Debra Pierce is a professor of Early Childhood Education, having taught at a large, community college in Indiana for over 20 years. Her professional background has always involved children. She began her career as a primary grades teacher in the Chicago Public School system, was a teacher of 3 and 4 year-olds in a NAEYC accredited preschool for 15 years, and a certified Parent Educator for the National Parents as Teachers Program. She is also a Higher Education Faculty and course developer for Child Care Aware of America and CDA course developer for the State of South Dakota. Debra is a certified trainer for several states, including New Jersey and Minnesota. Debra has taught CDA courses to high school career/tech dual credit juniors and seniors in preparation for earning their CDA credentials. She is a frequent presenter at national and state early childhood conferences. She received a commendation for her creative use of the Starting Small anti-bias curriculum with her college students from the Southern Poverty Law Center. Debra has also been a college student mentor for the Pass the Torch for Women Foundation. Mrs. Pierce is a featured blogger on the BAM! Radio Network and records podcasts frequently on this network with other early childhood professionals, including Rhian Evans Allvin, former CEO of NAEYC She was also awarded the NISOD Teaching Excellence Award by the University of Texas. Debra is active in her community, supporting children's literacy and is on the board of directors of First Book in Indianapolis. Debra is a contributing author for Hamilton County Family Magazine and Indy's Child. Debra has spent the last 22 years dedicated to the success of those pursuing the CDA credential and is the author of The CDA Prep Guide: The Complete Review Manual for the Child Development Associate Credential, now in its 4th edition (Redleaf Press), the only publication of its kind. She has a close relationship with the Council for Professional Recognition (the CDA Council), as a CDA Professional Development Specialist, a CDA Council Gold Standard Training Reviewer, and a CDA Council Alumni Network Ambassador for the Midwest states. She was recently nominated by the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences for a Bammy Award for Professor of the Year and was named as One of the Nation's Top Educators to Watch. Debra lives with her husband north of Indianapolis with their two rescue dogs, Sierra and Kelly. She is the mother of 3 sons and has 2 grandsons.
Professor Patricia Dickmann
Patti Dickmann is an associate professor of Early Childhood Education, having taught close to 30 years in a large, community college in Indiana. Her love of young children started from an early age... from cadet teaching and babysitting as a teenager to volunteering with the Head Start program during college. Patti has over 43 years of experience working with young children, from birth through Kindergarten, as a teacher in childcare centers and as a center director. Patti was the director of the Lab School at a community college in Indianapolis. She worked with a local school system in the Indianapolis area to establish a preschool for Spanish speaking children, who would eventually transition into the public school system. As an Early Childhood faculty, she placed students from the College in that school for their student teaching experiences. Patti was instrumental in developing course curriculum for the college Early Childhood Education program, as well as teaching Associate degree and CDA courses, both face-to-face and in online formats, for nearly 30 years. Patti is a certified Professional Development Specialist for the Council for Professional Recognition. In her spare time, she is an avid quilter and gardener. Patti has one son, Max, a bulldog, and two Shar Pei puppies.
Elisa Schleig
Elisa Schleig is the Education Manager for SCCAA Head Start in Canton Ohio. Besides being a manager, Elisa is a PD Specialist and CAN ambassador for the Council for Professional Development. Elisa graduated from Kent State with her Associates, University of Akron with her Bachelor’s, and Malone University with her Masters in Early Childhood Education. Elisa has lived in 6 states (New York City, Hawaii, California, Florida, Tennessee and Ohio). She sits on the advisory board for the NE Ohio March of Dimes, Development Committee for Gi Gi’s Playhouse, Communication Chair for Kent State alumni board, the advisory board for RG Drage ECE, and the Board of Directors College Club of Canton. Elisa has worked in ECE for 38 years and worked at state funded, private and non- profit, school districts, and federally funded programs. She has worked in a variety of positions such as Director, Trainer, Project Manager and Adjunct. She has been married to husband Shawn for 35 years and has four adult children and two grandbabies. All her children are adopted from different countries and are known as the Schleig Nations!