Our Vision
Re-imagine children as competent
thinkers and problem solvers!
We provide high-quality engaging professional learning and family engagement that teaches adults to “see and support” science as it unfolds in their classrooms, homes, and neighborhoods.
Our approach is flexible and aims to be contextually, culturally, and locally relevant to teachers, families and children.
As a result, children are provided opportunities and encouragement to engage in 21st century thinking skills setting them on a strong foundation for life-long learning.
Early Science Initiative
Unleashing the Power of Science in Early Childhood
Leadership
Daryl Greenfield, Ph.D.
Daryl Greenfield is an Applied Development Psychologist and Professor of Psychology & Pediatrics at the University of Miami. His passion for over 40 years has been building a strong foundation during early childhood for at-risk infants, toddlers and preschoolers to reach their full potential as flexible, creative, engaged thinkers and doers. For the past 18 years he has made science education the cornerstone of
this work, leveraging young children’s natural curiosity and goal-directed motivation to understand their world. This work, supported by multiple federal and private foundations, sits at the intersections of research, policy and
practice, in partnership with local, state and national practitioners, families, program leaders, and policymakers.
Lexi Alexander, Ph.D.
Lexi Alexander is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Miami and has co-led the Early Science Initiative team since its inception in 2015. In this role she facilitates the development of partnerships with schools, families, and the community, materials used to support professional development, measurement tools to be used in collecting
data, as well as facilitating data collection and analyses. Her experience as a classroom teacher, knowledge of child development, and mother of a four-year-old son and new baby have inspired and informed her work in numerous projects related to early science and, more broadly, early
childhood education and school readiness.
Research Management
Implementation
Julio Martin
Julio A. Martin is the project coordinator for the Early Science Initiative. Julio obtained a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology with Honors from Florida International University. Currently, Julio is completing a Masters of Science in Education in Mental Health Counseling at the University of Miami. Julio is interested in working with undeserved families to improve childhood outcomes and family dynamics.
Silvia Nino
Silvia Niño received her bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology from New York University and then received a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is interested in the measurement and support of high quality interactions in early childhood programs.
Elica Sharifnia
Prior to joining University of Miami, she was a research analyst at the Center for Technology & Learning at SRI International, where she contributed to a variety of early childhood STEM development, evaluation, and assessment projects through project management, instrument development, data collection, and analysis.
Cynthia Parker
Cynthia is an Early Childhood Specialist with over 25 years of experience in the field. She has served as an educator and Vice President of development for a company serving over 1,800 children, infants through kindergarten. As a part of the ESI team, she provides coaching to schools and teachers as well as supports the development of modules and materials. Her experience spans from classroom teacher, to leadership roles, coach and parent, offering her a well-rounded view of the needs of children, schools and families.
Haley Converse
As a member of the ESI team Haley is involved in both content development and site support. This includes assisting in the creation of online learning modules and other resources that are distributed to our different sites. Additionally, she work directly with teachers and staff members at these sites to facilitate professional development workshops and to provide them with any support or feedback that they need.
Multimedia Design
Jan Esteraich, Ph.D.
Juan Almeciga
Arianna Guzman
Arianna serves as our learning module designer and has been able to combine her creativity with her curiosity for technology throughout our development of online learning modules. She additionally assists the team in a variety of tasks. She is currently completing her bachelor’s in psychology at the University of Miami and is interested in continuing to work with the community to help make a positive impact on underserved families.
Patty Jaramillo
Patty has fused her love for the arts and early education in her work as lead designer on the ESI team. Her experience working in theatre, film, and media can be seen in our graphics, animations, and media presence. She has also worked with Dr. Greenfield for over 12 years as project and lab coordinator across multiple federally funded projects on early childhood science.
Jan is leading the ESI team in the design of a children’s digital app. Prior to receiving her PhD in early childhood development and education, Jan founded an educational software company that created software for emergent readers which was distributed directly to schools and through major publishers. Her research interests include parent-child co-use of children’s media and children’s use of mobile technology at home and in schools.
Juan began working at the University of Miami’s School Readiness Lab in the spring of 2018 in the Enfoque and ESI projects. Upon graduation from the University of Los Andes, Bogotá, CO in 2013, he worked with various cultural institutions in the Miami area such as South Miami Dade Cultural Arts Center, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, and Miami Dade College's Miami film festival in outreach, community engagement, and education.
Research Support
