Meet the 2021 Early Learning Summit Presenters

The 2021 Early Learning Summit is just a few days away on Saturday, August 21, and we are so excited to be presenting this free online professional development event! With so many great sessions to look forward to, we thought now would be the perfect time to introduce you to the presenters that you will be learning from.

Click here to register for free! 

Beth Cannon

Beth Cannon

Session: Breaking Burnout

Beth Cannon is an international speaker, educator, and entrepreneur known for her passion for engaging leaders and inspiring teams. With a heart to serve early educators through business and leadership strategy and team-building, Beth serves as a keynote speaker, conference presenter, digital course creator, coach, and consultant. She’s also the creator of The Leader’s Lounge – an online platform for early education professional development. You can find her chatting it up on multiple industry podcasts, webinars, and the mix of social platforms.

Rae Pica

Rae Pica

Session: Active Learning Across the Curriculum

Rae Pica has been an early childhood education consultant since 1980. Dedicated to developing and educating the whole child, Rae is the author of 20 books, including the text Experiences in Movement and Music (in its 5th edition), and two of her latest books, What If Everybody Understood Child Development?: Straight Talk About Bettering Education and Children’s Lives and Acting Out! Avoid Behavior Challenges with Active Learning Games & Activities.

Rae is a former adjunct instructor for the University of New Hampshire and is currently a blogger, online course creator, and popular keynote speaker. As a consultant, she has shared her expertise with such groups as the Sesame Street Research Department, the Head Start Bureau, Centers for Disease Control, the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, Gymboree, Nike, Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues, Bright Horizons, and health departments, schools, and resource and referral agencies throughout the country.

Chanie Wilschanski

Chanie Wilschanski

Session: Work Fewer Hours Without Sacrificing Your Growth Goals

Chanie Wilschanski is an Early Childhood Leadership Coach and Culture Specialist, and she has had the privilege of working with hundreds of EC Directors who are working to build a School of Excellence. Chanie began her journey over a decade ago, teaching toddlers at the acclaimed Preschool of the Arts in NYC. Continuing her path into higher studies, she got her Masters in EC and Special Education, and started training teachers and school leaders on the HOW part of creating excellence in their schools.

Beth Ehlis

Beth Ehlis

Session: Strategies for Building Parent Engagement

Beth is the founder and President of FunShine Express Early Learning Curricula and Assessment. When she started her business in 1995, her hope was to make life a little easier for preschool teachers with easy to use and appropriate curriculum. She holds a BS Degree in Business and a Master’s Degree in Education. Beth has experience as a Child Care Owner, Early Learning Curriculum Writer and Director, as a speaker at various national and regional conferences.

Anisha Angella

Anisha Angella

Session: Using Technology for Parent Engagement (Panel Discussion)

Anisha Angella is a Children’s Book Author, Childcare Coach, Consultant and Specialist from Toronto, Ontario. She has over 10+ years of experience in the field of early education supporting EC professionals around the world. She has successfully fulfilled many roles in the field such as childcare director, senior corporate leader and ECE professor/instructor. Today, Anisha is a proud ECE entrepreneur running her own business, Anisha Angella Books & Consulting – A POWERHOUSE for all things childcare operations, training and support for the early learning community. Anisha’s children’s book “Zoey has an Allergy” is internationally know with copies sold all over the world. 

Ryan Eickmeier

Ryan Eickmeier

Session: Using Technology for Parent Engagement (Panel Discussion)

Ryan is the Chief Executive Officer of Helping Hands Daycare, where he strategically leads all aspects of the organization. Across 9 centres, Helping Hands provides safe and educational space for over 900 children, from infant to school age. Academically, Ryan has earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in political science from New England College, a Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) from The American University School of Public Affairs, a Master of Law (LL.M) at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School, and an Executive Master of Business Administration (E.M.B.A) at the University of Fredericton’s Sandermoen School of Business.

Bernadette Testani

Bernadette Testani

Session: Using Technology for Parent Engagement (Panel Discussion)

As one of Canada’s experts in early childhood learning, Ms. Testani honed her skills working several decades in executive recruitment, organizing the placement of some of Canada’s leading executives in their corporate roles. Seeing the potential and abilities of corporate executives and fostering the professional advancement they imagined, was a natural bridge when Ms. Testani transitioned to childcare.  She was building environments for children where they, too, could embark on the journey of learning, growth and development as the inherently capable, confident, and curious young minds that she viewed them as being.

Charlotte Jackson

Charlotte Jackson

Session: Using Technology for Parent Engagement (Panel Discussion)

I come to you with over 24 years experience in Early childcare development.  I am a graduate of Michigan State University with a background in the Human Resource field. After exposure in that field for over 5 years, my husband and I decided to start a family.  With the arrival of our oldest son, things changed.  We became parents with the hesitancy that most first time parents have.  There was an opportunity to open a childcare center and the rest is history.  I have been in business since 1998 and haven’t looked back.  I provide childcare services to families from birth to school age.  I am in my forever location in Berkley Michigan where we converted a home and commercial building into a Seuss laced wonderland.  I opened this site in 2016 serving roughly 50 families.  I have watched various trends come and go, however one thing remains constant.  Families are looking for a place that is warm, loving and nurturing and rich in challenging experiences….which happens to be my mission statement.


Are you as excited as we are? Join these amazing talks for free by registering for our Early Learning Summit on Saturday, August 21 – it’s entirely virtual so you can join right from your computer!

Don’t miss out on these information-packed sessions and join us at the Early Learning Summit: 

Register for free, join from your computer and earn 5 hours of professional development hours!

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