Early Childhood Education

Biography

Levena Nash De La Rosa is a native of Los Angeles, California. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).  During her undergraduate career, Professor De La Rosa participated in the Center for American Politics and Public Policy Research and Internship Program in Washington, DC where she interned at the Center for Training for Child and Family Services.  This experience ultimately led to graduate-level training in Psychology at Howard University where she earned a Master of Science degree from Howard University in Psychology with a focus in Social Psychology.  While there, she served as a Research Assistant at the Center for the Research of Students Placed at Risk (CRESPAR), a Graduate Assistant in the Office of Retention Mentoring and Support Programs and taught and assisted with several courses in the Psychology Department. 

Levena Nash De La Rosa joined Montgomery College in 2012 as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Education and Social Sciences teaching courses in the area of Psychology.  She has taught at both the Rockville and Takoma Park/Silver Spring campuses guiding students in their educational pursuits in various courses such as General Psychology, Human Growth and Development, Child and Adolescent Development and Social Psychology.  Professor De La Rosa is also very active outside of the classroom; she enthusiastically contributes to the Montgomery College’s initiatives and special programs such as the Psychology Open Education Resource (OER) and Common Course, Structured Remote Training (SRT), Achieving the Promise Academy (ATPA) and I Am Psyched.  Professor De La Rosa has received several awards for her excellence in teaching, student engagement, and scholarly pursuits.  In 2018, she received the MC Part-time Faculty Teaching Award. She was awarded the MC Part-time Faculty Engagement Award as well as the Outstanding Part-time Faculty Award in 2019.  Levena currently serves as Full-Time Faculty member at the Rockville Campus of Montgomery College.  Professor De La Rosa is incredibly passionate about student success at Montgomery College and beyond and she seeks to be a bridge to educational opportunity for all who seek it.

Educational Background

MA, Howard University
BA, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Biography

Henry N. Caballero is a native of the Texas Gulf Coast. He began teaching children and adults in 1995, and in 2000, he earned a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction with Texas Teacher Certification in Bilingual Education and ESL. In 2001, he moved to Maryland and began teaching in the academic ESL program at Montgomery College in Rockville where his work in the field of College-level ESL education led to published grammar/ writing materials and numerous presentations at local, state, and international conferences. Professor Caballero’s training and background in Bilingual Education and ESL, as well as his certificates in Facilitative Leadership, Training of Trainers, Developing Online Teaching Programs, and Leadership Management, inform his practices as a faculty member and in his current role as the Senior Program Director for the Early Childhood Alternative Certification Program. He has recently earned the Antiracist micro-credential.

We need to help students and parents cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthens this community — and this nation.    Cesar Chavez

Biography

Lynnette Weaver serves as the Program Director for the Montgomery College Center for Early as Early Childhood Education Lab School and as Adjunct faculty at Montgomery College. She started at Montgomery College in 2011 as a lead teacher working in mixed-age classrooms. Since 2016, Ms. Weaver has taught credit and non-credit courses for Montgomery College in both the School of Education and Workforce Development and Continuing Education. Courses taught include Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Child Growth and Development, STEM in Early Childhood Education and Curriculum Planning in Early Childhood.

Lynnette Weaver holds a Master of Education degree in Early Childhood from Towson University. Prior to Montgomery College, she worked for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) where she mentored programs and assessed early childhood environments for quality. She enjoys spending time with family, Netflix and travel.

Biography

Dr. Carter McLean earned her Doctorate of Education from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, in Higher Education Administration with a focus on Community College Leadership, she holds a Masters of Teaching from Hampton University, and a Bachelors in Child Development from the University of North Carolina (Charlotte).

Dr. Carter McLean’s professional career in higher education spans more than 15 years. Her career in higher education began at Hampton University as an Adjunct Instructor. Following that experience, Dr. Carter McLean proceeded to hold two adjunct positions in the Virginia Community College System. Subsequently, in the fall of 1999-2000 academic year, Dr. Carter McLean began her first full-time higher education position as an Instructor at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College; the third largest community college in the Virginia Community College System.

During her tenure at Reynolds, Dr. Carter McLean progressed through the ranks to become an Associate Professor and Chair of Human Services and Paraprofessionals in Education curriculum programs. As Chair, Dr. Carter McLean participated in several outreach community efforts: (a) Greater Richmond Early Childhood Partnership; (b) Pre-Teacher Practicum Committee; (c) Single Parents Network, and (d) Community Early Reading Program. Dr. Carter McLean also led efforts to offer the College’s Early Childhood Education curriculum online, thereby creating the first Online Learning Curriculum in the VCCS for the Early Childhood Development, Human Services, and Paraprofessionals in Education programs.

Dr. Carter McLean has won several state and federal grants totaling $20 million. Also, Dr. Carter McLean has published articles in the area of assessment practices, early childhood coaching, and early literacy. Dr. Carter McLean is currently working on her first book.

Dr. Carter McLean has joined the Montgomery College faculty as Professor and Coordinator of the Early Childhood Education program for the Takoma Park/Silver Springs campus.

Biography

Dr. Jeannie Ho and her husband raised two young children while she worked in child care and preschool settings as a teacher and center director. After more than 8 years of directly working with children and families, she began her career at Montgomery College, where teaching and learning has been her passion since 1998. Her love for children and her enjoyment of interacting with adult learners are demonstrated inside and outside her college classes, in her work in the Sunday school setting, and in leading parent workshops. She enjoys family travel, listening to music, and jogging with her family pet.

Biography

Carlos Marroquin was born in Washington, DC and spent much of his school years in Montgomery County Public Schools as a student.  After earning his BA in Elementary/Special Education from Towson University, he began teaching at MCPS.  He then continued his education, earning his M.A. in Special Education for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners.  Carlos taught at MCPS for a little over eight years working with students at all levels (K-12).  He began working at the Montgomery College School of Education in 2020 and became full time faculty in 2023.

"You are not lucky to be here.  The world needs your perspective.  They are lucky to have you."  Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation

Biography

Dede Marshall worked in the Early Childhood Education field for 20 years prior to teaching at Montgomery College. She has taught children, from infancy through five in addition to directing child development centers and creating new programs and centers. She began teaching at Montgomery College in 2010 and loves teaching college students who will become teachers themselves. When she is not working, you can find Professor Marshall in the garden, biking, or hiking with her two Border Collies.

Biography

Kristie Dennis is one of the ECACP coaches for the second cohort. She is native Washingtonian with ten years of experience in the Education field. Kristie earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching-Early Childhood from Trinity Washington University. She has approximately six years teaching experience in Early Childhood in DC Public Charter Schools, DC Public Schools, and Montgomery County Public Schools. Kristie is thrilled to mentor other Early Childhood educators in this role and continue to serve the Montgomery County community.

Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.    Aristotle

Biography

Andrew has been an educator for the last eight years, serving students across the lifespan from early childhood to adult learners. He believes in the potential for education to be transformative and empowering for all students. Andrew has led international education programs in the U.S. and China and coordinated an early childhood literacy program at the University of Pennsylvania which served students at four West Philadelphia public schools. His work as a teacher, program leader, and education consultant has fueled his belief in learner-centered, progressive education. He has a Master of Science in Education in International Educational Development from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education.

Biography

Reneé Fleming has worked 13 years in early childhood education. She is a proud product of MCPS K-12. Go Blazers!  Reneé’s family is from the Dominican Republic and Trinidad. She enjoys traveling and collecting succulent plants.

Biography

Erica attended the University of Maryland, College Park, where she received a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and certification in Elementary Education. She continued her journey at The George Washington University, for a dual master's degree in Special Education and ESOL. Erica worked for Montgomery County Public Schools for 15 years, teaching First Grade, Kindergarten, Special Education PreK, and Special Education K/1. She is currently working as the Special Education Specialist for Head Start of Howard County. She is passionate about ensuring that all students have access to the curriculum and receive the support they need to be successful.

Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.  Socrates

Biography

Nikki has a master's in early childhood education with 8 years in the field. She is a military spouse which is what brought her here to Maryland. Nikki loves to travel and experience different cultures and food with her family! On her down time, she likes to catch up on her latest book, explore with her two kids, and discover new coffee shops. 

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.   Maya Angelou

Biography

Carla Magdamo taught pre-K for 11 years at Epworth Preschool and Kindergarten in Gaithersburg and worked for one year as a substitute teacher in MCPS.  Currently, she serves as the Child Development Specialist for the Family Discovery Center in Rockville, MD. Carla received a BA in Political Science from Penn State, and an MS in Early Childhood Education from Towson University. She raised her three young adult daughters in Montgomery County and currently lives with her husband in Germantown.

 

A room without books is like a body without a soul.  Thomas Jefferson

Biography

Tiffany Ragin is a part-time faculty member in the Early Childhood Alternative Certification Program with over 20 years of teaching experience in Maryland public schools. In addition to teaching in the ECACP program, she is a Reading Specialist in Montgomery County Public Schools. Ms. Ragin has master’s degrees in Early Childhood Education and Reading Education. In 2022, she completed a post-baccalaureate certificate program in Equity and Excellence in Education.

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” Muhammad Ali