Welcome to the only author-recognized training for the ERS

Cathy Riley, has over 30 years experience in using the Environment Rating Scales as a lead trainer. She has served as a reliability anchor and data collector with federal and state research and evaluation projects using early childhood assessment instruments and child outcome measurements, including the NC Rated License Project, in which she established systems for reliability for the state’s QRIS. Cathy is a co-author of the All About Preschoolers, All About the ECERS-R/ECERS-3, ITERS-R/ITERS-3 and the soon to be All About FCCERS-3.

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Tracy has 28 years of experience in the field of early childhood as a classroom teacher, research associate, and lead trainer on the Environment Rating Scales at the FPG Child Development Institute. She has been a managing partner of ERSI since 2011. Tracy has developed training materials for the ERS, served as a clinical instructor at UNC Chapel Hill's School of Education, and presented on the ERS at national and international conferences. She is a co-author of the ERS resource books: All about the ECERS-3, All About the ITERS-3, and All About Preschoolers. Tracy is a part of the new author team of the ECERS-4, scheduled for publication in late 2026.

Debby Cryer, Ph.D. is primarily retired now, but remains an active member of ERSI. She is co-author of the Environment Rating Scales and

numerous other resource materials to help in program improvement efforts, such as the All About ECERS and ITERS books. Debby provides the author-interpretations of the scales and consulting in the use of the scales for ERSI. She always combined her interests as an early childhood practitioner with those of a researcher, translating research findings into practice for early childhood program staff, parents, and policy makers.

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Vanessa McCullough is a certified pediatric speech-language pathologist. She has more than 15 years experience working with a variety of early childhood programs with an emphasis on early speech and language development. She has extensive experience using the Environment Rating Scales, including her work at FPG Child Development Institute, and serving as a reliability anchor and trainer. She has conducted research aimed at identifying and creating developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs. Vanessa is coauthor of All About the ITERS-3 and All About Preschoolers.

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Janine was the first Program Manager of the Quality Rated Program (QRIS) for the State of Georgia. She ensured reliability for herself and her team in the ITERS, ECERS, FCCERS, and SACERS. Janine has been ERSI certified for 19 years and has been an ERSI Trainer since 2013, as well as assisted in field testing the ECERS-3. She has been certified in Playground Safety through NPSI and has built 28 playgrounds at child care programs in Atlanta. Janine holds a MA in Management of Organizations and a BA in Psychology and an AS in Education.

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Keisha Neal graduated from North Carolina Central University with a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with a specialization in Child Development. Keisha has over 25 years working in the early childhood field; including 9 years teaching at Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at UNC CHapel Hill and over 18 years training on the Environment Rating Scales (both Revised & 3rd editions). Keisha is one of the co-authors of the ERS resource book: All About Preschoolers, An Environment-Based Curriculum.

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Lisa has 29 years of experience using the ERS as reliability anchor, lead trainer, technical assistance advisor, as well as research associate and teacher at the FPG Child Development Institute. She has field-tested ERS tools, developed training and resource materials and notes for interpreting the ERS. Lisa served as a QRIS reliability anchor for the state of NC. She is co-author of the curriculum, All About Preschoolers.

Rogers Pender has a BA in History from UNC Chapel Hill, with a Birth through Kindergarten certification from UNC Charlotte. With over 30 years in the early care and education field, she has experience as a preschool teacher, trainer for the High Scope Foundation, and as an assessor for North Carolina’s quality rating and improvement system. Rogers has been a trainer for ERSI since 2011.

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