Julie Olsen Edwards
"Mary is that rare consultant whose knowledge has been deeply tested in years of hands on work as a Center Director and classroom teacher. She knows what it is like to deal with the minutiae of paperwork and the complexity of relationships between staff and between staff and families.
Along with her practical experience, Mary brings a solid commitment to developmentally appropriate practices, Anti-Bias and Peace Education, and to the importance of program-family mutual respect and support.
We have worked together for decades. She continues to enrich my understanding of the important work we do and how we must do it. (Plus - she brings optimism and joy into all her work too!)"
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~Julie Olsen Edwards
Co-author of Anti-bias Education
Pedro Sousa
Mary's passion for fostering meaningful connections and supporting adult learners is one of her strongest attributes. She has never been one to shy away from dialogue, especially conversations that encourage reflection and lead to adult professional growth within a topic.
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In 2019, I had the privilege of witnessing Mary's impact firsthand when she delivered a keynote address at the Santa Clara County Office of Education. At the time, I was a Site Director and requested for Mary to come and share her knowledge with our Early Learning team. She shared stories and research on the impact of quality family engagement in a childcare program. Participants were invited to participate in creative activities and engage in dialogue, which contributed to nurturing both professional and personal connections between the entire group.
Mary has always been and will continue to be an ambassador for families and high-quality professional development experiences. Her ability to empower educators makes a profound difference in the lives of children and families throughout the Bay Area.
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~Pedro Sousa
Mission College Child Development Faculty
Montecito School
"At Montecito School, we have benefited GREATLY by Mary's educational expertise/consulting and support of our parents, children, staff and our community. Mary has supported us through reinforcing DAP (Developmentally Appropriate Practices) and child-centered curriculum and by coaching in the classroom directly with our children, our parents and our teaching teams (not to mention with me as a Director). Most important, she has empowered us to have a better understanding about the importance of all our relationships, the cornerstone of any community, so that we can provide the highest quality education and care for children and families. Mary Latta is a “gem” for any educational community or school."
~Erin Mobley
Children's Learning Cottage
"Mary Ashley Latta has provided our staff with exceptional professional development and mentoring at Children's Learning Cottage for the past 10 years. Mary provides our staff and leadership with tools, strategies, practical approaches, and tangible steps that enable us to make changes in the organization.
With almost 40 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our team of teachers. She has provided professional development on important topics in Early Childhood such as: diversity, handling challenging behaviors in the classroom, working on our values for the school, and consulting and supporting me in my role as director. Her passion for nurturing and mentoring new and experienced educators and directors is evident in the engaging workshops and training sessions she leads.
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Mary's guidance has been instrumental in implementing developmentally appropriate teaching strategies and fostering a nurturing, play-based learning environment. Her mentorship has empowered our educators to feel confident in their teaching, resulting in a preschool experience that supports children for success in their educational journey. We are truly fortunate to have Mary's dedication and visionary leadership supporting our preschool."
~Adela Alvarado
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.
408-605-1661