RIE^® Associates

Kumiko Akiyama is a mother of two children and she holds a degree in Psychology with Early Childhood Education certificate. She felt immediate connection with Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach, when she first attended RIE Parent-Infant Guidance Class with her daughter. It inspired her to work with infants and toddlers at an international nursery and begin her journey in RIE Professional Development training in 2018. She is passionate about daily caregiving that can transform relationship and build deeper connection with young children. Kumiko has lived abroad for over 20 years and she values diversity in education. Kumiko will be offering in-person classes in Canada and online classes in Japan.

My name is Jessica Ballenger. I’m an Angeleno who’s been working in ECE since 2003, as a teacher. I’ve had the pleasure of working with children 4 months to 5 years of age. It was in working at my first Reggio inspired school that I began working with infants and in turn learned about RIE. Aside from my experience in ECE, my BA in psychology and MA in Marriage and Family therapy, have guided my interactions and work with families. My passion has always been to guide children toward a future where they’re successful in relationships, have a positive self-worth and efficacy, integrity, etc and RIE has helped me find a way to communicate this to adults who care for children. I believe that our future can be bright when we all interact with even the youngest of children with respect.

Leith Speer Barton is a RIE Associate, Certified Parent Coach, Fair Play Facilitator and mother of two. She coaches parents 1-1 virtually worldwide and facilitates RIE Parent-Infant Guidance classes in-person in New York City. Previously an editor and brand consultant specializing in the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle industries, Leith naturally began applying her consultant lens to the issues she faced as a new parent. She identified the “problems” and looked for solutions. Dubious of trends and “quick fixes”, the simplicity and timelessness of Magda Gerber’s Educaring® Approach immediately resonated with her. After enrolling in local RIE Parent-Infant Guidance™ classes in New York, Leith’s love of the Educaring Approach blossomed. She took RIE Foundations: Theory and Observation in 2017 in Los Angeles and over the following 5 years was fortunate enough to train with several RIE Associates and RIE Mentors. Leith became a RIE Associate in 2022 and now applies her consulting lens full-time to working with parents, caregivers, and professionals in the field of Early Childhood.

Debbie Bergstrom studied with Magda Gerber starting in 1986. She studied at the Emmi Pikler Institute, Budapest Hungary in 2008. She is a WestEd PITC Graduate. She has worked in Child and Youth programs for over 39 years. Debbie has worked with a variety of infant/toddler programs and has conducted seminars and training in Italy, New Zealand, Australia, and throughout the United States. She is currently an ECE Consultant.

Lisa Chariff Better became a RIE Associate in 2010. She observed her first RIE Parent-Infant Guidance class in Los Angeles many years earlier and became a passionate advocate for Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach. Lisa attended the Pikler Institute Training 2010-2013, 2016 where she studied under Anna Tardos. Lisa was the RIE Alliance Chairperson on the RIE Board. She is a mentor, trainer and consultant in the Educaring Approach. Lisa also volunteers as a Guardian ad Litem in Miami-Dade County, and was honored as Guardian ad Litem of the Year 2010. A Miami resident, Lisa introduced the Educaring Approach to the area in 2004 and taught Parent-Infant Guidance classes for both infants and toddlers.

Rebecca Bowler has been a RIE Associate since 1994, a member of the RIE Alliance since 2008, and a former member of the RIE DEI Task Force. A longtime RIE nanny, Rebecca is fortunate to have trained with Magda in the early 1990s. Rebecca practiced Esalen Massage® from 1994 – 2018 and she is the former Managing Editor at Underwood Books. Currently, Rebecca is a Spa Manager at Cavallo Point Healing Arts Center & Spa in Sausalito, and Director of Sales for IKAATI tea. Rebecca’s daughter, once a RIE baby, then Waldorf student, is now a teen at Marin School of the Arts where Rebecca sits as a Director on the MSA Foundation Board. Rebecca is passionate about RIE parenting and community, preserving Magda’s legacy, Waldorf education, writing, gardening, theater, and anything orange. She plans to offer RIE Parent-Infant Guidance™ and RIE Before Baby™ classes in Marin in the future.

Mary Louise Brennan studied with Magda Gerber both at Pacific Oaks College and at the Los Angeles RIE Center and has been a RIE Associate since 1989. She is an Infant Toddler Program Consultant and RIE Foundations Instructor, currently working with infants and toddlers in a child development center in downtown Portland. Mary Louise has presented at national and international seminars and workshops. She is a passionate professional with over 35 years experience working and learning with the very youngest children, their parents and their teachers.

Shannon Carr became a RIE Associate in 2020, but has been in inspired of the Educaring Approach since learning about it in 2002. She has worked with families and early childhood professionals in some capacity since 1994 as an early childhood professional, director, parent educator, advocate for children in foster care, and trainer. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Development. Shannon is a Child Development Specialist, Consultant, Trainer, Mother & Owner of RISE where she provides workshops to parents and early childhood providers, facilitates parent-infant guidance classes, and consults privately with families and professionals. She is also the founder of Friends of RIE Community Engagement (FORCE) where parents & professionals gather, learn, connect, and collaborate (risechild.com/FORCE).

Michelle Cescatti is a former elementary school educator. Profoundly moved by the Parent-Infant Guidance classes she attended with her child, she began her RIE training in 2014, and became a RIE Associate in 2017. She is grateful for and inspired by the wise and experienced counsel of her mentors, Deborah Carlisle Solomon, Elizabeth Memel, and Ruth Anne Hammond. Michelle is particularly committed to seeing children as unique individuals who thrive as their authentic selves when given the freedom and space to do so. She facilitates RIE Parent-Infant Guidance Orientation classes in the Los Angeles area, and looks forward to facilitating Parent-Infant Guidance classes of her own very soon.

Elsa Chahin is a gifted writer, teacher, and infant-toddler care specialist with decades of experience working around the globe. An in-demand keynote speaker who has been featured at over 250 national and international conferences and seminars, Elsa is also president of Pikler/Loczy USA, and, as one of only two certified and accredited Pikler trainers in North America, she brings her expertise to – and love for – the vital field of raising healthy, happy children.

Marinda KengFan Chan has a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Social Work from University of Michigan and a Master’s Degree in Theology from Loyola Marymount University. She has worked in the field of psychotherapy and family therapy for 20 years. Marinda is also a Feldenkrais practitioner. In 2015, she completed her RIE training and became a RIE Associate. She is looking forward to introducing the Educaring Approach as an insightful educational philosophy in Asia. Being a clinical practitioner for decades, her passion is to bridge the interdisciplinary relationship within deep psychology and theology of the soul, as well as utilize the creative power with the Educaring Approach to create a practical curriculum for “heart” formation to prepare our children for the future.

Dr. Christina Cohen is a Clinical Psychologist and Parent & Family Support Specialist who works with children, adolescents, adults and couples as a Parent Coach and Therapist. She began her RIE Professional Development training in 2015 and is honored to share Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach with the parent and childcare community. Parents describe her classes as both meditative and immensely useful. Her group talks and therapy sessions offer valuable and tangible support to parents and childcare workers looking to experience more joy and authenticity in their relationships with children.

Valorie Cole has been a student and advocate of RIE and the Educaring Approach since 1989, when she attended her first RIE course. This led to in-depth studies in infant and toddler care and development, including attending PITC and traveling to Budapest to see and experience Loczy. She was a part of the planning and implementation of Cottage Hospital’s RIE Accreditation in 1991 and later worked with teen parents at two local high schools, teaching parenting skills and caring for their infants and toddlers. Valorie was then hired by Discoveries Learning Center to open and direct Early Discoveries Toddler Center, and later became the Director of both programs. Her current goals are to spend lots of quality time with her 11 grandchildren; she is currently retired from all active RIE work while caring for her elderly parents.

Melissa Coyné is an Early Childhood Educator who has over 30 years of experience building relationships with children and adults who care for them. In addition to holding a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Child Development, she is a RIE Associate and a certified PITC (Program for Infant/Toddler Care) trainer. Melissa was first introduced to the Educaring Approach by the early childhood program where she worked for 22 years and cultivated her commitment to philosophical integrity. She facilitates RIE courses in the Los Angeles area and has presented workshops on how to respectfully parent tweens and teens. As a mother of a young adult and older teen, Melissa has seen the results of the power of relationships built on connection and collaboration that began in infancy. She is passionate about inspiring adults and children to be critical thinkers in areas of anti-bias practices, equity and self-awareness.

Alex Curtis has presented nationally and internationally on a variety of “birth to two” topics. Author of Simple Toys Make Active Babies, a book about play spaces for infants and toddlers, Alexandra earned her Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education and Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies with a Public Health focus at the University of South Florida. She is working on her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education at Portland State University. Mother to three lovely children, Alex was a founding Board Member of the Pikler/Loczy USA Fund and the Hillsborough County Breastfeeding Taskforce. She is an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and works at Lane Community College’s Family Connections program, providing training to Early Childhood Educators and Providers.

Jennifer Curtis was first introduced to the teachings of Magda Gerber by her Montessori mentor in 1997. Over the years to follow, initially while classroom teaching, then as a school director, teacher trainer, professional nanny and community-based service provider, the Educaring Approach continually informed her practice and elevated her relationships with children and adults, alike. In 2015, Jennifer embraced a long-held dream of professionally sharing the Educaring Approach with others and became a RIE Associate in 2022. With an enduring passion for promoting the importance of primary relationships from birth, Jennifer provides nurturing, respectful, holistic support and guidance for families in the perinatal year and beyond through Heartful Birth. She offers classes for parents and professionals in her beautiful Novato classroom, as well as private family support and program consulting in Marin and Sonoma Counties. Jennifer is also a DONA-Certified Birth Doula, Certified Instructor of Infant Massage, and credentialed Montessori ECE teacher.

I am retired and do occasional support for parents and mentor early childhood classrooms.

When a friend gave her Your Self-Confident Baby by Magda Gerber, Jennifer had no idea it would change her life. With an MBA and 15-year career in brand management/marketing in the US and Asia, she followed her two babies into Magda Gerber’s world of respect and appreciation for infants and the adults who care for them. They attended RIE Parent-Infant Guidance classes and Jennifer began RIE training in 2014, once both children were in school. An Associate since 2017, she has completed Introductory and Advanced-Level Pikler Training with Anna Tardos & Agnes Szanto. Jennifer holds an MA in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College specializing in infants and toddlers, and wrote her thesis on early sharing behaviors. She is the Secretary of the RIE Board of Directors, Chair of the Marketing Committee and a Practicum mentor. She facilitates RIE classes in San Francisco’s East Bay and consults with parents, professionals and programs. She has spoken at the RIE, CAEYC and EHS conferences. She loves helping parents and carers do the world’s most important job.

Anita Cooper Ebright became a RIE Associate in 1992 while working with Magda Gerber at RIE during a sabbatical year. She has been a  Foundations Instructor and Parent-Infant Guidance Class Facilitator. Anita attended Pacific Oaks College for her Master’s degree work. From 1986 to the present, after many years of working directly with children’s programs, she joined the ECE faculty at Lethbridge College in Alberta, Canada.

Polly Elam studied and worked with Magda Gerber for over 20 years and served on the RIE Board of Directors from 1986 to 2020. She served as President from 2011-2020. Polly first studied at the Pikler Institute in 1986 and returned regularly until 2012. She presented at the Pikler International Conference in Hungary in 2007. She is a WestEd PITC Graduate and has experience as a Regional Child Development Program Administrator and Community College Instructor. She was a contributing writer to ‘Authentic Relationships in Group Care for Infants and Toddlers, RIE Principles into Practice.’ As an ECE Consultant, Polly worked with First5 Monterey County, California, as a Technical Assistant and Coach with the Migrant Infant and Toddler Care Centers from 2009- 2020. She has conducted seminars and training in Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the United States. She and her husband, Joseph, relocated to Puyallup, Washington, in 2020.

Kristin Eliasberg, inspired by the Parent-Infant Guidance classes she attended with her daughter, embarked on her RIE training in 2008. She is now a RIE Mentor Teacher, and facilitates RIE Certified Parent-Infant Guidance classes in downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn. She is grateful for the inspiration and guidance of her mentors, Beverly Kovach and Ruth Anne Hammond. She has also attended Pikler trainings, in addition to helping found the first downtown Manhattan Waldorf school. Her experiences as a professional dancer, yoga instructor and journalist inform her work with infants, toddlers, and their parents. She lives with her daughter in Brooklyn, NY.

Ksenia is an infant and toddler specialist. Originally from Russia, she lives and works in Israel. She holds a master’s degree in child development from the University of Haifa. She was also trained at Pikler-Loczy Association, Hungary, in the basics of Pikler® approach. She has been working in child care settings for ten years, eight of them with infants and toddlers. Ksenia is a co-founder and former director of Educare Gan and Studio Kids, both RIE® and Pikler®-inspired English-speaking child care centers for children birth to three in Tel Aviv, Israel. Her main focuses are attachment theory and regulation, relationship-based curriculum, and socio-emotional and gross motor development of infants and toddlers. Infants and toddlers deserve to be respected for who they are, and it is her mission to put this respect into actions.

I’m an educator, mom, and RIE Associate. Families know what type of environment they want to raise their children in – one that is deeply reflective of their culture, language, and values. When I first started on the journey of becoming a parent coach, I practiced a one-size, fits all approach. But I realized that context is everything. Now, I think the most important thing to understand is what are the family’s goals. Drawing from attachment theory, educating, home visiting, and mindfulness, I work with parents and caregivers who want to feel more ease or more confident. In addition to being a RIE Associate, Jessica works at ParentChild+ to support the implementation, learning, and quality assurance for a national parent-child home visiting program. Prior, Jessica worked for Montefiore Medical Center’s Group Attachment Based Intervention (GABI), where she assisted with dyadic and play therapy in addition to managing clinical assessments.

Lee Fernandez is inspired by the work of infant specialist Magda Gerber and physician-educator Maria Montessori. She currently conducts RIE Parent-Infant Guidance classes in the San Francisco Bay Area. Lee has 45 years of experience in Early Childhood Education as a parent educator, preschool teacher, author, and administrator of university, military and private programs. Lee has a MA in Human Development, specializing in Infants and Toddlers from Pacific Oaks College, Pasadena, CA where she trained directly with Magda Gerber, and a Montessori Teaching Certificate from Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL and St. Nicholas Montessori in London, England.

Angela R. Fisher, Ph.D. holds a Ph.D. in Infant-Toddler Developmental Psychology. She is an NJ-Infant Mental Health Mentor- IV [Policy], a Certified Infant Massage Educator, Childbirth Doula, and serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Early Childhood Graduate Department at City University in New York. She consults with parents, caregivers, and educators on developmentally appropriate and respectful practices with infants and toddlers nationally and internationally. She facilitates RIE Certified Parent-Infant Guidance classes in the New York/New Jersey area. Angela’s scholarly research and parent-infant observation tool are uniquely influenced by Magda Gerber’s work. She is dedicated to supporting parent-infant relationships across cultures based on Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach.

Cassie is the founder and director of Blue Leaf School™. She graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a degree in Elementary Education and has worked with children for over 20 years. She has worked as a teacher, curriculum director, and executive director before having children. After becoming a mom, she learned about RIE and was inspired by the work of Magda Gerber. Cassie brings Magda’s lessons of respect and care into her relationships with children.

Yu earned her Ph.D. in Human Development from Cornell University and discovered the Educaring Approach in 2015 while seeking optimal care practices for infants and toddlers. Since then, she has incorporated the Educaring Approach into her research and child-rearing methods. In addition to RIE, Yu is pursuing professional training in Feldenkrais and advanced coursework focusing on children aged 0-2. She is also trained in several trauma healing modalities for adults, including Generative Trance, Somatic Experiencing, and Focusing. These diverse areas of study fuel Yu’s ongoing quest to develop a holistic path to well-being from the beginning of one’s life and to provide comprehensive support for families with young children. Born and raised in China, Yu is particularly passionate about sharing her knowledge with the Chinese community.

Lisa Sunbury Gerber has dedicated her life to caring for, supporting, and advocating for infants and toddlers and their families, and enjoys introducing future early childhood professionals to respectful caregiving practices through her role as an adjunct professor of ECE at Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA. Lisa holds a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Lesley University and was introduced to Magda Gerber’s RIE philosophy during a conference for infant teachers held in Boston in 1998. This eye-opening experience led to Lisa relocating to Los Angeles to become an intern and study with Magda Gerber at the original home of RIE in Silverlake, California, where she also served as RIE’s Office Manager for four years, and on RIE’s Board of Directors for two years. For more than 20 years Lisa has shared her knowledge and love of RIE through her varied roles in the field of early care and education including as a professional nanny, as an infant/toddler teacher and program administrator, via conference presentations, and by facilitating Parent-Infant Guidance classes and workshops for parents and professionals. She’s proud to have collaborated with Janet Lansbury to introduce RIE to a global audience through social media. Today, Lisa homeschools her ten-year-old daughter, as well as offering Parent-Infant Guidance classes, consulting with families by phone, and offering an on-line support and discussion group via Mighty Networks.

Marcela Giannini, RIE Associate and Alliance Member, studied and mentored under RIE Founder and Infant Specialist, Magda Gerber and facilitates RIE Certified Parent-Infant Guidance classes In Orange County. She also conducts the Introduction to Educaring, Before Baby, Nurturing Nanny courses both in group and private as well as other workshops locally introducing RIE’s Educaring Approach to parents and infant/toddler caregivers interested in practicing respectful care-giving based on the RIE philosophy.

Hari Grebler has been supporting families with young children for over 35 years. She founded Hari’s RIE Studio in Santa Monica in 1990 and offers Parent-Child classes, private consulting and professional mentoring. Her practice is based on the work of Magda Gerber, founder of RIE and Dr. Emmi Pikler, with insights from Waldorf education. Hari Grebler is a RIE Associate, Early Childhood Waldorf Educator and a Pikler Pedagogue candidate. Hari lives in Venice, CA with her husband and her two children.

Deborah Greenwald joined WestEd in 2002 as a Senior Program Associate at the Center for Child and Family Studies. She directs the Infant/Toddler Guidelines Project for the California Department of Education and is a faculty member of the Program for Infant/Toddler Caregiver Institutes. Prior to working at WestEd, Greenwald spent 15 years in infant/toddler group care. She also taught RIE Parent-Infant Guidance classes and was an infant/toddler specialist in a resource and referral agency. Deborah received a BA in Child Development from Humboldt State University and an MA in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College. She also holds certificates from the American Montessori Society and Resources for Infant Educarers. She provides training on infant toddler care and development around the country.

Abhirami Gunasingam became a RIE^® Associate in 2023. She has a B.Sc. in Biology from the University of British Columbia and a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education with a specialization in childhood trauma from Pacific Oaks College. She successfully completed three Resources for Infant Educarers^® (RIE) Internships with RIE Associates Ruth Anne Hammond, Anita Cooper Ebright, Kristy Lynn Thomas, and Melissa Coyné, respectively. Abhirami Gunasingam fell in love with Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach in 2015 through the eyes of RIE Associate Elizabeth Memel, who continues to be her mentor and advocate. Abhirami Gunasingam is the owner and operator of Bridges Care and Education Center, a licensed home-based early childhood education program inspired by Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach, located in Michigan. She believes that her role, as a caregiver and teacher, is to build reciprocal, committed relationships with young humans, their families, and her community at large. In line with this belief she is actively engaged with young humans on a daily basis along with sharing educational resources by presenting at conferences, providing training sessions in her community, and publishing. Abhirami Gunasingam has been working directly with young humans since 2010.

Ruth Anne Hammond is the author of Respecting Babies: A Guide to Educaring for Parents and Professionals 2nd Edition (Zero to Three, 2009, 2019). Having been mentored by Magda Gerber, she works with parents and professionals in the US and abroad. A past President of RIE, Ruth Anne served on the board of directors for 22 years and continues to support the organization through committee work. As Sr. Adjunct Faculty and Master Teacher in the Infant/Toddler-Parent Program she taught at Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School from 1996 to 2014. Ruth Anne currently serves on the board of Families Forward Learning Center as Chair of the Programs Advisory Committee. She is a longtime member of researcher and psychologist Allan Schore’s Right Brain Study Group and spends so much time with her nose in a book that when her 4-year-old grandson calls, he doesn’t say, ”Hi.” He says, “Nai Nai, are you reading?”

Eileen Henry, RIE Associate and one of the first “child sleep consultants” in the U.S., has 20 years of experience helping families worldwide achieve peaceful and lasting sleep. Compassionate Sleep Solutions are rooted in the RIE Approach of respectful care and Regulatory Theory. Eileen offers a gentle, honest and realistic approach to child sleep that integrates the needs of the child with the needs of modern day family life.

Johanna Herwitz holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. A Licensed Clinical Psychologist in New York State, she treats individuals and couples in her private practice. She mentors Practicum students and provides in person or virtual consultations for families. She serves as Vice President of Pikler Loczy USA and President of the Women’s Mental Health Consortium. She has three adult children and lives in New York City with her husband.

Linda Hinrichs is a Child Development Specialist and former Chair of the RIE Alliance of Associates. She met and began her work with Magda Gerber in 1978 and served on the RIE Board of Directors from 1985-1990. She is a graduate of Cedars-Sinai Hospital Therapeutic Nursery Training Program and the Director of The Children’s Corner Play Center in Topanga, California, which she founded in 1980. Linda also consults with parents and offers parent education classes at her Center which serves children from 2-5 years of age. Linda began her studies at the Emmi Pikler Institute in Budapest, Hungary, with Anna Tardos and colleagues, in 1986 and has returned numerous times for every available English training over the past 30 years. She was a presenter at the 2007 Pikler International Conference in Hungary. While Children’s Corner closed from March until September, 2020 Linda re-opened with 1/3 the number of children in order to continue to carry the RIE message to families and to serve her community during the pandemic.

Nellie started learning about Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach in 2013 and has been deepening her knowledge and professional practice of it in the years since. With over ten years experience working with infants and toddlers in group care settings in Sydney, Australia, Nellie has worked to adapt the Educaring principles to guide centre practice in the Australian context. Nellie also gained experience working as a Nanny during her time living in Vancouver, Canada. Recently, Nellie has built community through the workshops and network meetings she facilitates for Australian early childhood professionals as part of her role on the board of ITANA (Infant & Toddler Advocacy Network Australia). As a RIE Associate, she hopes to continue her work growing community, and supporting families and early childhood professionals through providing RIE certified classes. In 2021, Nellie completed her Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) through Macquarie University and received the university Award for Academic Excellence. She has also completed the three Basic Level Pikler modules. Nellie currently works for Storypark within their Professional Learning and Development team and continues to work as a reliever in early childhood settings in Wollongong and Sydney.

Lindsey Hogenson became a RIE® Associate in 2022. She was first inspired by RIE while taking her ECE degree at Lethbridge College when she had the opportunity to observe Anita Cooper Ebright’s Parent Infant class. Shortly after graduating (2012) she started her RIE journey (2013) and has never looked back. She counts herself fortunate to have had many RIE mentors through the process of becoming a RIE Associate as she has learnt a lot from each of them. She is passionate about helping families and caregivers build meaningful, collaborative, honest relationships with infants and toddlers. She is currently working for Lethbridge College as an ECE practicum supervisor and is a full-time stay-at-home mom of 3. She is looking forward to sharing more about Magda Gerber’s methods and teachings with Families and fellow Educators in Canada, and around the world, and is excited to start teaching RIE Certified classes in the near future.

Laurel Johnson, MSW is a child development specialist who has worked with children and families for more than two decades as an early childhood educator, social worker, family support specialist, and caregiver. Her current roles include offering support as a parent educator, parent-child class facilitator, and community college instructor working with early childhood educators. She studied Family Studies and Human Development at the University of Arizona and earned her Master’s degree in Social Welfare with a concentration in direct practice in child and family services at the University of California, Berkeley.

Laurel officially began her RIE^® professional development journey in 2018 and is grateful to be able to continue exploring Magda’s approach with families and early childhood professionals as a RIE^® Associate. The practices of mindfulness, self-compassion, and self care–along with independent and guided self-reflection–deeply inform Laurel’s approach and she believes them to be integral to both general well-being, as well as intentional, respectful caregiving.

Laurel provides thoughtful, empowering, and effective support to families. She offers welcoming spaces for parents to discuss child development and behaviors while sharing the ups and downs of parenthood. She is committed to ensuring that the caregiving experience is sustainable and nurturing for both parents and children.

Wendy Kronick served on the RIE Board of Directors from 1999-2004. She became passionate about RIE in 1992 as a result of attending Liz Memel’s Parent-Infant Guidance class with her then four-month-old son. She became certified as a RIE Parent-Infant Guidance Class Facilitator in 1997 and has taught in Santa Monica and the West Side. Wendy now facilitates three classes at the RIE Center in Los Angeles.

Karla Lee Kuester has been a RIE Associate since 1989. She holds degrees in Early Childhood Education, Developmental Psychology, Fine Art. Karla has been working with young children and families since 1977, as a Certified Montessori preschool teacher, infant specialist, an Early Interventionist (birth-3, atypical development), Behavior Interventionist and Child Development Consultant. She is currently a Behavior/ Early Interventionist for the Step By Step EDUTheraPlay Child Dev. Program in Santa Monica. She teaches “Infants, Toddlers & Caregivers” at UC Irvine each year. She was the in-house CD Specialist at UCLA Krieger Center from 2009-2015 and taught at the UCLA Graduate School IMPACT Urban Teacher Residency Program, 2012. Karla is a published author, CD/ECE consultant and has served as a Private Tutor (enrichment/remediation) from 1988 to the present. She was invited to sit on the Exec. Committee of the Assoc. of Child Dev. Specialists of L.A. (ACDS-LA) from 2017- present.

Melani Ladygo has a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development from California State University, Los Angeles. She has been teaching Parent-Infant Guidance classes for well over a decade and is teaching all throughout the Valley, as well as from her home in Tarzana. In addition to the classes and consulting she offers, she has presented workshops on Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach in a variety of conference settings and was the Program and Office Manager at the RIE Center in Hollywood for almost a decade before returning as the organization’s Interim Executive Director in late 2023. She first fell in love with the Approach in a child care center where she worked as an Infant/Toddler Master Lead Teacher for many years. Melani feels strongly that this Approach strengthens bonds between parents and children, and fosters the development of competent, capable, and creative children.

Janet Lansbury has brought global recognition to Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach through her website, http://janetlansbury.com. Featured in the New Yorker, Washington Post, New York Times, CNN, Janet has authored two bestselling books, Elevating Child Care: A Guide to Respectful Parenting and No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame. She is also the creator and host of the podcast “Janet Lansbury Unruffled,” which receives over one million downloads each month. Her latest creation is the No Bad Kids Master Course: http://nobadkidscourse.com, designed to offer everything parents and professionals need to internalize Janet’s relationship-centered, Magda-inspired discipline approach, which Janet developed through her decades teaching parent-toddler classes. Introduced to RIE in 1993 when her first child was three months old, Janet went on to train with Magda Gerber and became an Associate and Parent-Infant Guidance Class Facilitator in 1994. A year later, Magda asked Janet to join the RIE Board of Directors where she served for over 20 years. Besides sharing Magda’s wisdom through her website, books, social media pages, and podcasts, Janet enjoys facilitating parent-child groups, consulting with families and professionals, and most of all, spending time with her three RIE babies, ages 30, 26, and 21.

Aletheia Lee, DPhil. is a neuroscientist and early childhood practitioner focused on developmental sciences and infant-toddler care and education. She supports families and professionals with the Educaring Approach, working with an integrative philosophy that combines brain, body, mind, spirit, and concepts of self. She started her journey with RIE in 2015 and has worked with RIE communities in London, California, China, Australia, and South East Asia. She holds a DPhil in Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics from the University of Oxford, and a Masters in Psychology from the National University of Singapore. She is passionate about the human design, our adaptive capacity, and our wonderful ability to learn. In Singapore, she offers Parent-Infant Guidance classes and teaches infant-toddler development and responsive curriculum in the Early Childhood Education programme at Singapore University of Social Sciences.

Kimberley Lewis became a RIE® Associate in 2010. She has an MEd in Early Childhood Education from Antioch University New England. Kimberley has taught parent/child, nursery, preschool and kindergarten classes in Waldorf settings since 2007. She’s also an avid student of Emmi Pikler. She is passionate about integrating RIE, Pikler, Waldorf and other studies in embryology, neuroscience and embodiment towards educating others on the foundational first three years of life. Kimberley is currently retired from teaching to make time to research and write a book entitled “Conception to I-Consciousness.”

Allison Manuel has worked in Montessori and early-childhood education for over 15 years. She loves working with families to help them on the path of RIE as new parents or to help families better understand how to set up their environment for their infants and toddlers. She also consults with daycares and caregivers on how to best implement the RIE and Montessori practices for children birth-3. She currently works as a toddler teacher and enjoys being with her family and 3 young children. She is approachable, compassionate and uses her sense of humor in working with families.

Elena’s journey has been a foray in trying to understand what Magda Gerber’s Educaring™ Approach might look like in different contexts. She is passionate about working alongside teachers, parents and whānau who are interested in layering their knowledge in ways that are authentic and leave lasting impressions on children.  Elena has visited the Pikler Institute and completed a summer intensive. Through her consultancy, Elena offers mentorship and professional development within ECE settings in New Zealand and Australia.  The privilege of  home visits with parents and seeing the confidence it instills when practice is articulated have helped her further embrace the Approach as more than a philosophy but a way of life. Elena is also proud to be a board member of the New Zealand Infant Toddler Consortium (NZITC).

Ruth is an award-winning journalist, a former Parenting columnist, and has completed coursework to become a Pikler Pedagogue. She has loved babies for as long as she can remember. She has three children and two grandchildren — the best gift she’s ever received. She loves sharing RIE with parents and caregivers.

Emily has a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education and has been working in early childhood settings for over 10 years. She first discovered the Educaring Approach when her children were young and travelled to Los Angeles to complete her first RIE Foundations training in 2015. It was a life changing experience for her in many ways, both personally as a mum of three, and professionally in her work with children and families. Emily is grateful for the guidance of her associate mentors Patricia Ryan, Sharon Smith and Polly Elam. She is a co-founding director on the board of ITANA (Infant & Toddler Advocacy Network of Australia) and has completed one of the basic level Pikler® courses. Emily supports parents and educators online and in her local community through her business Childhood Wonder. She is very passionate about building respectful relationships with children and believes that all children deserve to experience love, connection, security and respect by the way they are cared for.

Elizabeth Memel, M.A., is a RIE Mentor Teacher who instructs online as staff of the RIE Center programs. For close to forty years, Liz has dedicated herself to facilitating Magda Gerber’s model signature program, Parent-Infant Guidance Classes. In her home studio, she is thrilled to again provide weekly in-person groups for families with children from birth to two. Liz’s innovative outdoor educational family support program, RIE Wanderland, offers freedom to explore together, one family at a time, for parents and their children birth to age 8. Having served as a RIE board member for 33 years in many roles from President to Secretary, she currently participates in several board committees. Retired from 13 years as adjunct faculty at L A City College Child Development Department, Liz has her Masters Degree from Pacific Oaks College, specialization in infants and toddlers. Additionally she studied at the Pikler Institute in 1993, returning as a co-presenter at the 2003 Pikler Symposium. Included in the very comprehensive textbook “Authentic Relationships for Infants and Toddlers in Group Care” (2005, JKP) is a chapter on Parent-Infant Guidance Classes co-authored by Liz.

Beth Middleton is a career caregiver in private family and group care environments. After attending the 2013 Los Angeles Winter Foundations course Beth continued her studies, becoming a RIE Associate in early 2021. Beth consults on a sliding scale with individuals and families, as well as in group care, community and conference settings. She enjoys sharing the life and relationship enriching benefits of our approach, traveling, music and comedy.

Katarína has been working as a teacher, educator, educarer, consultant and researcher in the field of early childhood education since 2004. She was born in the former Czechoslovakia. After finishing her Masters Degree in Preschool and Elementary Education in Slovakia, Katarína continued her studies in the United States and worked in public and private nurseries and preschools. She holds an academic degree in Pedagogy (PaedDr.) and PhD. (Philosophiae doctor) in preschool and elementary education. Now, based in Switzerland, Katarína offers consulting for professionals and families in Europe.

Leyla Momeny is a special education teacher, parent educator, and a mother of two children. She discovered RIE in 2011 and has never looked back. She facilitates parent groups, teaches workshops, and offers in-home consultations and personalized trainings on respectful parenting and caregiving practices. She considers RIE to be many things: intellectually engaging, exhilarating, disciplined, and even sweet. She has a B.A. degree in Philosophy (UCLA) and teaching credentials from San Jose State University and National University. Her ideal Saturday is one spent at the beach.

Anna Ruth Myers, MA is an infant development specialist with over 20 years of experience supporting families and young children. A Pikler® Pedagogue candidate and RIE® Associate, her work is guided by the profound insights of Dr. Emmi Pikler and Magda Gerber. As a certied doula, childbirth and lactation educator, she has worked with hospitals and birth centers to advocate for respectful infant care from birth. Anna Ruth also holds diplomas in both Montessori and Waldorf education and has completed 2 study groups at Reggio Emilia. Anna Ruth is the founder of Nurtured Child, an early parenting program based on the peaceful and respectful approaches to infant care and education developed by Emmi Pikler and Magda Gerber.

Gail Nadal has worked with young children for over 30 years and has a passion for 0 – 3 year olds. Gail has worked for the Yolo County Office of Education as the Director of Special Projects and supports families in accomplishing positive pathways through the county’s  Head Start and Early Head program and has incorporated the Educaring Approach to support developmentally appropriate practices for young children. Gail has been part of a grassroots effort in the Sacramento area to offer RIE Foundations training and workshops to the community. Gail holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership in Child Development from CSU Sacramento.

A caregiver at heart, Larissa is an author, infant and toddler specialist, and Founder of Riesers™. Pikler® and RIE® are at the center of all her training. Larissa has practiced the Pikler and RIE principles for over 20 years while helping parents raise their children peacefully and respectfully. Today she is a childcare consultant and certified RIE teacher. She has provided countless hours of training parents, professional caregivers, and childcare center providers in English and Spanish. She lives in Santa Barbara and when she’s not working, she can be found hiking, beach walking and spending time with her daughter Esther.

Eileen O’Sullivan began her RIE journey in 1989 when she started a Co-Op nursery school for a small group of children. The children had all been in RIE class together and wanted to continue. She has taken two more such groups of RIE children through to Kindergarten. She trained with Magda Gerber at the original RIE center in Silver Lake, CA. For over 25 years, she has held RIE Parent/Child classes at the RIE Center and in Culver City. Parent consults, small group training and coaching have been her recent focus.  She is continuing her training with the Pikler Institute as a Pedagogue Candidate in Budapest, Hungary where RIE has it origins.  She has over thirty years experience applying the RIE/Pikler philosophy with children in groups. She is currently on the East Coast of the USA and living in Philadelphia.

Carolyn L. Paetzel is a licensed early childhood, family, and parent educator, a newborn care specialist, and parent with 30+ years working with parents, infants, and students to help deepen their understanding of each infant’s unique and innate abilities. She specializes in supporting families as they explore the joy and breadth of their newborn’s capabilities. Carolyn has presented at numerous state and national conferences, and has served as a consultant for multiple child development programs. Carolyn has a particular interest in helping parents and newborns navigate, and thrive post-NICU. She brings empathy, compassion, and understanding to help families move from the intensive hospital care experience to daily life at home. She empowers them to find their own rhythm, and strengthen their relationships, while fostering the development of creative, competent and confident young children. Inspired by Magda Gerber and an innate desire to connect and share the Educaring® Approach with others, Carolyn created the Friends of RIE Minnesota (FORM) Network, a community-based forum of parents, educators, students, and administrators, who engage in topics relating to early childhood education (FORM members can now be found worldwide).

Ida Reid is a former Preschool teacher, Los Angeles native, current Postpartum Doula and president of the Doulas Association of Southern California. Ida took her first Foundations  Course in 2010 at the RIE center in Los Angeles and became a RIE Associate in 2018. Ida has served over 100 families in the Los Angeles Area supporting them in a non-invasive, respectful approach. Ida is committed to helping facilitate the relationship that is possible between parent and child when a child is approached as an independent, capable and vital member of a community.

Alana Robin is the founder of LTI Daycare in Finland and is the first (1st) RIE^® Associate in Finland and Scandinavia. Alana opened the first and only RIE-inspired daycare in Finland in 2016. It has now become her mission to introduce the Educaring^® Approach to as many parents and early childhood educators as possible. She has worked as the primary childcare provider in LTI Daycare and has helped many parents raise their children with respect and trust. She learned about the Educaring Approach when she was pregnant with her first (1st) child in 2014 and has since been inspired by the work of Magda Gerber. Alana approaches her encounters with children with trust and respect that the Educaring Approach has instilled in her. Originally from the Philippines, she hopes to be able to reach and inspire more people about the Educaring Approach in Finland, the Philippines and around the world.

Jude Rose owns and operates a home-based toddler care program in Ithaca, NY. In addition to operating West Hill Educare, her community work has also supported children, families and child care development in her association with many different community based programs. Jude has been a conference presenter for RIE, served as a member of the Curriculum Review Editorial Committee, helped to review association protocol, was a committee member of the RIE Center Accreditation project and served as editor for RIE’s quarterly journal, Educaring for four years.

Patricia (Patty) Ryan is an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant with WestEd and an Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education at Yuba College. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Development, with a specialization in Early Childhood Development. Having recently completed the 15-month Napa Infant, Parent Mental Health Fellowship through UC Davis with Dr. Kristie Brandt and Dr. Bruce Perry, Patty currently works with the Napa Faculty guiding a new class of NIPMH Fellows as part of the Reflective Supervision Academy (RSA). Patty is a Mentor Teacher for Resources for Infant Educarers™ (RIE™), the owner and principal of Two Pillars Early Childhood Consulting Group, and the author of several articles on best practices in infant, toddler group care programs. She studied directly with Infant Specialist Magda Gerber at Resources for Infant Educarers™, at the Pikler Institute in Budapest, Hungary, the Program for Infant, Toddler Caregivers, and at Circle of Security International. For over 25 years, Patty had facilitated parent-infant and parent-toddler classes, always with the goal of strengthening the parent/child relationship and supporting relational health in families, clinics, childcare programs, and schools. She has taught at the local, state, national, and international levels and currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband. Together, they have one daughter, who is a senior in college and a grand-puppy named Roxy.

Antoinette Samardzic was a Parent-Infant Guidance Class Facilitator and studied at the Pikler Institute in 2006.

Sharon is principal of Magic Child Infant and Toddler Consultancy. She has been sharing the insights of Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach to a diverse audience of parents and professionals in New Zealand, Australia, and Asia Pacific offering one on one guidance and tailoring workshops and observation for early childhood centre programs with ongoing support. Sharon is a RIE Mentor who teaches RIE Certified programs, and mentors RIE Practicum and RIE Intern students. She studied at the Pikler Institute, Budapest, Hungary in 2008 and 2012 and is a certified trainer for WestEd’s Program for Infant Toddler Care (PITC). Sharon was a founding trustee of New Zealand Infant and Toddler Consortium (NZITC), a charitable trust set up to inspire all about the importance and impact of care and respectful relationships.

Vicki Smolke become a RIE Associate in 2022. She began her career of supporting and working closely with parents as a special education teacher in public school systems for seven years prior to starting her own family. Vicki was a Program for Early Parent Support (PEPS) group leader after participating in the program as a parent. She was also a PEPS board member from 2011-2013 and served as the Program Chair for part of that time. She was a Bellevue College parent educator (Emeritus) from 1991-2022 working with parents with infants and toddlers. She has been working with and supporting the Mercer Island JCC Parenting Center and Early Children School program (2006-present) in a variety of ways: providing parenting classes, professional development for teachers/caregivers, interim infant coordinator, and most recently as a consultant. In addition, she received the Reflective Parenting Program Facilitator Training in 2009 and Listening Mothers Program Facilitator Training in 2011. Vicki always feels fortunate and honored to have had the opportunity to observe, interact, connect, and reflect with and constantly learn from parents, teachers, caregivers, and children.

Melanie Snell is a mother of four children. She was lucky enough to find RIE when her oldest was four months old. She and her husband have been practicing the RIE philosophy in their home ever since. Melanie became a RIE Associate in 2014 after making her way through the professional development program, pausing her studies occasionally to have babies. Melanie teaches RIE Parent/Infant classes online for the Los Angeles RIE center. She also teaches RIE Nurturing Nanny courses, ITE and Before Baby classes, as well as private consulting. During the week she is the Tot Center Coordinator at Kirk O’ the Valley school, where she works with children 18 months to 3 years old. Melanie has served on the RIE board of directors and as the chair of the Alliance of RIE Associates, as well as a member of several RIE committees.

Kira is a child development expert based in Pasadena, California. Despite both her parents being engineers, Kira always had a passion for working with children. She pursued her passion by majoring in Early Child Development with a focus on bilingual families and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development. Kira worked as a preschool teacher for several years, where she observed the stresses and challenges that parents and teachers faced throughout the day. She noticed that parents and teachers tried to eliminate the struggles and “put down the fire,” but it seemed like a never-ending cycle. She felt that something was missing and continued her studies until she found RIE, which provided the missing piece. Not only did the Educaring Approach help Kira advocate for children, it also helped Kira become a more authentic person herself. Kira published her first book, “Toby is My Bear” as part of a conflict resolution series for preschoolers. She also runs a blog about conflicts with toddlers and preschoolers at www.ourparentingplace.com, where she shares insights and tips on supporting day-to-day transitions and processing new events. She helps parents and teachers with conflict resolution by creating visual stories for children. Kira is passionate about helping others understand and develop positive relationships with children.

Deborah Carlisle Solomon is the author of ‘Baby Knows Best: Raising a Confident and Resourceful Child, the RIE Way‘ and was RIE Executive Director for eight years. Since then, she has had a private teaching and consulting practice, working with parents and professionals around the world, in-person and in her online membership and Peaceful Toddler course. Deborah is a frequent speaker at events and studied at the Pikler Institute in Budapest, Hungary.

Diana Suskind, Ed.D international early childhood consultant, is a RIE Associate, retired Associate Professor, artist and author has traveled extensively bringing fresh, creative learning ideas such as RIE and her own construct called Stonework Play to children and teachers throughout the world. Diana developed Stonework Play in Nepal to inspire children to create meaningful stories through contact with nature. Making use of what Diana has coined ‘Tarry Time’, Stonework Play slows us down, enhancing full, active engagement. Stonework Play is happening as a Team Building Activity in Corporate Environments as well.

Kristy Thomas has been working in the field of early learning and childcare for the past 25 years. Having multiple experiences working alongside children, parents, ECE students, and professionals she is thrilled to share her passion for the Educaring practice and how it can inspire excellence while caring for infants and young children. For 16 years Kristy was the director at McKernan Child Development Center where she led a team inspired by Magda’s teaching. She continues to partner with those educators as they move forward in their own RIE journey. Now working as a childcare licensing officer, she brings this passion into her engagement with the childcare community and hopes to inspire a higher level of quality early learning experiences for children in her area. In 2021, she created her home based business and blog, Inspired by Infants and throughout the year she offers workshops in childcare programs, and teaches RIE certified classes such as Before Baby, Intro to Educaring and Foundations from her home office. In her spare time she enjoys writing and sharing her thoughts about how RIE fits into everyday life and its impact on how she has raised and continues to engage with her own two teenage daughters. Kristy considers it a privilege to be a RIE Associate and hopes to see the knowledge of Magda’s work grow here in Canada!

Mary Tuttle has been in the field of Early Childhood for over 25 years and a RIE associate since 2013. Mary is passionate about social justice and equity and works to bring the RIE principles into childcare centers and to parents in communities targeted for oppression. She is currently pursuing her MSW with an Infancy and Early Childhood Mental Health specialty from The Erikson Institute in Chicago, IL. Once finished Mary plans to continue her work with families who have generational trauma using the Educaring approach to support parents in breaking those cycles by bring intentionality to their parenting choices.

Nicole Vigliotti began her early childhood career in search of more meaningful work as an infant caregiver at Little Learners Lodge (LLL). After studying with Magda Gerber in 1998, Nicole received her Montessori 3-6 credentials in order to remain with her primary group of infants through Kindergarten. She continued her studies under the guidance of Anna Tardos and the team of experts at the Pikler Institute in Budapest. During her 25 years as Head of School at LLL, Nicole also served on both the RIE and Pikler USA Governing Boards, piloted the first East Coast RIE certified center, produced Beverly Kovach’s Being With Infants video training series, and chartered a public Montessori elementary school. Nicole primarily resides in Florida with her husband, David, and three sons but you will also find her spending plenty of time in South Carolina working with the frontline caregivers at Little Learners Lodge.

Jemina (Jea) Villanueva-Vallée is an Australian early childhood educator with close to 25 years nurturing young children and mentoring professionals around the world. A passionate educator, teacher trainer, educational leader and international consultant, she regularly presents on the topics of early childhood education and parenting. Jemina founded an international nursery in Beijing prior to relocating to Hong Kong. She is presently Vice-President at Cosmic Education Group Hong Kong overseeing Montessori program quality at over 20 schools in Asia Pacific. Jemina organizes RIE certification courses in Asia and Europe.

Christina Vlinder began her nanny career in 1999 and has helped raise many children. She became a RIE Associate in 2017. Over the course of her career in child development, she has taught RIE Parent Infant Guidance classes and RIE Before Baby classes. Christina founded the Bay Area Infant Toddler Network for RIE professionals in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2015, serves RIE via several committee positions, and has helped pioneer efforts in online learning. She is currently a full-time nanny and teaching RIE Foundations: Theory and Observation™ and RIE Nurturing Nanny™ online throughout the year.

Ania first discovered the Educaring® Approach when attending a parent-infant class with her own son in 2004. This inspired her to pursue early childhood education and to learn more, obtaining her Early Childhood Teacher qualification in 2008. Ania attended the summer intensive course at the Emmi Pikler institute. The following year she completed the RIE® Foundations: Theory and Observation course in 2010 and is grateful for Polly Elam’s mentorship in her journey that led her to becoming an associate. Ania is a board member of the New Zealand Infant and Toddler consortium (NZITC). Currently, Ania is also working part time in an indigenous Māori language nest preschool.

Helen Zhang has been exploring RIE to raise infants since her daughter was born. Educaring approach has fascinated her by guiding her understanding of her baby and her career. Starting as a non-mobile infant caregiver in a childcare center, she kept practicing Magda Gerber’s Educaring approach. After going through the RIE pathway, completing the basic-level Pikler training, and further study in the Waldorf approach, she has grown firmer faith in early childhood education, and will go further down the journey by accompanying the infants and toddlers.

Karen Ziskin began her studies with Magda Gerber in 1994 and became a RIE Associate in 1999. She was an infant and toddler caregiver from 1994 to 1998 at The South Bay Infant Center, the first RIE Demonstration Infant Toddler Care Center, founded by Ruth Money. Karen facilitated RIE Parent-Infant Guidance Classes in Manhattan Beach from 1999 until 2012. She was also a member of the RIE Board of Directors from 2000 to 2006. Karen is a certified postpartum doula offering private consultation and caregiving based on the Educaring Approach.