I have been the Director and Teacher at the Roseville Community Preschool in Roseville, CA for over 40 years now.  During the early years of my teaching I developed a reputation as a play advocate and as having a knack for developing creative art activities for young children.  This led to other educators asking me to present workshops to their school’s staff members and parents on these subjects.  I never imagined I would still be doing it after all this time, but in looking back, I know it has contributed greatly to my growth as a teacher.  In an effort to help my fellow educators, my presentation subject matter has grown and developed over the years as well and ultimately culminating in the authoring of four books for teachers and parents: Don’t Move the Muffin Tins – a hands off guide to art for young children, Before the Basics, Together We’re Better, and Tumbling Over the Edge – a rant for children’s play.

Since the mid-70’s, I estimate I’ve presented over 6,000 workshops and keynotes on topics relevant to the field of early childhood education.  I have been fortunate to have traveled to every state and also to Canada, Japan and Europe to speak as well.  After forty years of classroom experience I still find myself “in the trenches” and I very much appreciate the credibility this has given me with my peers.  I continue to accept invitations to speak for teacher organizations, parent groups, child care professionals and college classes.

In addition to my books, I have also produced two DVDs for parents and teachers titled, Starting At Square One and Come On And Sing, and recorded ten CDs of music and storytelling with Michael Leeman and Tom Hunter – published by Turn the Page Press, Inc., a company I own and operate.  When I’m not at the school or on the road for a speaking engagement, I perform community concerts for families with young children with Michael Leeman, my son-in-law.  I have five grown children, fourteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Over the years, whenever I’ve shared a new idea or introduced a new activity to the classroom, I’ve often resorted to the phrase, “. . . this is the very best thing I do” not so much to blow my own horn, but to hopefully inspire people who work with children to re-connect with the unabashed passion and curiosity of their own childhoods and to bring it back to their teaching.  After all, isn’t that what all children deserve from us?