Through the Eyes of a Child
 
Meet Our Presenters

Cathie Broocks  currently serves as the Admissions Director of Charlotte Christian School.  She has 30+ years of experience in Early Childhood Education.  Cathie is member of the Oxford Roundtable on Early Childhood as well as a national presenter.  She is also the owner of Rooted and Grounded, providing faculty development and parent education, serving the young child.

Bob Egelson is a licensed Psychologist with a MA in School Psychology and 35 years of experience successfully helping children with challenging behaviors, autism, ADHD, seizure disorders, selective mutism. and rare diseases.  Bob has presented at numerous conferences and for the Guilford County School District. 

Meleah Farlow has been teaching Early Childhood Music and Movement classes since 1999 and is the owner of Baby Grand Music Instruction in High Point. She currently teaches at Child Enrichment in High Point as well as several other daycares and preschools.  Her classes involve lots of movement, imagination, and fun.

Kelli Fitzgibbons is an Early Childhood Education instructor at Central Piedmont Community College.  She is the lead instructor of the Child Development class and the Capstone course.  She has been the Practicum 2 coordinator for the past two semesters.  Kelli is also Toddler CLASS Certified and a Toddler CLASS Train-the-Trainer.

Lisa Godwin has MS and PhD degrees in Family and Child Development.  She has experience teaching infants and toddlers, directing child care facilities, and more than 20 years of’ experience in higher education.  She has completed the Foundations of Infant-Toddler Care Training for Community College Instructors.

Susan Kelley is the Assistant Director of Wesley Memorial School in High Point where she also attended four year old preschool.  She has been the Assistant Director for eighteen years.  Susan’s background and education is in Early Childhood, Business, and Religion.  Susan is a member of the Guild of Family Service of High Point and she volunteers at Wesleyan Christian Academy and Wesley Memorial UMC.

Linda Kinney has worked in the Education Division of the North Carolina Zoo for the past seventeen years.  Linda manages the Zoo’s School Outreach, Summer Camps, and Nature Play programs. She also leads professional  development trainings for educators.  Linda recently received her MA in Play and Playwork from the University of Gloucestershire in England.  Linda is committed to advocating for playing children and can often be found playing outside.

Linda Hamilton has a BA in Early Childhood Education from James Madison University and a M Ed from Queens College.  Linda has 30 years teaching experience in preschool, Transition Kindergarten, and Elementary schools in a variety of states across the country.  Linda is passionate about hands-on integrated curriculum for young children.

Sidney McCrory is the Director of First United Methodist Child Development Center in Waynesville, NC.  This is her sixth year as Director of the Preschool.   She attended Mississippi State University and William Carey College, earning degrees in Fine Arts and Secondary Education.  Before moving to North Carolina, she was a preschool Director for five years in Mississippi.  She has taught 3, 4, and 5 year olds in Preschool and 5th and 6th grades in Elementary School

Jennifer McMasters has been the fun, zany art teacher at University City UMC Weekday School for eleven years.  Jennifer holds a B.A. and Masters in English and a NC Teacher Certification.   She has taught many workshops on creating process art.

Dawn Miller is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in Early Childhood Education.   Dawn has been a teacher at Wesley Memorial School for ten years and has worked to create a fun,, hands-on curriculum for the children in her classes. 

Kimberly Myers is the Director of Child Enrichment at First United Methodist in High Point and has recently accepted the role of Children’s Ministry Coordinator for Nursery and Preschool.  Kimberly says  that she has been blessed to be a part of Child Enrichment  at FUMC for 20 years.  She has also taught 3’s, 4’s, and Pre-K. 

Carol Peace graduated from Guilford Technical Community College.  She has been a K-5 teaching assistant at Wesley Memorial School  for three years and is also the Director of Children’s Ministry for 16 years at her home church. 

Jenny Reilly is the Director of Christian Education at Salem United Methodist in Denver, NC.  Jenny holds BA degrees in Math and Religion from Greensboro College and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Pfeiffer University.  Her experiences include being a Preschool Director, an Afterschool Director, a Director of Children’s Ministry, and a Director of Christian Education, working with children of all ages in these endeavors.  Jenny is a workshop and retreat leader for district, conference, and local church events.  

Sue Ann Sardelis earned an undergraduate degree from Radford University and her Masters degree from UNC-Charlotte.  She taught in an elementary public school for eight years.  For the past eight years, Sue has been teaching four year olds at University City UMC Weekday Preschool.    Sue says she has found her passion teaching at the preschool level.

Valerie Secker has been the Charlotte Director of Atomz Lab for five years.   Atomz Lab is a locally-owned and operated science enrichment company that provides classes, field trips, special events, and other services to Charlotte-area preschools, elementary schools, and groups.

Heather Skeen earned her Undergraduate Degree from Appalachian State University and her M.Ed from NCCU.  Heather previously taught preschool at University City UMC and also worked in public education with Preschool Children for 10+ years.  She is now a Lead Speech Language Pathologist.

Ellen Solbakken is the School Kids Director at Huntersville Presbyterian and she has over 25 years of experience in Child Care Ministry.   Ellen earned her BA from UNC Greensboro and Child Care Administrative training from Rowan Cabarrus Community College.  Ellen is a former preschool, Transitional Kindergarten, and high school teacher.  She also taught a pilot training program for Making Great Readers  at the preschool level.

Susan Sumpter has served for 17 years as Director of Wesley Memorial School at Wesley Memorial UMC in High Point.  She is a graduate of High Point University with a degree in Early Childhood Education and a teaching certification Birth—3rd Grade.  Prior positions during her 38 years at WMUMC have included roles as Assistant Director and Kindergarten Fives Lead Teacher.  Susan enjoys the blessing of three grandsons, one of whom attends Wesley Memorial School. 

Heidi Tringali is an Occupational Therapist with 25 years of experience.  She is the owner of Tringali Occupational Therapy Services.  Heidi provides OT and ST services to private and independent schools in the greater Charlotte area.  She also provides teacher and parent seminars on Childhood Development.

Jennifer Waid is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist.  For over  20 years she has practiced in a variety of settings including a special needs daycare, inpatient child psychiatry, and private practice.  She now owns and  runs a series of developmental enrichment groups for 3, 4, and Pre-K preschool classes called “Play ‘n’ Progress”.

Amanda Zaidman is a licensed clinical social worker and owner of Constructive Parenting, OLLC in Charlotte.    Amanda received a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Duke University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from UNC-Chapel Hill.  Amanda has a NC license in school social work and a background working with preschoolers and preschool teachers on social-emotional awareness.