Our Difference
What sets ECETA apart from other organizations is our long track record of providing effective professional development. We have our ear to the ground and listen to YOU! The feedback we get about our online webinars is that they are the closest thing to a face to face training as you can get. Don't miss an opportunity to join us!
Our Team
CEO, Master Instructor
Anna Skamangas
Annie has been a teacher trainer since 2000 when she began teaching education courses at the college level. Since then, she has grown her portfolio of trainings to include everything you need to train your staff and improve your program. Her experience includes teaching ages six weeks through adults and everything in between. Annie earned her B.S in Elementary Education, a B.A. in Greek History and Archaeology, an M.S. in Science Education, Certification in Special Education, and post graduate credits in early childhood education. She enjoys travel, the beach, reading and playing chess.
Executive Director of Human Resources and Administration, Master Instructor
Dr. Constantinos E. Scaros
Constantinos E. Scaros ("Dino") has practiced and taught law for over 20 years and has served as a college professor and administrator. He is also a newspaper editor and columnist and the author of several books, many of them used in colleges and universities throughout the country. He is a PQAS certified instructor who has taught many courses in person and online about an array of issues in early childhood education, including legal issues and assessment. He earned a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, and two doctorates.
Master Instructor
Lindsay Gristick
Lindsay Gristick earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a focus in ECE. She has worked in the field of early care and education for 10 years in a variety of roles. From direct care in various age groups, to administration, and on to Keystone STARS experience, she has had the opportunity to continuously grow and learn in this ever-changing field. She received her PQAS certification in 2016 and enjoys helping others gain knowledge to improve their everyday practice of the very important task of working with children.
Master Instructor
Aimee E. Ketchum
Creator of STEM Starts Now and founder of Aimee’s Babies, LLC, Aimee Ketchum is a newborn massage instructor, mom, yoga instructor, and pediatric occupational therapist with over 20 years experience working with children from the neonatal intensive care unit through high school.
The Aimee’s Babies family of DVDs, CDs, videos, mobile apps and educational materials have been enriching the lives of over 100,000 new parents and babies around the globe for the last 15 years. Aimee’s Babies baby massage DVD and app were featured on the Rachael Ray show as a “one of the five must-haves for new parents” and iPhone Essentials Magazine featured Aimee’s Babies apps as one of the top 10 apps in the Lifestyle section and rated it 10/10!
Aimee’s Word Gap App was a finalist in the Word Gap Challenge initiative led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Aimee’s DVDs are currently used in the curriculum of over 1,000 parent education centers around the country and in the United Kingdom’s Baby and You Initiative. Aimee’s nine apps help babies all over the world with regular downloads in over 50 countries.
Aimee currently practices occupational therapy in the neonatal intensive care unit of UPMC Pinnacle Hospital and outpatient pediatrics at CPRS in south central Pennsylvania, keeping her skills fresh and educating parents every day. Aimee also teaches early childhood development classes for child care providers, preschool teachers, and parents and presents at local and national conferences on a variety of topics pertaining to early child development, early language acquisition, baby massage, and caring for children with special needs. Aimee will complete her doctorate in occupational therapy at Thomas Jefferson University in December of 2018 with a thesis on early child language acquisition.
Master Instructor
Karey Tomlin
Karey Tomlin is a career firefighter and nationally registered paramedic practicing in Howard County, MD. She has been teaching CPR, First-Aid, Fire Safety and various other classes for the past 10 years. She is certified by the American Heart Association as well as the American Safety and Health Institute. She also holds a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Baltimore.
Master Instructor
Rebecca Lamar
Rebecca Lamar earned a master's in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in ECE and an EdD from Grand Canyon University in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in professional development in administrative roles in the early childhood education field. She graduated from Montgomery County Community College in 2005 with an associate in Early Childhood Education. She has been a leader/director of high quality programs in Philadelphia, Montgomery and Chester counties. She is an adjunct professor in the education department at Montgomery County Community College, Bucks County Community College, Lehigh Carbon Community College and Northampton Community College. She has years of experience in classroom positions as an assistant director, preschool lead teacher, toddler teacher and school age teacher. She has held a variety of training and presentation positions including, Corporate Trainer for Brightside Academy, as well as Certified Instructor for Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children (DVAEYC). She has been in the training field for the last 10 years. Rebecca is bilingual (English and Spanish) and is passionate about music, theater and other creative arts. She currently resides right outside of Doylestown with her family, were she enjoys the fresh air, spending time at Lake Nockamixon and traveling to the Poconos and the beach. Her commitment to humanity is to help others see beauty in themselves, their community and their world. She continues to be a community leader who focuses her volunteer hours in education, families, re-beautification of nature and working with the Latino population on a variety of initiatives.
Master Instructor
Betsy O. Saatman
Betsy O. Saatman has worked in the school age child care field for over 25 years as a teacher of grades 4-6, an administrator of multi-sites, nine years as an Environment Rating Scale Assessor, and is currently a TA Specialist with the School Age Projects through the PA Key. She earned a Master’s in Teaching and Curriculum, has presented at the national level and is currently active on PSAYDN’s Steering Committee/Quality Committee, and is a board member of PENNSACCA.
Master Instructor
Ruby Martin
Currently YWCA York’s Chief Child and Youth Program Officer, Ruby Martin has been in Early Childhood Education for 30 years. She began leading programs in 1993 and has run many successful early learning and school age programs; achieving NAEYC accreditation 12 times and running Keystone Star 4 programs since the pilot year. Strong in leadership, Ruby spent time in both non-profit and corporate programs, including writing curriculum and developing trainings for a national child care chain as VP of Education. Ruby has spent most of her professional career doing work with Project Based Learning, Positive Guidance, Anti Bias Education and Cultural Responsive programming. Ruby is trained in multiple evidence based parenting programs including; STEP and Mindful Fathering. She has been an Adjunct Instructor at both HACC and Penn State and a PQAS Instructor for 20 years. Ruby has been focused on Mindfulness Education and Trauma Informed Care techniques in programs for the last 5 years and has a passion for the empowerment of children. Ruby is the current Chair of Pa Child Care Association’s (PACCA) Board of Directors.
Master Instructor
Maryanne O’Neill
Maryanne was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, and made Lancaster County her home in 2005. She is a seasoned nonprofit leader and child advocate. Maryanne choose the work she does because of her desire to support families facing poverty. Maryanne holds a BS in Human Service Administration. She completed her endorsement in Infant Toddler Mental Health. In her free time, Maryanne enjoys spending time with her husband of 20 years, her two teenage boys, and her two very busy dogs.
Master Instructor
Paula Schroeder
Mrs. Paula Schroeder has served young children and their families for over 40 years as a Teacher and Administrator. After completing a Bachelor's in Psychology, a Master's in Education and teacher certification, she worked with churches and families in Mexico, Central and South America, teaching Psychology in Spanish and as an Educational Consultant in Venezuela. She has taught children from kindergarten through eighth grade in PA and NJ schools. Serving as a mentor teacher in a bilingual organization, Paula completed a Master's in Educational Leadership with Principal Certification, holding a National Director's Credential. She assumed a Director's position for 12 years at a large, dual language Keystone Star 4 preschool in Philadelphia, where she collaborated with staff, families and children to create a strong foundation for a successful future for students. Newly retired from full-time work, she currently coaches preschool directors and teaches Early Childhood adult learners.
Master Instructor
Claire Crescenzi
Claire Crescenzi has been working with young children since her high school days as a gymnastics coach in Philadelphia, PA, but has called Lancaster County home since 1999. She holds a Bachelors in Elementary Education from Millersville University, a Masters in Early Childhood Curriculum & Instruction from Shippensburg University, and believes it is best to never stop learning. She is the owner of K-Prep Learning Center in Mountville, PA, where she continually works to educate families and teachers on the best developmental practices for young children. Claire is also a PD Specialist, helping teachers achieve their CDA; and a CLASS observer, working with educators to enhance their daily interactions with students. In her time away from work, Claire enjoys traveling with her husband and catching up with her 5 young adult children.
Master Instructor
Nikki Waldron
Nikki has been in early childhood education for almost 20 years and currently serves as the Coordinator of Professional Development for the Thrive to Five Program of CAP Lancaster. Most of her teaching experience is with infants and toddlers, but she has also been a preschool teacher, child care center director, and curriculum specialist. She is familiar with multiple funding streams such as Head Start, Early Head Start, Pre-K Counts, HSSAP, and private pay, and she has experience in both the for-profit and non-profit worlds. Nikki has a Bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education and is a CDA PD Specialist, but her passion lies in training (specifically around infant and toddlers, STEM, culture-building, and the enneagram). In her free time, she enjoys life with her daughter, watching the Office, and going to the beach as much as possible.