Rosario Dominguez, MPA has Head Start experience at the national, regional, and local levels, as well as other diverse human services experience. Ms. Dominguez was previously a grantee specialist manager for Head Start’s American Indian and Alaska Native Region. Prior to that, she served on the staff of the National Head Start Center on Program Management and Fiscal Operations and also worked for Head Start grantees in Massachusetts.

Ms. Dominguez received her master’s in public administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor’s in political science with a specialization in education from Carleton College. Additionally, she has received graduate credit from Wheelock College in early childhood education and program management.

Sharon Adams has gained a broad range of experience and skills including experience teaching, supervising, and directing in several infant, toddler, and preschool programs as well as providing training and technical assistance to Head Start and community preschool programs. She has taught college-level courses in supervision, child development, and early childhood education.

Ms. Adams received a bachelor's of science in early childhood education from Messiah College and a master's of science in education administration from Bank Street College of Education.

Alexandra Arnold has worked in the field of education for over 25 years. In that time she has been involved with overseeing early education programs including mental health and disabilities for a Head Start program in New England and early intervention, family counseling, and a state comprehensive community child care initiative that was modeled after Head Start. Her Head Start experience also includes working for the Training and Technical Assistance Network for in New England. Most recently, she was the Grants Manager for Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge in Rhode Island. 

Ms. Arnold received her master’s in counseling from Boston University and her bachelor’s in special education/elementary education from Wheelock College.

Deb Bankauskas’s experience includes training and technical assistance for Rhode Island’s Center for Early Learning Professionals where she provided training and technical assistance to early care and education programs including Head Start, child care, family child care and public school pre-K programs. For over 20 years, she served as the administrator of Crayons Early Care and Education Center, a nationally accredited, fully inclusive early care and education program serving children ages six weeks through five years. Deb has also served as an early childhood adjunct instructor at community colleges in Connecticut and Rhode Island. 

Ms. Bankauskas received a bachelor's in early childhood education from Rhode Island College and a master's education in early childhood administration and leadership from Johnson & Wales University.

Nena Cunningham’s professional experience spans more than 20 years in Head Start programs and state government. She has served in various roles including classroom teacher, family services staff, supervisor, master teacher, and most recently as Maine’s Head Start state collaboration director.  Her work has been in direct care, programming, public policy, quality improvement and data analysis focused in the areas of infant toddler programming, parent, family and community engagement and public-school collaboration.

Dr. Cunningham received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in early childhood education from the University of Maine at Farmington and her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of New England.

Elena Engle's experience spans more than 20 years across government and non-profit organizations in Florida, New York City and New Hampshire. Her work has been in direct care as well as programming, policies, quality improvement and data analysis and focused in the areas of foster care, preventative services, and early childhood education. Prior to joining the institute, Ms. Engle was the child and family services director for a community action agency in New Hampshire where she oversaw Head Start, home visiting, child care and food and nutrition programs.  

Ms. Engle received a bachelor's of arts in sociology from the University of Central Florida and her master's degree in public administration from Troy University. 

Jan Gilpin’s professional focus has always been on ensuring that all families have equitable access to quality early childhood education. Jan has an in-depth understanding of early childhood systems in New England with experience drafting legislation, administering state child care subsidies, writing on research and policy and analyzing legal and policy questions. She has managed provider trainings and conferences and worked in the classrooms serving children. For the past seven years, Jan has worked at the Office of Head Start New England office as part of the support contract team. She has held multiple, and at times dual, roles as a program specialist, collaboration office liaison, data specialist and interim project manager. Jan is also a lawyer and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar. 

She received her bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College and her juris doctor from Boston University. In 2022, Jan was selected as an Early Educator Leadership Fellow as part of the Post Master’s Certificate Program in Early Education Research, Policy, and Practice at UMass Boston. 

Winique Alexandre Green has over 12 years of experience working with Head Start/Early Head Start in varying management roles in the areas of ERSEA, family engagement, quality, compliance & operations. Most recently, she served as the director of quality, compliance & operations for a Head Start Program in Massachusetts.

Ms. Green earned her bachelor’s in finance from Bentley College and her master’s in organizational leadership from Southern New Hampshire University.

Maureen Hickey's experience includes training and technical assistance as well as working as a health and disabilities coordinator, a parent child care center coordinator, an Early Head Start manager, a director of program operations, and an associate director for a large Head Start and child care program.

Ms. Hickey received a bachelor's of science in early childhood education from the University of Maine and a master's in early childhood education from Wheelock College.

Maureen McDonald, M.Ed. has served as an education specialist, center director, and education services manager for a Massachusetts Head Start/Early Start program with over 600 children. She is a nationally trained regional facilitator for I Am Moving, I Am Learning – Head Start’s childhood obesity program. She has been a certified Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) trainer since 2009. Ms. McDonald has extensive experience in training and mentoring early childhood professionals as an adjunct faculty member at several Massachusetts colleges.

Ms. McDonald received a bachelor's of arts in English from Boston College and her master’s degree in early childhood education from Salem State University.

Robin Meade is a highly experienced professional in the field of early education and child development, with over 25 years of experience. She has held various roles during this time, including teaching in prekindergarten and kindergarten classrooms, working as a mentor/coach, and serving as a Head Start early childhood education coordinator. Robin is a practitioner of reflective practice and has provided training and coaching for preschool, infant and toddler, and home-based teachers who worked in a range of settings, including childcare, Head Start, Migrant Head Start, and public schools.

Jennifer Oglesby has over 20 years of experience in the early education field, including classroom teaching, center management and over 11 years of professional experience with Head Start in various leadership and supervisory roles. Jen has served as a professional development specialist with the Council for Professional Recognition and has taught college-level early childhood courses in health, safety & nutrition and child growth & development.

She received her undergraduate degree in childhood studies from Plymouth State University and her master’s degree in early childhood administration, management and leadership from Walden University.

Melissa Oliver has worked in the nursing and health field for 20 years. She has over 17 years of Head Start experience, most recently as the health manager for a program in Rhode Island. During that time, she worked with state and local partners advocating for health equity and access for young children and families, particularly in the area of oral health. 

Ms. Oliver received a bachelor’s of science in nursing from the University of Rhode Island and a master’s of science in public health from Walden University. 

Melissa Repko, M.S. has served as the education manager for a Head Start/Early Head Start program, as well as a special needs coordinator and teacher. She is also a nationally-trained regional facilitator for I Am Moving I Am Learning, Head Start’s national obesity prevention program.

Ms. Repko received a bachelor's of arts in sociology from Roanoke College and master's in early childhood special education from Bank Street College of Education in New York.

Debbie Rice has over 30 years of office management experience in the private & public sectors. She has specific expertise in the administration and management of financials and grants and contracts as well in analyzing processes and recommending improvements to ensure compliance and reflect best practice.

Ms. Rice has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Western New England University. 

Gladys Rivera has over 17 years of experience working with Head Start/Early Head Start and Migrant Head Start in varying management roles. Most recently, she served as director of education, program development and migrant programming for a Head Start Program in Massachusetts. Her training and expertise are in the areas of program management systems and early childhood education.

Ms. Rivera earned her bachelor’s in social science from American International College and her master’s in educational studies from Springfield College.

Shannon Shaw is experienced in the field of early childhood education, specifically as a teacher, supervisor, manager, and director. Ms. Shaw has also provided training and technical assistance to both child care and Head Start programs. Shannon is also a nationally-trained regional facilitator for I Am Moving I Am Learning, Head Start’s national obesity prevention program, as well as a certified trainer in classroom assessment scoring systems.

Ms. Shaw received her bachelor's of science in early childhood education from Westfield State College.

For the past three decades, Maria Sierra has worked at the local, state, national and international level to advance equity for young children and their families. Her work experience includes bilingual teaching, home visiting for migrant children, coaching and supervising and managing Head Start and school readiness programs. She directed a dual language School Readiness program housed within a nationally recognized 2Gen approach Family Center. Her most recent position was working with immigration lawyers to keep families and children from being separated while gaining lawful permanent resident status.

Maria holds an associate degree in early childhood education, a bachelor's degree in child studies from Charter Oak State College and is pursuing a master’s degree in child law and policy at Loyola University Chicago.

Andrea T. Urbano, M.A. has over 30 years of experience in the field of early childhood education in various roles and within various systems of care. She has served children and families experiencing homelessness in MA as a part of a team focused on providing quality early childhood education and is a master cadre coach for the CSEFEL Pyramid Approach, which underscores the importance of promoting social-emotional development in young children.

Ms. Urbano received her bachelor's early childhood education from New York University, a master's in spirituality and ministry from Boston College and attended Erickson Institute with a concentration in early childhood administration.

Susan Wydra has over 20 years of experience in Head Start in a variety of roles. She started as a home visitor, then taking on leadership roles as a mental health and disabilities manager, and an Early Head Start and Head Start home-based manager. She has presented trainings on the impacts of substance use on children and families at the state and regional level, and a leader for the implementation of the Pyramid Model in Home Visiting.

Ms. Wydra received her bachelor’s of science in educational psychology from Keene State College.