Ashley Brooks
Hi! I’m Ashley Brooks, an early childhood educator, mom and advocate for play based education. I am an active member of the International Play Association and NAEYC. I received a Master’s of Arts in Teaching in Early Childhood Education in 2007, became National Board Certified in Early Childhood in 2009, was published in the Journal of Research in Childhood Education in 2013 and have 12+ years experience in Pre-K to 4th grade public school.
My goal is to help schools and families balance the importance of play based learning with the world of standards and expectations in which we live. Let’s work together to do what is proven as best practices for your kids and students.


Melissa Ibarra
Cultural Content Expert
Melissa is a PhD student at the University of Texas in Bilingual Education & Curriculum and Instruction. She has over 15 years of experience as a teacher and mentor in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms across the country. Her personal background as a Mexican-American and child of immigrants, in combination with her professional experiences, drive her commitment to addressing inequities in public education.

Ashton Roberts
Science Content Expert
Ashton has a degree from Abilene Christian University in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. She is currently a high school science teacher in Austin with over 10 years of experience in the classroom. She's taught a variety of science courses but specializes in Environmental Science. She has additional experience developing educational interpretive programs with the National Park Service.