My Experience
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Nearly two decades of experience across diverse roles in early childhood education
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Classroom teacher and school leader
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College instructor in child development
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Speaker and professional learning facilitator
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Doctoral student in early childhood education
Hi, I’m Amy. I’m so glad you’re here.
I created The Work of Play to support children, educators, families, and communities in upholding early education as a deeply human endeavor. My work centers on how children flourish, how adults are supported, and how learning environments are designed to sustain both.
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I bring nearly two decades of experience as a classroom teacher, school leader, college instructor, and professional learning facilitator. Along the way, I’ve seen firsthand how often educators are asked to carry the weight of systems that were not designed for 21st-century learning or collective well-being. I have also experienced burnout myself, which reshaped how I understand sustainability, responsibility, and care in this field. Supporting a school community through wildfire-related disruption and recovery deepened this understanding even further, clarifying what leadership looks like when relationships and humanity are the foundation.
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Though I regularly help educators solve early learning challenges, my work emphasizes prevention. By designing conditions that support connection, well-being, and meaningful learning from the start, we can all breathe a little more—and better enjoy this fleeting yet foundational time of early childhood.
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Through speaking, professional learning, and collaborative design, I help leaders and teams slow down, shift mindsets and practice, and build systems and cultures that work because they honor the humans within them.
THE WORK OF PLAY
Mission
The Work of Play is dedicated to supporting children, educators, families, and communities in upholding early education as a deeply human endeavor.
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We believe play is essential developmental work, childhood shouldn't be rushed, and that care and learning environments must be intentionally designed to support human growth and sustainability.
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Our mission is to work upstream, designing conditions that support deep learning for children and sustainable practice for educators, parents, and caregivers.
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Through speaking, professional learning, and collaborative design, we help schools and organizations move beyond reactive, compliance-driven approaches toward collaboration shaped by care, relationship, and shared responsibility—so the whole early education system can thrive.
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Rooted in relationship. Responsive to development.
The Work of Play supports experiential, collaborative learning in the early years—with clarity, care, and intention.
My Philosophy
Children deserve care that supports their full development.
Learning grows through relationship, trust, and connection.
Educators need ongoing support to do their work well.
Designing for prevention reduces common challenges.
Sustainable practice benefits children and adults alike.
