Our Staff:

Jody Figuerido, M.Ed

Director of The Institute for Education and Professional Development

Director of The Institute for Education and Professional DevelopmentJody holds a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education, Curriculum and Instruction. Jody is completing a doctorate degree in adult learning at Lesley University. She has worked in the field of education for over 30 years as a center director, statewide training coordinator for the Department of Early Education and Care, adjunct faculty at MA colleges since 1996, associate editor of Quality Curriculum, and has conducted presentations at both state and national conferences

Marcela Simpson, M.Ed

Early Education and Care Specialist/CDA Statewide Specialist

Marcela holds a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education. She has 18 years experience in the field of early childhood education including teaching infants, toddlers and preschoolers, as well as children with special needs. She has implemented the Reggio Emilia Approach, and provided consultation and training as a specialist in the field. Marcela’s current work for IEPD includes coordinating the CDA program in Massachusetts as well as designing and facilitating training both in English and Spanish in several areas of early education and care, including Infants and Toddlers. Marcela also writes curriculum and articles for Quality Curriculum, published bimonthly by IEPD.

Linda Schumacher, M.Ed

Early Education and Care Specialist

Linda holds a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Masters Degree in Special Education. With over 30 years of experience in the early education and care field, Linda has taught in public and private settings, center-based child care, and her own family child care program. Her development of training curriculum draws from her own years of teaching and includes practical tools and techniques for learners to apply in their own settings, the use online and community resources, and adult learner theories of practice. Linda has presented at state and national conferences, including MassAEYC, NAEYC, and NAFCC. She also writes curriculum and articles for Quality Curriculum, published bi-monthly by IEPD. Linda is a certified instructor for Blackboard Learning Systems, Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ), SpecialQuest Birth to Five, and The Center for the Social and Emotional Foundations of Early Learning (CSEFEL). She is also an appointed member of the NAFCC Accreditation Advisory Council where she helps to develop, approve and monitor the policies which govern the NAFCC accreditation system.

Judy Battista, M.Ed

Early Education and Care Specialist

Judy holds a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Masters of Education in Human Services. She has been involved in the early childhood profession for over 35 years. During that time she has been a teacher, program and education director, training specialist, and a consultant in the field of early education and care. Judy currently works for the Institute for Education and Professional Development where she develops and facilitates training for early childhood educators. She has presented at conferences such as MA AEYC and the EEC Institute. Judy designs and facilitates training in many early childhood topics with a specialization in the Creative Curriculum. She also writes curriculum and articles for Quality Curriculum, published bi-monthly by I.E.P.D. She is certified to teach the Massachusetts Early Education and Care courses: Including Children Birth to Five with Disabilities and their Families in Early Education and Care Settings (4 CEUS); and The Impact of Domestic Violence (.5 CEUs).

Liz Acosta

CPR and First Aid