UNL Extension Early Childhood Development Educators and Specialists

Lynn is an Early Childhood Extension Educator serving South Central Nebraska. Lynn has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Nebraska–Kearney in Vocational Family and Consumer Science Education, and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University Nebraska. Lynn is an Early Childhood Extension Educator located in Adams County. She works with childcare professionals,schools, and families to promote developmentally appropriate practices for children. Lynn has a passion for mindful self-care, social emotional learning, and early childhood nutrition and physical activity. Lynn strives to coach and model best practices for the child's primary caregivers.

Education/certifications:

• M.S. Education, Curriculum and Instruction Concordia University
• B.A. Education, Vocational Home Economics University of Nebraska–Kearney
• Step Up to Quality Coach
• Management Training for Childcare Directors
• Emergency Preparedness training
• Certificate in Mental Health First Aid

Specialty:

Mindful self-care; Early childhood nutrition and physical activity; Parent education; Family Engagement

Programs/services offered:

Go NAP SACC; Co-parenting for Successful Kids; Circle of Security; CHIME; Block Party; Learn, Grow, Eat, and Go; Early Care and Education Management Training (childcare directors); Safe with You; EAT Family Style Dining

Jaci is an Early Childhood CHIME program corodinator. Jaci holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Doane University in Crete, Nebraska. Jaci provides training to childcare providers and families in the Southeast area of Nebraska. Since the fall of 2000, Jaci has been working with children birth to 8 years of age, including eight years of center-based childcare director experience.

Education/certifications:

• M.A.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction Doane University
• B.S. Early Childhood Education/Child Development University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• American Red Cross CPR/First Aid Instructor
• American Red Cross Babysitting Instructor

Specialty:

CHIME; Mindful self-care; Early childhood nutrition and physical activity; Childcare management training; Emergency Preparedness for Childcare

Programs/services offered:

Go NAP SACC; CHIME; Block Party; Look Who's Hatching; Junior Master Gardener; The Pyramid Model; Growing Together Garden Project; Real Colors; Learn, Grow, Eat, and Go; Early Care and Education Management Training (childcare directors); Safe with You; Supervision of Children; Brain Development; Documentation of Children; Emergency Preparedness for Childcare

Jackie is an Early Childhood Extension Educator serving Scottsbluff and Morrill Counties. She implements early child programing for providers, educators and families of young children in the Panhandle Extension District. She also has expertise and programming focused on underserved people in the Panhandle Extension District representing culturally and racially diverse groups.

Education/certifications:

• M.A. Literacy: Reading and Writing University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• B.S. Elementary Education University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Specialty:

Culturally responsive early childhood practices, school-age workshops, and professional development for childcare providers, and families

Programs/services offered:

Circle of Security; CHIME; Block Party; Poverty Simulation Workshop; The Pyramid Model; Real Colors; Early Learning Guidelines

Hayley is an Early Childhood Extension Educator serving Lancasater county. She is passionate about coaching relationships in early childhood settings as well as the social and emotional development of children. Currently, Hayley is a doctoral student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the Child, Youth, & Family Studies department. Hayley has over 15 years of experience teaching, coaching, and directing early childhood programs. 

Education/certifications:

• M.S. Human Development & Family Studies, Colorado State University
• B.S. Human Development & Family Studies, Arizona State University
  
• Ph.D. (in progress) Early Childhood Education, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Specialty:

Coaching, Early Childhood Development, Social Emotional Development, 

Programs/services offered:

Child Development Associates (CDA); Coaching; CHIME; Social Emotional Development

Erin Kampbell is an Early Childhood Extension Educator serving Madison, Stanton, Platte, and Colfax counties. Erin helps teach and support those who interact with children birth to age eight. Erin was a Nutrition Education Program Assistant in Scotts Bluff County and brings a dedication to cultivating healthy habits in children to her current work including coaching childcare providers, families, and home visitors.

Education/certifications:

• M.S. Child, Youth, and Family Studies (International Family Studies) University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• B.A. English Literature University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Specialty:

Programs/services offered:

Child Development Associate (CDA PDS), CHIME, Co-parenting for Successful Kids, Look Who’s Hatching, Summer Learning Kits, Preschool CLASS observation, EAT Family Style Dining, Go NAPSACC, Block Party, Read for Resilience, Pyramid Model, Pyramid Model Coaching, Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE), Deep Dive Learning Series, Early Learning Guidelines.

Ingrid is an Early Childhood Extension Educator serving Adams, Clay, Fillmore, Jefferson, Nuckolls, Saline, Thayer, and Webster counties. Her focus is delivering training and resources for early childhood providers, families and children. Prior to Nebraska Extension, she has five years of teaching experiencce providing the education and caring of young children, ages two through six.  Ingrid also offers specialized early childhood training for childcare providers who speak Spanish. 

Education/certifications:

• M.S. Human Services and Family Studies with an emphasis in Early Childhood, Kansas State University 
• B.S. Early Childhood Education, Universidad Latina de Costa Rica  

Specialty:

Challenging Behaviors, Early Childhood Development, Early Childhood Teaching Practices, Play, Social Emotional Development

Programs/services offered:

CHIME, Child Development Associates (CDA), Co-parenting for Successful Kids, Clover Kids, Read for Resilience, Block Party, Professional Development en español, Pyramid Model

Emily Manning is an Early Childhood Extension Educator serving six counties: Butler, Hamilton, Merrick, Polk, Seward, and York. Emily received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Family Consumer Science Education, and a Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri in Human Development and Family Studies. She provides resources and trainings to early care and education providers in Nebraska to support young children’s growth and learning. Emily has experience teaching Family and Consumer Science in the public school system and has provided trainings to adults through Missouri Extension’s Show Me Healthy Relationships program. While working in the public school system, Emily served on the Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) team at the school and district level to help support students’ academic and social-emotional needs.

Education/certifications:

• M.A. Human Development and Family Studies, University of Missouri
• B. S. Education and Human Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Specialty:

Social-emotional development, mindful self-care, parent education and relationships, early childhood teaching practices, social media

Programs/services offered:

Block Party; CHIME; The Pyramid Model; Bringing Baby Home, The Good Life in Early Life Podcast, Challenging Behaviors

Katie Krause is an Early Childhood Extension Educator serving Douglas and Sarpy counties. Katie has extensive experience in a variety of early childhood settings, including as a teacher, intervention specialist, director, trainer, and coach. The majority of Katie's work is focused on professional development and coaching for early childhood educators, but she also does some work directly with children and families. While there is a wide variety of topics that Katie teaches, she has been specializing in her work in the areas of quality programming and nature-based learning.

Education/certifications:

• Ph.D. (in the process) Human Sciences (Early Childhood) UNL
• M.A. Early Childhood Education The Ohio State University
• B. S. Human Development and Family Science (Early Childhood Development and Early Intervention) The Ohio State University

Specialty:

Developing quality, early learning programs, and nature-based learning.

Programs/services offered:

Clover Kids; Circle of Security; CHIME; Block Party; Look Who's Hatching; The Pyramid Model; Growing Together Garden Project; Real Colors; Learn, Grow, Eat, and Go; Early Learning Guidelines; Read for Joy; CLASS; Environment Rating Scales; Nature-based learning; natural learning environments; Preventing Obesity by Design; Challenging Behaviors; STEM in Early Childhood; Child-centered practice; Cure for Cabin Fever: Indoor and Outdoor activities for children.

Lisa is an Early Childhood Extension Educator serving Burt, Cuming, Dodge, Saunders and Washington Counties in Nebraska. Lisa spent 10 years as a Child Care Center director and taught preschool before becoming an Extension Educator. She devotes her time to teaching child care providers about the social well-being of children and providing quality experiences for children in their care. Lisa is a Rooted in Relationships Coach and a CDA Specialist which allows her to assist child care providers in building positive relationships and providing quality care to children.

Education/certifications:

• M.S. Family and Consumer Sciences University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• B.S. Home Economics (Family and Consumer Science/Early Childhood Development) University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• Rooted in Relationships coach
• Early Learning Guidelines trainer

Specialty:

the social and emotional well-being of children

Programs/services offered:

Clover Kids; Go NAP SACC; Co-parenting for Successful Kids; CHIME; Block Party; Fit and Healthy Kids; Building Bridges; Junior Master Gardener; The Pyramid Model; Learn, Grow, Eat, and Go; Early Learning Guidelines; EAT Family Style Dining; Baby STEM; Fun with Numbers; Maker Space

Linda is a Statewide Extension Educator on Early Childhood team, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska Extension. Linda is responsible for the overall leadership and implementation of Nebraska Extension's Co-Parenting for Successful Kids program. She is a bilingual Child Development Associate (CDA) PDS specialist and responsible for the team's overall implementation of a national partnership with the Council for Professional Recognition to support PD Specialists in the state of Nebraska. Linda also guides a series of online professional development which covers a range of early childhood topics.

Education/certifications:

• M.Ed. Early Childhood Education at Concordia University
• B.A. Early Childhood Education Kendall College
  
• Infant-Toddler Specialist

Specialty:

Co-parenting, divorce education, infant-toddler development, and administering and leading child care programs

Programs/services offered:

Child Development Associates (CDA), Co-parenting for Successful Kids; Real Colors; CHIME, CLASS, EAT Family Style Dining

Jackie is an Early Childhood Extension Educator serving Cedar, Knox, Antelope, Boone, and Nance Counties. Jackie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Mount Marty College and a Master’s degree from the University of South Dakota as a Reading Specialist. Jackie has 7 years of experience as an elementary school teacher and 9 years of experience as a Nebraska Extension 4-H/Youth Development Educator. Jackie provides training to early childhood professionals, families, and children focusing on literacy development and fostering a lifelong love of reading.

Education/certifications:

• M.A. Education, Reading Specialist at University of South Dakota
• B.A. Elementary Education Mount Marty College
• State of Nebraska and South Dakota Teacher License

Specialty:

Child Development Associates (CDA), Clover Kids, Literacy Development; STEM; Summer Reading, Read for Resilience

Programs/services offered:

4-H School Enrichment Programming, Clover Kids, CHIME, 4-H STEM Reading Connections, Read for the Record

LaDonna is an Early Childhood Extension Educator serving North Central counties. She has a Bachelor's Degree from the University of NebLaDonna is an experienced Early Childhood Extension Educator serving North Central Nebraska, with over a decade of expertise in developing innovative online classes for early childhood professionals. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocational Family and Consumer Science Education and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Nebraska–Kearney. Passionate about enriching the lives of children and families in rural communities, LaDonna delivers research-based programs tailored to their unique needs. Her signature program, Fit and Healthy Kids, offers monthly classes, online conferences, and on-demand sessions that blend technology with education. LaDonna collaborates with ten other state Extension Services and utilizes social media to share the latest research and innovative strategies, inspiring and educating families and early childhood professionals. Beyond her professional achievements, LaDonna cherishes her rural life in O’Neill, Nebraska, where she and her family enjoy summers on the Missouri River. This deep connection to her community fuels her passion for making a lasting impact on the lives of Nebraska’s youngest learners and their families.

Education/certifications:

• M.A. Education University of Nebraska–Kearney
• B.S. Vocational Family and Consumer Science Education University of Nebraska–Kearney
• Nebraska Teaching certificate

Specialty:

online classes for early childhood professionals; Fit and Healthy Kids series for early childhood professionals; Creative in technology

Programs/services offered:

4-H School Enrichment Programming; Clover Kids; CHIME; Block Party; Fit and Healthy Kids; Building Bridges; The Pyramid Model; EAT Family Style Dining; Learn, Grow, Eat, and Go; Safe with You; Baby STEM; Fun with Numbers; Maker Space; Your Intensions As an Early Childhood Educators

Tasha Wulf is an Early Childhood Extension Educator serving Southwest Nebraska. Tasha teaches and supports families and childcare providers who care for and educate children from birth to age eight. Tasha has more than 20 years of experience in the Early Childhood Education field. The majority of these years were spent working with families and children at risk. She specializes in Infant and Toddler care and development.

Education/certifications:

• M.A.Ed. Early Childhood Education at Concordia University
• B.S. Human Resources and Family Science University of Nebraska–Omaha
• Infant Specialist Certificate Erikson Institute
• State of Nebraska Teacher License
• The Growing Braining trainer Zero to Three

Specialty:

Child Development Associates (CDA), Infants and toddlers

Programs/services offered:

Go NAP SACC; CHIME; Block Party; Look Who's Hatching; Scratch Jr.; The Pyramid Model; Learn, Grow, Eat, and Go; Early Learning Guidelines; CLASS; EAT Family Style Dining; Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool (TPOT)