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Early Childhood Education:
Ready to Read, Ready to Learn

Panelists for May 21, 2002 Satellite Town Meeting

Guest panelists are:

Dr. Susan Neuman
Dr. Susan Neuman is the Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education. In her capacity, she serves as an adviser to the U.S. Secretary of Education on all matters related to elementary and secondary education and is principally charged with implementing the reading initiatives and programs authorized by the No Child Left Behind Act. Prior to joining the Department, Dr. Neuman was a professor at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and director of the Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement. She is a board member of the International Reading Association and has published widely, especially regarding literacy.

Dr. Susan Landry
Dr. Susan Landry is the director of the Center for Improving the Readiness of Children for Learning and Education (C.I.R.C.L.E.) in the Department of Pediatrics at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSCH). The Center is currently involved in using the knowledge gained from years of studying young children to help promote the national goals of early childhood literacy initiatives. Dr. Landry is a Developmental Psychologist and a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UTHSCH. She is also the Chief of the Division of Developmental Pediatrics.

Dr. Eric Smith
Dr. Eric Smith is the Superintendent of schools for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg district in Charlotte, North Carolina. Under his leadership, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools have been noted for dramatically improving student achievement and for starting innovative programs in early childhood education and college access programs. Dr. Smith has garnered national recognition for spearheading the highly successful, literacy based preschool program called "Bright Beginnings." This research-backed program is helping at-risk four-year-olds enter kindergarten on par with their more affluent peers.

Mr. Ronald Whitmore
Ronald Whitmore serves as an Officer of Early Childhood Education for the Chicago Public Schools. Through its three main early childhood initiatives, Head Start, the Illinois Pre-kindergarten program and its Child Parent Centers, the Chicago Public Schools system serves 27,000 students at over 750 sites in schools across the city. As an early childhood educator, Ronald has taught over 15 years in the classroom and is committed to the academic success of all children and their families.