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InvestiGators™
About
Children are naturally inquisitive, open, trusting, energetic, and happy. It is our privilege and duty to be sure these qualities are nurtured and channeled in constructive ways.
Dr. Sharon Landesman
Ramey and Dr. Craig T. Ramey
Authors and Advisors
InvestiGator Club® Authors
Beth Alley Wise
Early Childhood Curriculum
Beth Wise is the author of hundreds of books and programs for young children. For over 25 years she was instrumental in the creation and production of highly acclaimed educational products for leading publishers, such as HMH, Pearson, Scholastic, McGraw-Hill, and others. Beth was a valued member of Disney’s creative development team for several years. Prior to her publishing career, she served as a teacher, primary specialist, headmaster, and school administrator. Beth was editor-in-chief for Robert-Leslie Publishing and author of the InvestiGator Club® and Little InvestiGators™ books and curriculum, as well as Dilly’s Tree House™ Family Engagement.
Joellyn Cicciarelli
Early Childhood Curriculum
Joellyn Cicciarelli began her career as a teacher and eventually became an author, editor, and executive editor for a variety of award-winning books and curriculum materials. Before joining Robert-Leslie Publishing, Joellyn had the pleasure of serving as editor for Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (Grow and Learn with Mister Rogers) and contributing writer for Don MacMannis, composer for Jay Jay the Jet Plane (A Pocket of Tunes). She is currently the president and publisher at Loyola Press and 4U2B Books & Media. Joellyn was an author of InvestiGator Club® and a lead member of the creative team that imagined the InvestiGators™ books and programs, as well as a lyrics writer for the InvestiGators™ Music and Movement songs.
Senior Advisors
Dr. Craig T. Ramey and
Dr. Sharon Landesman Ramey
Early Childhood Development and Research
Dr. Craig Ramey co-authored Foundations for Early Learning: The InvestiGator Club Research Base with Dr. Sharon Landesman Ramey. Both are Research Professors and Distinguished Research Scholars at Virginia Tech. Dr. Craig Ramey was the principal investigator of the groundbreaking Abecedarian Project, which studied the impact of high-quality early care and education on overcoming the disadvantages of poverty. Four decades later, the ongoing Abecedarian Project continues to demonstrate the positive power of these interventions. Dr. Sharon Landesman Ramey is a lead scientist at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, co-director of the Neuromotor Research Clinic, and a founder and leader at the National Rehabilitation Resource Center. The Rameys reviewed and advised throughout the creation of the InvestiGator Club® programs.
Dr. Timothy Shanahan
Science of Reading and Assessment
Dr. Shanahan is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is a past president of the International Literacy Association and former director of reading for the Chicago Public Schools. Dr. Shanahan was a member of the National Reading Panel and an author of the National Early Literacy Panel Report (NELP). He is the author/editor of more than 200 publications on literacy education and science of reading. He was the Chair of the National Literacy Panel for Minority Children and Youth. He was the co-principal investigator of the “National Panel for Minority Children and Youth. He was also the co-principal investigator of the “National Title I Study of Implementation and Outcomes: Early Childhood Language Development,” a study of reading achievement from preschool through grade 3. Dr. Shanahan advised the InvestiGator Club® team on early literacy, vocabulary, and assessment throughout the development of the curriculum, and wrote the Assessment and Vocabulary sections of the program’s Research and Professional Guide.
Dr. Sandra Mercuri
Biliteracy, Dual Language, English Learners
Dr. Mercuri was Associate Professor in the Language, Literacy, and Intercultural Studies Department, and Bilingual Program Director at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She is a nationally recognized Educational Consultant in second language acquisition, dual language education, and curriculum integration for biliteracy development. Dr. Mercuri is currently researching the development of academic language across the content areas, language transfer, and the effect of long-term professional development on bilingual and ESL teachers’ instructional practices. Dr. Mercuri provides professional development for teachers, administrators, and parents. She presents at national and international conferences on issues of second language acquisition and bilingualism, dual language education and biliteracy, translanguaging pedagogy, and ESL strategies. Dr. Mercuri was a senior advisor for InvestiGator Club® and authored “The Pre-Kindergarten Years for Emergent Bilinguals” for the curriculum.
Consultants and Contributors
Dr. Lynn Hartle
Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education, University of Central Florida. Mathematics and Technology
Sarah Sprinkel
Former Senior Director of Early Childhood and Community Outreach for Orange County, Florida. Social and Emotional Development and Family Engagement
Karen Nemeth
Author, Many Languages, One Classroom. “Language and Cultural Diversity in the Classroom”
Lucille V. Barrera
Elementary Science Supervisor, Houston Independent School District. Science
Dr. Denise Bennerson
Professor of Education at University of the Virgin Islands. Inclusion
Patricia Oholeguy
Director of Strategic Initiative at Family Matters of Greater Washington. “English Language Learning for Spanish Speaking Children”
Dorothy Creegan
Former Director of Program Administration at Long Island Head Start. Family and Community Involvement
Ellen Galinsky
Author, Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs. “Keep the Fire Burning Brightly”
Dr. Barbara Sorrels
Executive Director of the Institute for Early Childhood Education. “Importance of Play”
Creative Team
Beth Alley Wise
Joellyn Ciccarelli
Rainbow Educational Concepts
Brian Smith
Gigi Hayes
Diane Becker
Matt Lemmons
Michaelis/Carpelis Design
Sylvain Michaelis
Irene Carpelis