Our Team
The EarlyEdU Alliance® Team
Our team began at the National Center on Quality Teaching and Learning (NCQTL), where we developed materials to improve teacher child interactions and improve outcomes for children in Head Start programs. Now, at the EarlyEdU Alliance, all of us – early childhood experts, video producers, graphic designers, instructional designers, content experts, software developers, managers, and support staff – contribute to advancing the mission to improve access to affordable, relevant bachelor’s degrees for the early childhood workforce.
EarlyEdU Alliance Staff
Gail Joseph, PhD, Founding Director
Gail E. Joseph is a former Head Start and Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) teacher and the Bezos Family Distinguished Professor in Early Learning at the University of Washington (UW). She teaches courses, advises students, provides service, and conducts research on topics related to early learning, childcare quality, teacher preparation, early childhood mental health, and school readiness. Gail is the Founding Executive Director of Cultivate Learning at the UW and was previously the Director of the Head Start Center for Inclusion (Headstartinclusion.org) and Co-Director of the National Center for Quality Teaching and Learning funded by the Office of Head Start. Gail is currently the Principal Investigator and Senior Director of Translational Science for the National Center on Early Childhood Development Teaching and Learning. At Cultivate Learning, she oversees the work of quality ratings in all licensed childcare and preschool programs in the state and creates professional learning resources – such as Circle Time Magazine and the Meaningful Makeover series. Additionally, she is the Founding Director of the EarlyEdU Alliance. Gail is the 2018 recipient of the David R. Thorud Leadership Award at the University of Washington.
Allyson Dean, EdD, Senior Director
Dr. Allyson Dean is the Senior Director of EarlyEdU at Cultivate Learning, where she leads efforts to enhance early childhood education teacher preparation and professional development. With extensive experience in technical assistance at both state and national levels, she has developed training and resources that promote early childhood teaching and learning, inclusive education, and educational leadership. Dr. Dean has played a key role in policy and advisory boards, including chairing the Governor’s Child Care Advisory Board and directing professional development systems in Maine. Since 2015, she has contributed to the Office of Head Start and its National Technical Assistance System, focusing on high-quality inclusion, disabilities services, and teaching strategies within Head Start programs. Dr. Dean holds an M.S. from Wheelock College and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Maine, where she studied Head Start teacher efficacy in instructional support.
Katie Emerson-Hoss, PhD, Higher Education Outreach and Implementation Manager
As the Higher Education Outreach and Implementation Manager for the EarlyEdU Alliance®, Katie is responsible for outreach to key stakeholders at the state level as well as faculty and administrators at higher education institutions. Additionally, she works with system stakeholders to consider innovative implementation strategies to support accessible and affordable pathways into and through higher education for the early childhood workforce. As a regional field specialist for Region 2 with NCQTL, she worked with federal staff to design, pilot, and implement a regional grantee support and development process and helped launch the Practice-Based Coaching initiative in the Region. She currently facilitates the national EarlyEdU Faculty Community of Practice.
Katie has a PhD in educational psychology, with a focus on early childhood special education and mental health, and an M.Ed. in early intervention and family support. She brings a wealth of experience from her work as a home visitor and educator. As a consultant Katie has worked with children, families, teachers, and organizations to develop strong relationships for learning and well-being. Her teaching experience includes over 15 years teaching undergraduates and graduate students in early childhood and special education.
Distinguished Teaching Award
The purpose of this award is to bring attention to the importance of early childhood teaching in higher education, as well as to recognize those who have demonstrated excellence and innovation in course delivery. Recipients of this award have gone above and beyond in their commitment to work with students and see them grow and succeed in early childhood classrooms.
Recipients
- 2022: Govinda Budrow, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
- 2019: Maria Avalos, College of the Desert, California
- 2018: Carrie Ota, Weber State University, Utah
- 2017: Melissa Johnson, Highland Community College, Illinois
- 2016: Nanci Waterhouse, Salish Kootenai College, Montana
Contact Us
For more information about our work, email info@earlyedualliance.org. Your message will be routed to the appropriate team member. We look forward to hearing from you!