Learning Together Education was founded in 1999 by

Susan Tracy McDaniel, M.Ed., (Northwestern University, Loyola of Baltimore, certified EFT practitioner, Montessori certified AMS and AMI) as a local Montessori outreach to parents of all income levels. Susan now leads workshops internationally and provides parent coaching and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) by telephone or Zoom with an international clientele. A Montessori teacher educator since 1993, Susan has been an instructor in ten Infant Toddler courses, first at Seton Montessori Institute, and at courses in the US, Slovenia, China, and Russia. She directs Learning Together, assisted by teachers, interns, volunteers, and advisors.

Joyce Osman, M.S. Joyce Osman. M.Sc. Early Childhood Administration. (Nova Southeastern University), London Montessori Certified 0-3, AMS certified 3-6, Certified Horticultural Therapist, Multicultural and Diversity Trainer.

Joyce is retired from the East Fort Worth Montessori Academy, a school she founded and managed for 25 years; serving children from Minority and low-income families. She is currently the founder and Director of The American Montessori Leadership Academy (AMLA) in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The school serves children from the largest slum in the city. She also runs an Infant and Toddler program in a Female Correctional Facility. She provides training for teachers and caregivers working in Early childhood programs in Sierra Leone.

Earlier in her career, she supervised and directed Head Start Day Home Programs in Fort Worth, Texas.

Dr. Darla Ferris Miller is the author of Positive Child Guidance, an award-winning birth to twelve textbook, currently in its ninth edition. This foundational text is used in numerous college courses in the United States and internationally.

She has fostered exemplary Montessori Infant and Toddler care and education in the United States, Canada, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea, and Russia.

Her BA degree is from Baylor University, and her Ph.D. and M.A. are from The University of Houston. She holds American Montessori Society credentials at both the Infant and Toddler and Early Childhood Levels. She provides Infant Toddler online course content for Learning Together Education.

Merrie King, Ph.D., is the beloved Executive Director Emeritus of the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies. She was previously Montessori Program Director at Belmont University. Merrie founded and directed two schools in the US, and also helped establish a Montessori school in Nepal. Her Ph.D. is from Peabody at Vanderbilt University, and her Master's from Georgetown University. She has Montessori certifications at three levels including 0-3 AMI, Early Childhood AMI and lower elementary AMS. Merrie has been granted numerous awards and honors. She currently provides outreach for Learning Together's Parent-Infant Facilitator Training.

Candace Goodwin, Ed.D./MBA, former President of DeVry University Chicago, has over 20 years of experience in strategic planning, budgeting, fiscal responsibility, human resource management, compliance, student services, accreditation, and academic quality. who has effectively managed multi-million dollar budgets and understands key metrics that drive organizational effectiveness. Candace has been a valuable advisor to Learning Together for many years.

Jeff Keiser, M.Ed., is currently an Adjunct Professor of Education in several institutions including the Erickson Institute. He holds a B.S. in Sociology from Arizona State University, a Master's degree in Education from Concordia University Chicago, and an early childhood Montessori teaching credential through the American Montessori Society. He lectures and consults with schools, churches, and ministries. He can be reached at jeffrey.b.keiser@gmail.com.

Laurie Heyl, MSW, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker with a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago. For the past 25 years, she has provided individual, family, and group therapy for children, adolescents, and adults. With experience in inpatient, outpatient community mental health settings, she established a private practice located in Bannockburn IL in 1999. She currently offers EFT Emotional Freedom Techniques, Life Coaching, Biofeedback training, Neurofeedback training, HeartMath, and parent education at her office in Bannockburn, IL.