2010 Keynote Speakers

Thursday, April 8
Communication, Emotional Development and the Brain:  How a Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help Us Raise Children Who Thrive

Mary Hartzell, M. Ed., has over thirty years experience working with children, parents and teachers. She has been the director of a nationally recognized, Reggio inspired early childhood program in Santa Monica, California. Mary teaches parent education classes and has a private consulting practice. She is an adjunct professor at Santa Monica College. Mary has appeared on National Public Radio, CBS news and Century Cable television as an expert in child development and parenting issues. Her CD, “Parent/Child Relationships”, is the first in a series of resources for parents. Mary is co-author with Daniel J. Seigel of “Parenting from the Inside Out”, published by Penguin Putman Press, (March ’03).

For the past eighteen years, Mary has been a workshop presenter at national, state, and local conferences of the National Association of the Education of Young Children. She has provided workshops, teacher education and consulted with schools throughout the United States. For the past eight years she has been in dialogue with the schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and has adapted many aspects of their approach into her school.

Friday, April 9
Building Mindful Relationships with Boys and Girls: Keeping Parents and Teachers in Focus

Michael Gurian is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty five books in twenty one languages and co-founder of the Gurian Institute, which conducts research, launches pilot programs, and trains professionals. He has pioneered efforts to bring neuro-biology and brain research into homes, schools, corporations, and public policy. As author of The Purpose of Boys (April, 2009), Leadership and the Sexes, Nurture the Nature, The Minds of Boys, The Wonder of Boys, Boys and Girls Learn Differently and The Wonder of Girls, he lectures internationally. His work has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine, USA Today, Time, Newsweek, People, Reader's Digest, Business Week, and the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, PBS and National Public Radio.

Saturday, April 10
Staying Mindful When Losing Your Mind

Ronald Mah combines concepts with practicalities. A licensed marriage and family therapist, his experiences include: author of Difficult Behavior in Early Childhood and The One-Minute Temper Tantrum Solution (Corwin Press, 2006 & 2008), trainer/speaker of DVDs on child development and behavior (Fixed Earth Films), community mental health, severe emotional disturbance programs, other social services programs, Head Start, high school mental health clinic and private practice in San Leandro, CA. In addition, Ronald is on the board of directors of the California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists and of the California Kindergarten Association. Ronald has 16 years in the ECE profession plus elementary & secondary credentials and college instruction.