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Project (EPIC- ECEL): Equity-focused Preparation of InClusive Early Childhood Educators and Leaders

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EPIC Early Childhood Education

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CU Project Staff

Ritu Chopra

Dr. Ritu Chopra, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of The PAR²A Center at the School of Education and Human Development (SEHD) of the University of Colorado Denver. Since 1996, Chopra has been responsible for grant administration, training, research, and fiscal management of grant projects (over $32 million) at the PAR2A Center. She has served as the Principal Investigator/Project Director on grant projects funded by the U.S. Department of Education (Offices of Special Education Programs, Elementary and Secondary Education, English Language Acquisition) and state agencies (Colorado Department of Education - CDE, Colorado Department of Higher Education - CDHE, Colorado Department of Human Services – CDHS). Dr. Chopra’s work has focused on improving personnel preparation for those serving children/youth from birth to 21 in a variety of settings; increasing access of non-traditional students to higher education; increasing teacher diversity, professional development and the supervision of paraprofessionals, collaborative practices among paraprofessionals, teachers, parents, and leadership in inclusive schools. Prior to moving to the US in 1990, Dr. Chopra had worked for over 10 years in the capacity of a teacher, trainer, researcher and administrator in various educational institutions in her native country, India. She has published a book, several articles, book chapters and instructional materials in the U.S. as well as in India. In 2007, Dr. Chopra received the Sue Stuska Award for her service to the profession of paraprofessionals from the School ParaEducator Association of Colorado (SPEAC). She is also the recipient of the prestigious 2012 Excellence in Teacher Educator Award of the Teacher Education Division, Colorado Council for Exceptional Children.

Dr. Elizabeth Steed

Dr. Steed is an Associate Professor in the Early Childhood Education program at the University of Colorado Denver. Elizabeth teaches courses in the early childhood education masters, licensure, and doctoral programs. She has experience working with young children with disabilities and their families in classroom and home-based settings. Dr. Steed has been the principal investigator on several research projects focusing on building partnerships with preschool teachers to implement social emotional teaching practices. She has published articles about evidence-based and culturally relevant practices to support young children’s social emotional competence. Elizabeth was a Fulbright scholar in early childhood intervention in the Republic of Georgia from 2019-2020. She is the first author of the Preschool-wide Evaluation Tool (PreSET; Paul Brookes Publishing Co., 2012), an assessment of program-wide positive behavior interventions and support in early childhood settings.

Dr. Michael Barla

Michael Barla joined the School of Education & Human Development in the fall of 2018.  Prior to coming to CU Denver, Dr. Barla was an Assistant Professor in early childhood education and special education at Fontbonne University in St. Louis, MO. He began his public school career as a Speech-Language Pathologist working with children pre-k through high school before moving into leadership positions. Dr. Barla retired from his pubic school career in 2015 and transitioned to higher education.

Rashida Banerjee - External Consultant

Dr. Banerjee is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning Sciences at the University Denver.  Her research areas are effective assessment of young children, especially issues around diversity, inclusive intervention for young children, early childhood workforce development, and effective community, family, and professional partnerships. Dr. Banerjee has published articles, book chapters, received grants, and presented at numerous national and international conferences. Her current national projects funded through the Department of Education, specifically focus on preparing well qualified early childhood and early childhood special educators. She serves as the Editor for Journal for International Special Needs Education.  You can find more information about Dr. Banerjee at: https://portfolio.du.edu/Rashida.Banerjee

Community College Partners

Dr. Janiece Kneppe – Red Rocks Community College

Dr. Janiece Kneppe Walter, Ed.D. serves as the department chair of the Education (ECE and Teacher Ed) Dept. at Red Rocks Community College (RRCC), and is the lead faculty instructor in the Early Childhood Education program. Additionally, Dr. Kneppe serves as the Community College Statewide ECE discipline co-chair, and as the Career-Technical Education representative for RRCC at the State Faculty Curriculum Committee (SFCC) within the Colorado Community College System.  Prior to joining RRCC faculty in 2010, Dr. Kneppe was an Early Childhood director as at large faith-based early learning center in Denver (2000-2010). Professional interests include course instructional design, and preparation of the early childhood workforce in evidence-based teaching practices and early childhood program administration.

Jenning Prevatte – Red Rocks Community College

Jenning Prevatte, M.Ed. is lead faculty at Red Rocks Community College for the Teacher Education program. Jenning serves as EDU Discipline Chair for the Colorado Community College System. She is a former Elementary School Teacher, a national presenter, and an author. Jennings’s professional interest are the use of American Sign Language for literacy development, understanding brain research to promote quality educational settings, and quality instructional design. Her career goal is to support the healthy development of children through the education of adults. Her passion is to promote education and help others provide a healthy and developmentally appropriate environments for all children.

Kristin Habicht, M. A. - Arapahoe Community College

Kristin Habicht is the Early Childhood Education Program Chair. Prior to coming to ACC, Kristin taught first grade, preschool, and parenting classes, wrote a monthly parenting column for area newspapers, and was director of an early childhood program for over 10 years. She is passionate about providing high quality experiences for young children and their families in early childhood programs and teaching the newest generation of early childhood professionals about research-based practices. She has a BA in Early Childhood Education and a MA in Child Development as well as a Leadership Certificate from the Buell Early Childhood Leadership Program. She enjoys gardening with her husband and antiquing with anyone who will join her. Kristin has two grown children who are married and she loves being a grandmother!

Kathleen Sutherland, M. A. – Arapahoe Community College

Kathy Sutherland is full-time faculty at Arapahoe Community College (ACC).  Kathy holds an M.A. from the University of Denver in Early Childhood Education (ECE) Administration and Leadership.  She is a BUELL Leadership Alumni Fellow, 2nd cohort.  Kathy is passionate about quality Early Care and Education for children and families and brings her classroom and director experience to our students at ACC. Prior to coming to ACC, Kathy worked over 10 years in private, faith based and public-fully inclusive early care and education.  Kathy and the ECE Department continue to look for innovative ways to collaborate and improve experiences for all our students.  When not in the classroom with adults or children, Kathy loves to enjoy the beauty Colorado holds.  She will be hiking, riding her bike, or walking while enjoying time with her family.