Dominican Republic Study Tour Participants

Paula Bowie is devoted to working for high quality programs and environments for children.  She is embracing the opportunity to infuse her experience, knowledge and passion alongside others similarly committed into learning more about the diversity of Dominican children and their families.  She expects to incorporate her learning on this study tour into work with Early Care and Education and out of school time educators.

Linda Camp is a senior lecturer at Curry College in the MEd program and a consultant on early childhoos literacy through the HILL.  She served as Director of Programs at ReadBoston, an early literacy initiative.  Ms. Camp has been an educational diagnostician and a teacher of children with learning disabilities.

Etta Rosen currently consults on early childhood literacy through the HILL in an urban school district with a predominantly immigrant population.  In the past she has worked as a Guidance Counselor, School Psychologist, Reading Specialist and developed educational programming for international child care providers.

Flossy Calderon is the Program Director for ABCD Head Start at Roxbury St. and Lenox St.  Within the last two years Flossy has successfully lead her program through Federal Review, renewal of State License by the Department of Early Education & Care and re-accreditation by NAEYC.  Flossy graduated from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2001 where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Psychology.

Kathy Clunis has been teaching in the Boston Public Schools for 12 years.  She has been able to travel all over the world and learn about children from different countries.  She enjoys learning and science.  She tries to teach as many lessons as she can in the outdoors. 

Francia Flores-DeJesus has 15+ years of experienceworking with multilingual and multicultural urban population in center based and family child care settings.  She graduated from Cambridge College with a BA in Psychology

Marcia Farris has been a early education director, state licensor, regulations and policy writer, consultant and trainer, Executive Director of both the Boston AEYC and the Mass AEYC for 4 years and is now working full time for MassAEYC.  A member of the 2005 Class of Schott Fellows, she is extremely interested in the area of culturall sensitivity and competence.

Hanna Gebretensae is currently the Interim Dean/Division Chair for Early Childhood Education at Urban College of Boston where she is engaged in oversight of the academic programs, program development and management and the academic advisement and instruction.  Before coming to the US, Hannah worked with children of war in Eritrea, East Africa and managed the Early Childhood Unit at the Ministry of Education.

Maya Gonzalez is an educator and advocate for English Language Learners and welcomes any opportunity to increase the depth and breadth of her knowledge of the world.  Her life's purpose is in the sturggle for racial, social and economic justice. 

Barbara Kozma has taught preschool children in multiple settings with developmentally appropriate curriculum and activities in accordance with multiple state and federal regulartory standards and guidelines.  Most recently she has provided consultant services with other early childhood education professionals at Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts.

Jonie Latimer-Brady is the owner and director of Ayer Kiddie Depot.  In this role she leads a team of 17 educators who are dedicated to the field of Early Education and Care.  She is from a diverse and multi-cultural family and is fascinated by the differences in cultures and even more intrigued with the universal values we all share.

Marta Rosa is currently Special Assistant to the president for Government and External Relations at Wheelock College in Boston.  With a Masters degree from Cambridge College, Marta is an experienced leader involved in the development of many grassroots community based organizations focused on education, economic development and social issues.

Valora Washington is the President of the CAYL Institute.

Maurice Davis is currently employed with the CAYL Institute as Senior Director of Programs and Operations.  His prior work experience involved serving in various leadership and/or administrative roles in public health agencies, community coalitions and non-profits with a focus on community education.