Jill Stamm, Ph.D.,Cofounder of New Directions Institute for Infant Brain Development and Associate Clinical Professor at Arizona State University in the Department of Psychology in Education.  Dr. Stamm is also the creator of a set of Brain Boxes™, a unique patented product for interacting with young children in a way that encourages healthy brain development, and the Baby Brain Box™, a gift product for birth to one year olds.  Dr. Stamm is an author and a national and international speaker on early brain development and the connection of healthy brain growth to later learning and school achievement.  Dr. Stamm’s book, Bright from the Start : The Simple, Science-backed Way to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind from Birth to Age 3, published by Penguin Press, was released in August 2007.  The book is featured with excerpts in the September 2007 issue of Parenting Magazine.

Dr. Stamm is a member of the National Advisory Panel of the Learning & the Brain Conference.  She served on the Governor’s Advisory Council for Head Start in Arizona, The Tribune Newspapers Early Childhood Experts Panel and the Advisory Board for the Arizona Science Center’s exhibit on the brain.  She has appeared on numerous television segments and is frequently quoted in child development articles in The Arizona Republic.  Dr. Stamm is the mother of Jenny, who has multiple handicaps, and Kristin, a doctoral candidate in neuroscience.

Pam Webb, B.A., Education

Pam Webb is director of training and development for NDI.  She earned her degree in education from Arizona State University and has done graduate level work at Ottawa University. She has an extensive background in early childhood education and as a teacher in private, charter and public schools.  She is on the Board of Directors for Imagine Schools, is a member of The Greater Phoenix Child Abuse Prevention Council and currently serves as a New Directions trainer for the Yuma School District #1 Safe Schools/Healthy Students First Teacher Project. 

Sharon Buck, M.S.

Sharon Buck is an NDI trainer in Northern Arizona.  She has taught school in Hawaii, California and Arizona for nearly 40 years.  She received her Master of Science degree from Arizona State University and is ESL certified.  Her areas of expertise include child development, family living and independent living. 

Billie Enz, Ph.D.

Billie Enz is the associate director of the Division of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education at Arizona State University.  She is responsible for establishing professional development programs with local school districts.  Dr. Enz is the author and co-author of many books on new teacher development and mentor training, as well as on early language and literacy.

Rachel Lam

Rachel Lam is a current doctoral student in Learning and is an Educational Psychology Teaching Assistant at Arizona State University.  She has more than six years experience working with infants, toddlers and preschoolers in child care settings, preschools and public libraries.  She has more than three years experience doing presentations and workshops for parents and adults on early literacy and early brain development.  Rachel is also a board member of a non-profit organization whose mission is to support families of children with autism.

Jamie Lopez, M.A.

Jamie Lopez has more than 10 years experience as a teacher, trainer and adjunct instructor.  She is a certified trainer of trainers, career ladder teacher and supervisor of student teachers.  She created the program Bilingual Babies Spanish Instruction for Preschool Students.”

Eloisa Matsch

Eloisa Matsch is a bilingual trainer for New Directions Institute. She received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Arizona State University and taught for several years as a third grade teacher in the Murphy School District in Phoenix. She is currently training caregivers in Agua Prieta, Mexico in a brand new facility and training new teaching staff for Tutor Time preschools.  She is also involved in an intervention program for teen moms at North Phoenix High School. She is the mother of two boys who are bilingual in Spanish and English.

Maria Muñoz

Maria Muñoz has been involved in Phoenix Latino communities for over ten years.  She has been a trainer and facilitator of several leadership programs for youth and adults throughout the USA and Latin America.  For over five years, she has been involved with the Learning Basket, a program for parents with children from birth to three.  Maria teaches New Directions Institute curriculum in Spanish and English.

Darlene Pany, Ph.D.

Darlene Pany has supervised student teachers and taught reading and math methods in the ASU Special Education Department. She is a consultant in the areas of curriculum development, assessment, program evaluation, policy development and hiring procedures. She teaches brain development from birth to five and brain compatible instruction for preschool through elementary grades. Darlene is a past elementary school Principal in the Kyrene School District

Patti Phillips, M.A.

Debbie Pischke, Ed.D.

Dr. Debbie Pischke has more than 25 years of experience in early childhood education, first as a teacher in preschool and kindergarten and then as a public school district administrator.  She received her doctorate in Early Childhood Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University in 2005.  Debbie provides monthly professional development for over 100 early childhood educators, presents workshops for parents and is adjunct faculty for Rio Salado Community College and Ottawa University.  Additionally, Debbie writes early brain development curriculum modules for New Directions Institute for Infant Brain Development.  She has served on committees to develop Arizona’s Early Learning Standards and to norm the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment in Early Childhood Education .
 
Missy Powers

Missy Powers is the former owner of Gymboree Play and Music of Scottsdale/Glendale. She has more than 30 years experience working as a classroom volunteer, member of the Valley Gymnastics Association and manager of Oak Creek Farm, a private boarding barn.  She was also a preschool teacher.

Jennifer Tarbox, M.A.

Jennifer Tarbox is a current doctoral student in School Psychology at Arizona State University.  She is also an Educational Psychology Teaching Assistant at ASU. Jenny has written a manuscript on educating children with bipolar disorder which has been submitted for publication.

Gloria Trillo

Gloria Trillo has been a devoted teacher for 21 years.  For the last 14 years, Gloria has been a bilingual teacher for the Glendale Elementary School District.  She has conducted parenting classes on early brain development in Spanish and English for her school community as well as for preschool teachers throughout the Phoenix area.  She is currently involved in training caregivers in Agua Prieta, Mexico for NDI.

Julie Weimer, M.A.