Education

• Nova Southeastern University | Ed.D., Early and Middle Childhood Studies
• Indiana University | M.S., Early Childhood Education with Kindergarten Endorsement
• Indiana University | B.S., Elementary Education with General Science Endorsement

Professional Experience

• Child Care Resource and Referral, Child Care of Allen County, Ft. Wayne, IN | Regional Director | 1992
• Children's EduCare Center, Indiana University-Purdue University at Ft. Wayne, Ft. Wayne, IN | Center Director | 1988-1992
• MacDonald Child Care Center, Child Care of Allen county, Ft. Wayne, IN | Center Director | 1986-1988
• Child Development Program, Indiana Vocational Technical College, Ft. Wayne, IN | Adjunct Instructor | 1986-1988
• Head Start, South Central Community Action Program, Bloomington, IN | Child Education Coordinator | 1985-1986
• Bloomington Developmental Learning Center, Bloomington, IN | Kindergarten Teacher | 1984-1985
• Monroe County United Ministries Child Care Center | Teacher of Four and Five Year Olds | 1979-1984

Presentations & Publications

• When Pre-K Comes to Town: An Update for Early Childhood Educators. Indiana Early Childhood Conference. Conference presentation April 2010, Indianapolis, IN.
• Preparing for Kindergarten: Teaching Children Important Skills and Routines. Indiana Early Childhood Conference. Conference presentation April 2010, Indianapolis, IN.
• Public Prekindergarten: What It Takes to Get Child Outcomes. Indiana Early Childhood Conference. Conference presentation April 2009, Indianapolis, IN.
• Are They Ready? Assessing Children's School Readiness. Indiana Early Childhood Conference. Conference presentation. April 2009, Indianapolis, IN.
• Public Prekindergarten: Cost, Quality, Outcomes. Indiana Association of School Principals. Conference presentation November 2008, Indianapolis, IN.
• Designing a System of School Readiness Assessment: Exploring and Refining Your Skills: K 500 Topical Workshop in Special Education – 3 credit Summer Institute. Institute coordinator and module instructor. 2008, Online.
• Does Practice Make Perfect? Appropriate Ways to Help Children Practice School Readiness Skills. National conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Conference presentation November 2008, Dallas, TX.
• Pre-K in Public School, Private School, Child Care, Head Start, and Preschool. Indiana Early Childhood Conference. Conference presentation March 2008, Indianapolis, IN.
• Conn-Powers, M., Cross, A. F., Traub, E. K., & Hutter-Pishgahi, L., (2006, September). The universal design of early education: Moving forward for all children. Beyond the Journal, Young Children on the Web.
• Cross, A. F., Traub, E. K., Hutter-Pishgahi, L., & Shelton, G,. (2004). Elements of successful inclusion for children with significant disabilities. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 24(3), 169-183.
• Cross, A. F., & Dixon. S. D., (2004). Adapting Curriculum & Instruction in Inclusive Early Childhood Settings (Rev. ed.). Bloomington, IN: Indiana University, Indiana Institute on Disabilities and Community. (Listed by the National Child Care Information Center of the U. S. Child Care Bureau for recommended resources).
• Cross, A. F., (1994). Strategic planning and implementation of a project that supports an early childhood special education team in their implementation of recommended practices. Bloomington: Indiana University, Institute for the Study of Developmental Disabilities. EDRS# EC 303 326.
• Cross, A. F., (2010). Whole Class Instruction. Teaching Essential Readiness Skills Using Kindergarten-style Routines: Whole Class Instruction. Bloomington: Indiana University, Indiana Institute on Disabilities and Community.
• Conn-Powers, M., Cross, A. F., Dixon, S. D., & Traub, E. K., (2010). Essential skills for successful school readiness. Bloomington: Indiana University, Indiana Institute on Disabilities and Community.
• Cross, A. F., (2009). Combining funding streams to support prekindergarten programs: Strategies for administrators. Bloomington: Indiana University, Indiana Institute on Disabilities and Community.
• Cross, A. F., & Conn-Powers, M., (2009). What is the purpose of your prekindergarten program? Strategies for administrators. Bloomington: Indiana University, Indiana Institute on Disabilities and Community.
• Cross, A. F., (2008). Helping Children learn to give first and last name, age, and gender on request: Tip sheets for teachers: Practices to promote school readiness. Bloomington: Indiana University, Indiana Institute on Disabilities and Community.
• Cross, A. F., (2008). Helping children learn to recognize colors: Tips for teachers: Practices to promote school readiness. Bloomington: Indiana University, Indiana Institute on Disabilities and Community.
• Cross, A. F., (2008). Helping children learn to follow directions: Tip sheets for teachers: Practices to promote school readiness. Bloomington: Indiana University, Indiana Institute on Disabilities and Community.

Areas of Expertise

• Early Childhood Curriculum and Instruction
• Prekindergarten Programs
• Preschool-age Child Development