Meet Our Speakers
Karina Gonzalez
Author, Speech-Language Pathologist
Karina N. González is a school-based bilingual speech-language pathologist in Brooklyn, NY and author of the Pura Belpré Honor book, The Coquies Still Sing / Lost Coquies Aun Cantan COQUÍES STILL SING / LOS COQUÍES AÚN CANTAN (Roaring Brook Press, 2022). While targeting students’ storytelling skills through therapy, their boundless imaginations inspired Karina's dream to write picture books of her own. Karina resides in Brooklyn, NY and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
Debbie Groff
Child Care Deputy Senior Adminstrator, Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families
Debbie Groff has been a child care provider in her own home, a therapist in preschool setting, a child care center licensor, a child care licensing supervisor, an area administrator, and a member of the technical assistance training team for the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) in Washington State. Currently, Debbie is the child care deputy senior administrator for DCYF, where she oversees Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Licensing in Washington. In 2021, Washington State became the first state to permanently license outdoor, nature-based programs for preschool and school-age children. Debbie’s passion for adventure in the great outdoors, paired with her passion for quality early learning environments, enables her to promote the endless benefits for children, families, providers, and DCYF staff, in licensed outdoor, nature-based learning programs.
Ashley Causey-Golden (she/her)
Creator, Afrocentric Montessori and Co-Founder, Gather Forest School
Ashley has been teaching children since she was 18 years old and still remembers the student that led her to change her major from theater and communications to elementary and special education as a freshman in college. Ashley has been in traditional learning spaces (public & charter), progressive learning spaces (Reggio Emilia and Montessori), and African-centered learning environments in her 14 years of teaching. Her work with Afrocentric Montessori and Gather is a mixture of a labor of love and an educational home for her children that will keep their Blackness seen and whole. She wears many hats as an entrepreneur but the ones that stay front in center are mother, wife, teacher, steward, and friend.
Dr. Deja L. Jones (she/her)
Co-Founder, Honeypot Montessori
Dr. Deja L. Jones is a community activist and educator dedicated to empowering Black children through high-quality education and nature-based experiences. As the Founder and Head of School at Honeypot Montessori in Newark, NJ, Deja works to bridge the gap between education and nature for her community ensuring increased access for Black children. Deja's academic journey led her to earn a Ph.D. from Saybrook University's Transformative Social Change department, specializing in Early Childhood Education Sociology. With a decade of experience in the field, she has worn many hats, including case management, program coordination, curriculum design, and classroom teaching, collaborating with renowned organizations such as FoodCorps, Newark Public Schools, KIPP New Jersey, and more.
She holds a B.A. in Journalism & Media Studies from Rutgers University-Newark and an M.Ed. in Teaching & Learning Leadership from Liberty University, blending her passion for media and education seamlessly. Deja's research focuses on critical issues, including environmental racism in early childhood development, building resilience in Black youth through environmental education, and promoting sustainability in urban communities like Newark and Trenton, New Jersey. Deja's dedication to driving change and sharing her insights has led her to speak at numerous conferences, including SXSW EDU, EdFest, Rutgers-Newark Urban Education conference, and Natural Start's Nature-Based Early Learning Conference.