AZ Registry Outreach Coordinators

If you have questions about the Arizona Early Childhood Career and Professional Development Network or the Arizona Early Childhood Workforce Registry, please email: info@thearizonaregistry.org.

For questions about DES Health and Safety trainings and Compliance requirements, please visit the AZDES Helpdesk.

The administrative home for the Arizona Early Childhood Workforce Registry has a team of dedicated early childhood professionals available to help you and your staff learn and utilize the Registry and the First Things First College Scholarship Program. Located at Arizona PBS, the team is available by phone, email, webinar, and even face-to-face meetings and trainings. Please feel free to contact your region’s Regional Outreach Coordinator for any assistance you may need.

Unsure which First Things First region you live or work in? Use the Find My Region tool to find out!

Gordon jumped into the field of early childhood when he became a single parent of two little girls, age 3 and 6. This challenging personal experience propelled him into a professional career working as an early childhood teacher, college lab instructor, parent educator, professional development trainer and workshop facilitator. In his work, he is a passionate advocate for young children and their families, and for bridging the gap between research and practice. He also strives to inspire others to spread the message of authentic relationship-based, child-centered active learning experiences as the basis of resilience and healing for both children and adults.

Lisa has more than 30 years of experience in early child care business administration and advocacy. She received her bachelor’s degree in early childhood and business administration from Western Illinois University. During her tenure as an early child care director, Iowa State Director of First Children’s Finance, and global leader for the Early Childhood World Forum, she advocated for early child care professionals to improve quality of their programs and reach their program goals. She has served as an early child care consultant for pre-schools, Head Start and Pre-Kindergarten programs and was selected as a global leader, representing the United States at the World Forum for Early Child Care in Ireland, Italy, and Hawaii. She is very passionate and dedicated to supporting the needs of the early childhood workforce, who she believes are the gatekeepers to quality and who serve our children and families.

Rhonda brings with her over 10 years of invaluable experience working with young children in various roles, including as a Preschool Teacher and Quality First Coach. Her dedication and expertise in early childhood education are further reinforced by her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood. Her deep understanding of early childhood development and her commitment to supporting educators and caregivers will undoubtedly strengthen our efforts in the regions she supports. Rhonda is a lifetime resident of Arizona and resides in Flagstaff, Arizona. She is Dine’ and is a member of the Navajo Nation Tribe, when she is not working she can be found at home enjoying time with family watching movies, or spending time outdoors fishing or camping.

Nydia spent the past seven years dedicated to early childhood education and social work, initially as a Social Worker Manager Assistant at Casa de los Niños and later as a preschool teacher. Her background in managing and supporting programs aimed at child welfare and development underscores her commitment to making a positive impact in our community. Nydia holds a degree in Human Services from the University of Arizona, where she cultivated a deep understanding of the human aspects of our work and a strong foundation in service-oriented leadership. She enjoys outdoor activities and is an animal lover.

Mike is Arizona PBS’s regional outreach coordinator for Navajo Nation, White Mountain Apache Tribe, and Navajo and Apache counties. He is a graduate of Connecticut College (B.A. in Political Science) and obtained a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland, with a concentration in public policy, program management, and community organizing/development. Mike began his professional career as a crew supervisor/youth mentor and coordinator for various youth/conservation/AmeriCorps programs in California, Arizona, and New Mexico. He also served in Peace Corps (Panama 2002-2005) as a health educator in a rural Ngobe community, living with a family and learning much about the rich culture of Panama’s largest indigenous group. Before returning to the Southwest in 2009, Mike worked as a program officer for the Chesapeake Bay Trust, managing several grant programs and heading the organization’s diversity initiatives. He has served on FTF’s White Mountain Apache Regional Partnership Council and is active in his local community. Mike’s spouse, Emily, also served in Peace Corps (Panama) and is a family nurse practitioner at the Whiteriver Indian Hospital. Mike and Emily enjoy living, biking, hiking, skiing and camping in the White Mountains (Lakeside, AZ) with their two children, Michael (14-years old) and Leah (12-years old), and dog, Morty.

Misty received her bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science with an emphasis in parent education from Metropolitan State College of Denver and has worked in rural locations for much of her professional career. She has a great appreciation for the needs in rural education communities of La Paz, Mohave and Yuma counties, as well as the Colorado River Indian Tribes community in Arizona. While at Arizona PBS, she coordinates community events, implements programs that include family involvement, and serves as a community liaison. She has worked with other community agencies, such as Head Start as a Family Partner, Parents as Teachers as a Parent Educator, as well as with Mohave County Health Department as a Community Health Educator, among other distinctions in the field. Misty is an accredited Triple P practitioner and also an independent facilitator of Love & Logic curriculum. She is also trained in LETRS, LECTIO, Mind in the Making, Certified Strengthening Families-Protective Factors facilitator and a Certified Mandated Supporter. She also helps provide technical assistance with the Arizona Early Childhood Registry and promotes professional development in the Registry.

Amy Pico oversees the daily activity of the Arizona Early Childhood Workforce Registry. Amy manages administration and the First Things First Scholarship Project which provides funding for CDA credentials, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees in early childhood education all over the state of Arizona. Amy has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Arizona State University and is currently working on a master’s degree in early childhood education leadership through Northern Arizona University. She was a middle school language arts teacher for 10 years and a Quality First Assessor for First Things First for six years before joining the Registry.

Coming soon!

Gordon Freeman Brown

Rhonda Etsitty

Nydia Briones

Michael Gaffney

Misty Standeford

Amy Pico