Hi, I’m Michelle, and early childhood education has been my life’s work.

I started in the classroom more than 30 years ago, and I’ve grown right alongside this field—as a teacher, program leader, child care consultant, trainer, advocate, researcher, and early childhood expert witness. I’ve worked in childcare programs big and small, alongside the children, families, educators, and leaders who make this work possible every day.

And I know that what looks straightforward on paper isn’t always so straightforward when you’re standing in a classroom, leading a program, responding to a family, interpreting Texas child care minimum standards, or trying to determine what happened when something went wrong.

That’s where I come in.

I created Rootz & Wingz ECE Solutions, LLC, because I believe support should be practical, thoughtful, and grounded in relationships. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. I want to understand what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what we can do next.

My education includes degrees in Preschool Curriculum, Child and Family Development, and Early Childhood Education, and I am currently a doctoral candidate in Child Development and Early Childhood Education. My education informs my work, but more than three decades of actually doing this work keeps it grounded.

Whether I’m sitting with an educator, working alongside a director, training a room full of early childhood professionals, or reviewing a case as an expert witness, I tend to come back to the same things: What happened? What does the evidence tell us? What do we know about children and development? What is expected of the adults responsible for their care? And what can we learn from it?

That’s me. That’s Rootz & Wingz. And if you’re here because you’re looking for support, I’m glad you found me.