Meet The Team

Dr. Sonia Cabell is the R. Keith and Patricia Duggins Sigmon Endowed Professor of Reading Education in the School of Teacher Education and core faculty in the Florida Center for Reading Research at Florida State University. Her research focuses on early language and literacy instruction, with a particular interest in preventing reading difficulties in young children.

Sonia has authored more than 70 publications, including peer-reviewed articles, books, book chapters and early childhood language and literacy curricula. She is the lead editor of the Handbook on the Science of Early Literacy from Guilford Press, and she co-authored Literacy Learning for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers: Key Practices for Educators from the National Association for the Education of Young Children and Strive-for-Five Conversations from Scholastic. She has also served as an advisor or consultant for a variety of organizations and state departments of education across the United States.

Sonia earned her doctorate in education with a concentration in reading education from the University of Virginia. Previously, she worked as a second-grade teacher and literacy coach in Oklahoma and Virginia.

Dr. Jennifer Jipson is department chair and professor of psychology and child development at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo with expertise in how children construct understandings about science, health and technology through everyday activities. She draws on scientific research to develop learning opportunities for young children.

She received funding from the National Science Foundation to design early science learning materials and serves as a consultant for children’s museums, toy companies and digital and traditional media platforms. Her published work includes scholarly research articles, book chapters and an edited volume on learning in museum settings.

Dr. Jack Maypole is a clinical associate professor of pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine and department vice chair and director of the Comprehensive Care Program at Boston Medical Center.

As a pediatrician, Jack treats children with complex and chronic illnesses such as neurodevelopment problems and complications of premature infancy. Jack is active in local, state and national efforts for healthcare advocacy, especially for children with special healthcare needs. He has also written widely on child health matters in print and online.

Jack is a graduate of the Yale University School of Medicine.

Dr. Peg Oliveira is the director of the Gesell Program in Early Childhood at The Yale Child Study Center. She is a developmental psychologist with a career in advocacy and social activism. A widely published author, she designs professional development content and trainings that have a direct and immediate impact on how educators and parents see and teach children.

Peg has worked with state agencies, national advocacy coalitions and local initiatives to ensure that all children receive a high-quality early learning experience. Through these efforts, she has helped shape much of the early learning standards and policies around play in the state of Connecticut.

Peg earned her doctorate in psychology from Brandeis University.

Dr. Kyle Pruett is a clinical professor of child psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine. Through his child psychiatry work, Kyle has become an international expert and forensic consultant on child, parental and family development; paternal involvement; children’s mental health and creativity; and the effects of trauma, media and divorce on young children.

Kyle is the founder of the Yale Conference on Fatherhood and the Harris Professional Development Network for Training in Early Intervention and Research. He has authored award-winning books, including Me, Myself, and I, Fatherneed and Partnership Parenting, and contributes to such publications as The Washington Post, USA Today, Parents, ABC News and Psychology Today.

Kyle received his undergraduate degree from Yale University and a medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine.

Dr. Ann McClain Terrell, Ph.D., is one of the nation’s preeminent early childhood education leaders. As the former president of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the former executive director of the Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation, Inc., Ann's leadership has been instrumental in shaping educational policies and practices across the country. Her fifty years of education experience also includes roles as the director of innovation and director of early childhood education for the Milwaukee Public Schools district.

In addition to being a distinguished educator, Ann is an accomplished author. Her book, Graceful Leadership in Early Childhood Education, reflects her commitment to advancing the early childhood education field. Her community service involvement extends to boards, councils and committees, including the Wisconsin Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council and the Milwaukee Succeeds Leadership Table.

Ann holds an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Lakeland University and multiple degrees, including an M.S. in Educational Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University and an M.S. in Cultural Foundations of Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Dr. Valerie Truesdale is an education policy expert who currently serves as the assistant executive director of the School Superintendents Association. She has spent the bulk of her career in the public school system, including stints as a teacher, principal, chief instructional services officer, chief technology and transformation officer and superintendent. Additionally, she previously led the policy division of the South Carolina State Department of Education, supervising student assessment, educator licensure, technology and policy.

Valerie is a past president of the International Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and was the first recipient of the National Women in School Leadership Award, conferred by the American Association of School Administrators in 2011. Furthermore, she has been named State Superintendent of the Year by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the organization in 2012.

Valerie holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Clemson University, an MBA in marketing from Georgia State University and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of South Carolina.