Let me tell you a little about myself and my interests.

Teacher

I am and will always be a teacher. During the past 25 years, I have taught many different groups of children and adults. My first teaching experience was teaching music to 1,000 children, K-5th grade. For several years, I was the teacher of children identified as gifted and talented (K-5) in five different elementary schools. I have taught 2-year-olds and 4th graders and most of the levels in between. At one time, I supervised kindergarten student teachers in five counties. Currently, I teach college students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The courses I enjoy teaching the most are “Creative Development,” “Language and Literacy in Early Childhood,” and “Learning Environments in Early Childhood Programs.”

Writer

For the past ten years I have been writing books that relate to Early Childhood Education. I have written eight books ranging from “Learning Spaces for Infants and Toddlers” to textbooks for university and college classes including, “Creativity and the Arts with Young Children,” and a children’s book, “Everyone Has a Story to Tell.” You can see these and my other books, with summaries, if you click “books” on the navigation bar. I continue to write articles for professional journals, parent magazines, and children’s magazines.

Advocate

My first experience in administration was as the Director of a Lab School that served infants – Kindergarten. I learned a great deal about young children and teachers during this time. Currently, I am the director of the Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning and Development at East Tennessee State University. This has allowed me to move into a new area of advocacy for children and the teachers who work with them. Our Center of Excellence focuses on research, training, and services that improve the quality of life for young children, their families, and the professionals who work with them.

Presenter

For a number for years, I have been presenting at professional meetings throughout the United States. More recently, I have begun providing keynote presentations at state and regional conferences. It is wonderful to travel across the county and work with early childhood professionals who are dedicated to doing great things with young children.

Special Areas of Interest

I am interested in all aspects of early education. But, some of my current work focuses on: Literacy, Learning Centers, Designing Environments, Music, Creative Arts, and Storytelling.

Send me an email---and tell me about you and your work!

drisbell@drisbell.com

“Young children need the best teachers.” Isbell