in multilingual and multicultural early childhood programs in California, Connecticut and Texas as a teacher and administrator. For the past seven years, she has coordinated a professional learning project designed to support children’s executive functioning skills through play. She has been a Head Start director and a coordinator of professional development for state agencies.
Michelle Fitzgerald – Michelle Fitzgerald, Bilingual Parent Consultant, received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Quinnipiac University in 2004 with a concentration in sociology and a minor in Spanish. Michelle has dedicated much of her personal and professional experience to supporting families in need within her local community as a mental health counselor in IICAPS, a care coordinator in Child First, and a registered circle of security parent facilitator, as well as a master trainer of Army Family Team Building and a Family Readiness Group leader during her time as an army wife. Michelle is the proud mother of four children; two teenagers and two elementary-aged children. Her oldest and youngest both have an ASD diagnosis and vary drastically in their functionality. Michelle joined CPAC in January 2024 as a bilingual (Spanish) parent consultant and continues her passion for supporting families of children as they advocate, collaborate and navigate through their special needs journey.
Aubrey Schmalle – Aubrey Schmalle OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist with 20 years’ experience specializing in sensory integration and learning. She is the author of the Body Activated Learning framework and Handbook, a practical manual for optimizing sensory supportive movement in the classroom for a digital generation of learners. She is currently authoring the book: Stop Telling Me to Limit Screen Time: Success Habits for a Digital Generation of Kids, which will be released later this year. Aubrey has a passion for helping parents, teachers, and professionals shift their lens so they can empower neurodiverse children thrive at home, in school, and in the community.
Michelle Levy, Bethanne Vergean (UConn UCEDD), Jola Borta (ECCP) – Michelle Levy is a consultant for the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood. She began her career in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she worked with preschool children with autism while she completed her undergraduate work in Child Development. She completed her doctorate in Education Psychology with a focus on early childhood in 2017. She has worked as a teacher in a variety of settings including private preschool programs, nonprofit programs for young children with a range of needs and public schools. She worked for the CT Department of Education for 6 years before moving to the Office of Early Childhood when it was created in July of 2013. Her responsibilities at both agencies include work on early learning standards, curriculum, and assessment, the Pyramid Model, and inclusion.
Dr. Paige M. Bray, Dr. Erin M. Kenney – Dr. Paige M. Bray is Associate Professor of Early Childhood and Director of Montessori Studies, University of Hartford. An advocate for children and families, Dr. Bray is an activist scholar grounded by community context who addresses systemic inequities and personal “reflexes” to build on each person’s human capacity to contribute to community and multi-generational wellness.
Lori J Borysewicz – I’m a lifelong Connecticut resident who’s spent the past 20 years working in the community where I grew up. My husband and I recently celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary, and we are proud parents of two children and eight grandchildren. For over 36 years, I’ve dedicated myself to working with children as an Early Childhood Educator. My career path led me to a Family Resource Center, where I’ve held roles as a Parent Educator, Preschool Teacher, and Program Director. In recent years, I’ve focused on supporting adult learners to elevate the importance of high-quality early education for all children. This work led to me becoming a state-approved Education Consultant and providing Technical Assistance. My journey continues to center on supporting adult learners while emphasizing the critical role of social-emotional development in preparing young children for success in kindergarten and beyond.
Jenny Bridges – Jenny Bridges is Executive Director for Favor, Inc. in Wethersfield, CT where she has served and empowered families of children with special healthcare needs that need educational or systems support.
Paul Guerrero – Paul Guerrero is the Favor Family Systems Manager for DCF Region 4 (Hartford) providing training and mentorship for Family Champions that are interested in self development and systems advocacy.
Yesenia Rivera-Ortiz – Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Yesenia Rivera-Ortiz brings a rich cultural perspective to her work as an educator, community advocate, and entrepreneur. She holds a bachelor’s degree in art education and, after moving to Connecticut in 2013, built a career focused on empowering families and fostering connections between schools and communities. As the Family and Community Engagement Coordinator at CREC Montessori Magnet School, Yesenia develops strategies that promote equity and inclusion in education. She is also the founder of Cubs Learning Hub, a hub for educational services, playgroups and parent advocacy support. Yesenia’s dedication to equity has been recognized with the Demand Equity Award in 2021 and 2023 by the Capitol Regional Education Council (CREC)
Ary Chanelle French – Ary Chanelle French is a community health worker, community advocate, community partner, social justice activist, community ally, mental health/self-love enthusiast and public speaker. Ary’s life work is centered around supporting and empowering the citizens of Waterbury, Ct. She has over 25yrs experience of working within her community to promote social justice, equity, and inclusion by connecting individuals and groups to resources, services, and opportunities. Throughout the years she has been intentional about consistently making the conscious choice to be proactive and thoughtful in her relationships with community organizations and political leaders within her community. Her on the ground experience with local campaigning reaches as far back as 1992, with Mayor Edward D. Bergin Jr. followed by Michael Jarjura, Neil M. O’Leary, Senator Chris Murphy and currently Senator Johanna Hayes. Ary’s ongoing community service, dates back to 1990 with pillars of the Waterbury community, Mildred Paris, Kay Wyrick, Jimmie Lee Griffin, James Monroe and Judge Maurice Mosley, volunteering and participating in numerous community action programs such as, The W.O.W community center, The PRIDE community center, Granville Academy and The Waterbury Center for Economic and Social Justice. In addition, she worked with New Opportunities in their Early Childhood Education program in various capacities including, school readiness and parent and family engagement.
Marci Klein, M.D. – Marci Klein, M.D., is a clinical and academic pediatrician with over 25 years of experience in early childhood development, education, and social-emotional health. She transitioned into education to create engaging, authentic learning opportunities that support all learners. Dr. Klein develops project-based learning resources informed by her deep knowledge of childhood development, diverse learning styles, and social-emotional needs. Her resources focus on real-world problem-solving through community-centered, play-based challenges, blending hands-on creative play, literacy, the arts, culture, and community awareness with traditional STEM education.
Dr. Klein also offers professional development services to families and educators, equipping caregivers with practical strategies to integrate play, and project-based learning into their teaching goals. Her expertise has led to invitations to present at national conferences such as ISTE, FETC, and SXSW EDU, as well as state-specific STEM, EdTech, enrichment, and library-focused conferences. Through her work, Dr. Klein inspires the next generation of innovators to collaborate and create a sustainable, equitable future for all.
Nick Villagra – Nick Villagra is a STEM Engagement & Learning Specialist at the Connecticut Science Center, responsible for developing and delivering science experiences, including classroom lab programs, professional development workshops, gallery science activities, and stage shows. Nick is also a leader in the LEGO Learning Through Play Museum Network, specializing in supporting play-based learning for children of all ages. Nick holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Swarthmore College. When not working on the latest Science Center project, Nick is usually keeping up on the latest news about space exploration or is looking for a good game of Boggle.
Nate Gagnon
Nephertiti Amen – Nephertiti (Neph) Amen is a passionate parent ambassador for the town of Manchester, dedicated to fostering a thriving, healthy community. As a mother, artist, and student, she embraces her inquisitive nature and love for life, always seeking new ways to learn and grow. Wellness is at the core of her values, and she believes that sharing resources and tools for personal and community health is essential for building a vibrant, supportive environment. Neph is committed to helping others maintain balance, wellness, and connection in their everyday lives.
Ann Morgan is a pediatric speech-language pathologist who believes the happiness and health within the home is a child’s greatest predictor of communicative success. When she is not on the ground playing with kids at her various jobs, she is at home doing the world’s hardest but most rewarding job – being a mom to her own 2 young children.
Dr Alicia Berger Harriman
Dr Lauren Young
Michelle Fitzgerald – Michelle Fitzgerald, Bilingual Parent Consultant, received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Quinnipiac University in 2004 with a concentration in sociology and a minor in Spanish. Michelle has dedicated much of her personal and professional experience to supporting families in need within her local community as a mental health counselor in IICAPS, a care coordinator in Child First, and a registered circle of security parent facilitator, as well as a master trainer of Army Family Team Building and a Family Readiness Group leader during her time as an army wife. Michelle is the proud mother of four children; two teenagers and two elementary-aged children. Her oldest and youngest both have an ASD diagnosis and vary drastically in their functionality. Michelle joined CPAC in January 2024 as a bilingual (Spanish) parent consultant and continues her passion for supporting families of children as they advocate, collaborate and navigate through their special needs journey.
Kierra Edwards – Kierra comes to Bridgeport Prospers as the Parent Outreach Coordinator. She is a dedicated Parent Leader who lives and works in Bridgeport community and is excited to connect with more families and share the amazing resources through the new Parents Connecting Parents project. “Over the years, I’ve been involved in various community efforts including addressing homelessness, supporting women, and tackling other public health issues. I’m also a strong advocate for children and families with special needs. Currently, I’m pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services with a concentration in Child and Family studies.”
Tashi Shuler Drakes – Tashi Shuler-Drakes serves as a Parent Ambassador for United Way of Coastal and Western CT, advocating for parent voice in local initiatives and supporting community engagement frameworks. Additionally, she works full time as a Community Engagement Specialist at Sparkler, a developmental screening app for families in CT with children 0-5. She leads on-site training, local outreach, and provides expert support on using Sparkler’s app for healthy early childhood development. She most recently graduated this past year as a Yale New Haven Health C.A.R.E Fellow. She supported equitable research practices in communities of color, focusing on cancer research and patient access to health resources. She has a strong non profit background and has even supported grant writing at a local Stamford organization, Project Music. Lastly, she graduated from Bridgeport PLTI in 2023. With over 6 years of experience in family services, she is trained in Restorative Practices, School Climate, Results-Based Facilitation, Mandated Reporting and NAMI (National Association on Mental Illness) Basics Leader Training.