Frog Street, an early-childhood education company whose curriculum products for learners from birth-5 are used in classrooms across the country, announces the formation of its first-ever, expert Advisory Council. The council includes top early-childhood education leaders who have had impact in public schools, Head Start, childcare and universities. Together, they will play a vital role in guiding Frog Street in product development, and in providing critical insights in service of Frog Street's mission - to empower connected learning communities that inspire confidence and kindness in each child.
“Frog Street is firmly committed to delivering curriculum and supports that meet the highest educational standards and are continually improved based on input from early childhood educators and experts,” said Lee Ramsayer, Chief Executive Officer of Frog Street. “By leveraging the collective expertise and diverse perspectives of the Advisory Council, we will be positioned to advance our work on behalf of the teachers, administrators, families, and caregivers who are shaping brighter futures for children."
Frog Street’s Advisory Council consists of 10 early childhood leaders with decades of experience in the industry, including:
Bob Bialas, Executive VP of Children and Head Start Services, Lutheran Services, Tampa FL
● Bialas joined Lutheran Services Florida in 2019 after retiring as a United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Captain. As the Executive Vice President of Children and Head Start Services, Bialas oversees Head Start services for approximately 5,800 children and families, totaling $53 million, with over 750 employees throughout Florida.
Dr. David Brown, Professor of Curriculum and Instruction, Texas A&M, Commerce, TX
● Dr. Brown is a professor of Early Childhood Education at Texas A&M University-Commerce, specializing in research methodology, curriculum design and early literacy development. Dr. Brown is considered by many to be a leader in the preschool movement and a recognized researcher in the areas of Emergent Literacy and Early Childhood Education.
Lydia Canova, Early Childhood Supervisor, Iberville Parish Schools, Plaquemine, LA
● Canova began her 29-year career as a classroom teacher and reading coach. Canova is also the President of the Iberville Parish Ready Start Network, working towards a local vision for early childhood, and leads the Iberville Parish Community Network, serving as the liaison with the state education department and local care providers.
Dr. Elena Hill, Assistant Superintendent, Dallas, ISD, Dallas, TX
● Dr. Hill, the Assistant Superintendent for Early Learning in Dallas ISD, focuses on creating quality learning environments for children and strengthening PreK-2nd grade teaching teams through coaching structures. With a career spanning 28 years, Dr. Hill has served in various roles, including executive director, elementary principal, assistant principal and Pre-K teacher.
Michele Hoskinson, Special Education Supervisor, Zanesville City Schools, Zanesville, OH
● Hoskinson brings 26 years of experience in the education field with a focus on special needs preschool. Currently, she closely collaborates with students in the county Developmental Disability school, the Head Start program, private and public daycares and the district's preschool program.
Lyndsey Jackson, Coordinator of Pre-k Education, Jefferson Parish Schools, Harvey, LA
● With over 12 years of experience as a preschool teacher for deaf children, Jackson currently serves as the Coordinator of Pre-K Instruction for Jefferson Parish Schools, sharing her passion for early childhood education with over 170 Pre-K classrooms in Louisiana's largest school district.
Dr. Deidre Jones, V.P. Early Childhood Development, Neighborhood House, San Diego, CA
● With extensive experience in early childhood development, Dr. Jones oversees and operates Early Head Start and Head Start programs funded by the California Department of Social Services, California Department of Education and various partnerships, impacting a wide range of children in the county.
Cindy Lehnhoff, Director, National Child Care Association, Dayton Beach, FL
● Lehnhoff has a 36-year career in early childhood education, starting as a preschool teacher for La Petite Academy (LPA) in Oklahoma City. Currently, she serves as the Director of the National Child Care Association (NCCA) and Policy Advisor to the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA), while also serving on the respective boards for over 20 years.
Lori Miranda, Pre-K & ESE Program Administrator, School District of Palm Beach, Palm Beach, FL
● Miranda, a dedicated Florida educator for 34 years, has held various roles, such as classroom teacher, ESE coordinator, reading specialist and regional facilitator. With a passion for cultural fidelity, she has collaborated with the Seminole Tribe of Florida preschools, providing professional development, curriculum support and aligning best practices with cultural values.
James Moses, Regional Director, Child Care Resource Center, San Bernardino, CA
● Moses has been the Regional Director for the Child Care Resource Center in San Bernardino County since 2013, providing support and education to nearly 50,000 children and families each month. James also leads the agency’s strategic engagement in San Bernardino County and works with the broader CCRC team around state and national strategic engagement.
The Advisory Council will collaborate closely with Frog Street's executive team to provide valuable input on product direction, market conditions and customer needs. Council members will actively participate in webinars, case studies, videos and other customer-focused initiatives, ensuring that voices from the field are heard and incorporated into Frog Street's solutions.
The Advisory Council will attend Frog Street's upcoming Splash 2023 Conference at the Gaylord Texan Resort from July 20-22, 2023. To learn more about Splash 2023, visit this link.
For more on Frog Street, visit http://www.frogstreet.com.
About Frog Street
Founded by early childhood educators and experts in 1989, Frog Street provides comprehensive early childhood education solutions to public and private schools, Head Start programs and early child-care centers. Frog Street’s curriculum programs for children from birth to age 5 are based on early brain research and provide intentional age-appropriate instruction that is aligned to both federal and state standards. The company also develops engaging and interactive professional development programs, including product training, conferences, continuing education, and quality assessment tools to measure students’ progress. Frog Street exists to empower connected learning communities and instill confidence and kindness in all children. To learn more, please visit http://www.frogstreet.com.
