Deb Curtis holds an MA in human development from Pacific Oaks College and has worked as an infant/toddler caregiver, preschool and school age child care teacher, CDA trainer, Head Start education coordinator, college instructor, and assistant director of a child care program.

Margie Carter holds an MA from Pacific Oaks College and has worked as a preschool, kindergarten and primary school teacher, curriculum developer, High/Scope trainer, child care director, and college instructor.

Margie and Deb first met in 1989 when Deb was working as an education coordinator for Head Start and Margie was the training coordinator for a local resource and referral agency in Seattle. They immediately discovered they shared a passion for promoting adventurous childhood experiences, voracious quests for new learning, and raising sons with a feminist consciousness. Influenced by the work of Elizabeth Jones, they attended graduate school together at Pacific Oaks College, where their twenty-year collaborative partnership began. Together, they have designed and taught college classes, worked side-by-side with classroom teachers, produced professional development videos, and co-authored seven books. In the last decade, Margie has focused her attention on working with directors to develop strong administrative systems that support reflective teaching. Deb has returned to work directly with children, putting into practice the philosophy and vision that they promote in their extensive travel across North America, Australia, and New Zealand to give presentations and consult with early childhood programs. Both are regular writers for Child Care Information Exchange and contributors to other publications.

In this era of standardization and prescription in education, Deb and Margie stand for the creative and critical thinking that leads to education for democracy. They strongly believe that high quality care and education for young children and their families requires leaders and practitioners who are able to think through the dynamics of their work with a larger purpose and vision. They encourage early educators and administrators to think big, be visionary, and take responsibility for transforming the current limitations and mediocrity in early childhood.

Web site:www.ecetrainers.com