Deborah Roderick Stark

Deborah Roderick Stark is a nationally recognized expert in child, family, and community well-being. Her work focuses on the intersections between practice, policy, and research to advance access, quality, and equity in early childhood learning and development, family engagement, maternal and child health, and infant mental health. She has 30+ years of experience working with foundations, public agencies, research centers, the nonprofit community, and legislators.

Deborah received her BA from Wellesley College and her MSW from the University of California at Berkeley. She lives outside Annapolis, MD and has three grown children.

Laura Bornfreund

Laura Bornfreund is a freelance author and consultant working on a book about transforming kindergarten. Previously, Bornfreund worked for New America for 14 years, most recently as a senior fellow and advisor on early and elementary education with the Education Policy program. As a Senior Fellow, Bornfreund focused on transforming kindergarten and promoting policy and practice to strengthen the transition into kindergarten and the early elementary school grades.

Judith C. Walker

​Judith C. Walker, early childhood consultant, has spent 47 years in early childhood and elementary education in Maryland. Her experience includes classroom teacher, elementary principal, and Maryland State Department of Education Early Learning Branch Chief. Her other experiences include principal leadership work with the Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals, support of the development of the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment, and led the expansion of Pre Kindergarten including the development  of Birth-4 standards and Prekindergarten curriculum in Maryland. She received her B.A. from Shepherd University, and her M.A. from George Washington University.