Dr. Andres Sebastian Bustamante – Leading the session on September 30, 2020. Dr. Bustamante designs and implement play-based early childhood STEM interventions in places and spaces that children and families spend time (e.g., parks, school yards, grocery stores etc.). He maintains an intentional focus on translating rigorous science from the lab, into meaningful research in the classroom, and the community. Dr. Bustamante is also committed to sharing and interpreting early childhood research with a broader audience through blog posts for the Brookings Institution, Huffington Post, BOLD Blog, and other media outlets.

Click here to review his research.

Leading the session on January 20, 2021, Dr. Fernandez is a Developmental Psychologist and Research Scientist at the University of Miami. Her research focuses on understanding and improving the quality of early learning experiences and promoting equity for culturally, linguistically, and racially diverse children. She uses intentional inquiry and play as mechanisms to facilitate joyful, experiential learning. She has expertise in facilitating coaching, teacher professional development, and family engagement initiatives. Dr. Fernandez also supports ECE leaders in improving aspects of organizational climate through reflective and responsive practices.

Leading the session on May 26, 2021, Lexi Alexander is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Miami. Her research focuses on utilizing science education to drive high-quality teaching and learning and equity-driven family engagement. She co-leads the Early Science Initiative, a national, research-based system of embedded professional learning and family engagement. In this role, she facilitates the development of partnerships with schools, families, and the community, materials used to support professional development, measurement tools to be used in collecting data, as well as facilitating data collection and analyses. Her knowledge of child development, experience as a classroom teacher and mother to a five-year-old son and 6-month old daughter have inspired and informed her work in numerous projects related to early science and, more broadly, early childhood education and school readiness.