Moderators

• 
  PBS Learning Media

• 
  OVEE

• 
  Danielle

Participants

• 
  Gina Masciola

  Panelist

  Gina Masciola is the Manager of WQED Education Projects. Gina began her career as a classroom teacher/early learning consultant for Head Start. Gina served with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit for 15 years, as an early learning consultant, Gina worked closely with parents and childcare providers. Gina’s classroom experience has been diverse taking her from early intervention classrooms to high school child development programs. Gina holds a bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Family Relations from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and has done post graduate study in Early Childhood Education and Early Intervention at The University of Pittsburgh. She holds a PA instructional certificate in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten education. Since joining the education team three years ago, Gina has managed several projects including the WQED Writers Contest, Inquire Within, IQ Smartparent, IQ Kids Radio, and Musical Kids.

• 
  Annette Santella

  Panelist

  Annette Santella, MS holds degrees and certifications in health-related professions, child and family development, and adult learning. For the past 17 years, she has worked in various capacities at The Fred Rogers Company (TFRC). These include managing large statewide and national professional development grants, co-authoring professional development modules produced by TFRC, and advising the production team on all four seasons of the award-winning PBS KIDS series, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. With PBS, she also authored Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Life's Little Lessons: A Learning Kit for ECE Teachers, which is now available online at pbskids.org/learn/lifes-little-lessons. As she has done for over 30 years, Santella continues her role as adjunct faculty in ECE and Applied Psychology at universities in Pittsburgh. She also works in both the public and private sectors as an ECE trainer and consultant.

• 
  Michelle Garmon

  Panelist

  Michelle Garmon is a First grade teacher and a leader in technology and developmentally appropriate practice for Rio Rancho public schools in New Mexico. She believes that Digital Citizenship should be taught as a foundational skill along with reading, writing, and arithmetic. She is dedicated to allowing her students' voices to be heard in their own learning experiences. She is also committed to sharing her ideas with colleagues across the Land of Enchantment.

• 
  Cathy Cook

  Panelist

  Cathy Cook is the Manager, Education Projects with WQED Multimedia. Cathy is in charge of training almost 1,000 early childhood professionals each year and, with her leadership, our team has trained over 5,000 educators. Cathy’s educational experience has been diverse and has included being a kindergarten and preschool teacher, working with high school students as a remedial teacher, and being a community service liaison for an alternative school. Cathy Cook received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the Pennsylvania State University and has a Private Academic Teaching Certificate in Nursery/Kindergarten Education.