Resume

About Me

Dedicated and creative learning researcher with multifaceted expertise in product design, child development, and educational technology. Entrepreneurial with a keen focus on innovation. Proven record as a director and manager of interdisciplinary teams that leverage analytics and user research to turn ideas into award-winning products for youth and children.

Experience

LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. DIRECTOR OF LEARNING 2016 - present

  • Direct a team of 4 learning design specialists to develop 25+ new SKUs per year in learning toys, educational games and interactive books.
  • Create and maintain a cohesive brand and curriculum framework across all products, with particular attention to brand differentiation between LeapFrog and parent company VTech US.
  • Identify product objectives and collaborate with product teams (including product marketing, producers, audio and art directors, and industrial designers) to execute an electronic learning portfolio across both brands.
  • Represent the expert voice to support digital, industry and retail campaigns in PR, brand marketing, content marketing and product collaterals.

Children’s Media Association - SF Bay Area Chapter FOUNDING PRESIDENT 2017 - 2019
  • Wrote the chapter charter and application to establish a local chapter to advocate and support the development of professionals in children's media production.
  • Recruited and onboarded 6 volunteer officers.
  • Organized 5 professional development and networking events in the first year, resulted in successfully registering over 80 paid members.

Kidaptive, Inc. DIRECTOR OF EARLY LEARNING 2015 - 2016
  • Created the early learning framework for children 0 to 8 years to support the proprietary adaptive learning platform.
  • Accelerated the early learning business by engaging with partners to integrate clients' digital assets with our proprietary ALP platform.
  • Coordinated with data science, psychometric and assessment specialists on learning analysis and statistical calibrations.

LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. SENIOR LEARNING DESIGNER 2010 - 2015
  • Oversaw the curriculum and design for 70+ preschool toys, interactive books and learning games.
  • Authored educational content based on LeapFrog's proprietary curriculum scope & sequence.
  • Managed work streams between marketing, design, research, development and QA.

Ponte & Chau Consulting, Inc. CO-FOUNDER 2006 - present
  • Built a team of 11 education and health specialists to carry out independent consultation and evaluation projects globally.
  • Past clients: NSF, MA Dept of Ed, Logitech, Little Tikes, The Audubon Society, Mumbai Empowering Minds Project, CodeSpark, Thrive Foundation for Youth.

Education

PhD, Applied Child Development 2014, Tufts University, Medford, MA
MA, Applied Child Development 2006, Tufts University, Medford, MA
BA, Music and Psychology (Minor: Computer Science) 2004, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO

Awards

RESEARCH-PRACTICE INTEGRATION AWARD Tufts University, 2014
TOY AND GAME INVENTOR OF THE YEAR Chicago Toy & Game Group, 2013