Carmela A. Geer is by profession, an Educator and Advocate of twenty years and a Consultant and Trainer for the past fifteen.  A resident of Middletown, RI, she is connected to her community by her involvement as Community Outreach Director for Middletown Public Schools and active town committee member. Her three boys, Devin (age 22), Anthony (age 17), Liam (age 12) and her husband, Brian, are her inspiration as an educator, keeping her grounded to what the needs of educators, students and families are in the 21^st century.  She travels extensively throughout Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts, as a public speaker, spreading the "good word" with regards to developmentally appropriate practice, professionalism and surviving parenthood.