Founders & Staff | Tools of the Mind

The Founders

Fun Facts

Favorite Quote

"Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play." —Heraclitus, philosopher (500 BCE)

Inspiration

The teachers and children that we work with at Tools.

Most Unusual Job

I worked in a vineyard in Bordeaux before I went to college.

Deborah Leong, Ph.D.

Co-founder and President

Dr. Deborah J. Leong is the Executive Director of Tools of the Mind and Professor Emerita of Psychology at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where she taught for 36 years in the Psychology Department and in the Department of Education. Dr. Leong developed the Tools of the Mind approach with Dr. Bodrova with whom she has written numerous books, articles, and educational videos on the Vygotskian Approach to Psychology and the development of play. Dr. Leong has written several books on early childhood assessment with Drs. McAfee and Bodrova. She has her Ph.D. from Stanford University in Psychological Studies in Education, her M.Ed. from Harvard University, and her B.A. from Stanford University. She was a Fulbright Fellow to the University of Patagonia, Argentina.

Dr. Deborah J. Leong is the Executive Director of Tools of the Mind and Professor Emerita of Psychology at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where she taught for 36 years in the Psychology Department and in the Department of Education. Dr. Leong developed the Tools of the Mind approach with Dr. Bodrova with whom she has written numerous books, articles, and educational videos on the Vygotskian Approach to Psychology and the development of play. Dr. Leong has written several books on early childhood assessment with Drs. McAfee and Bodrova. She has her Ph.D. from Stanford University in Psychological Studies in Education, her M.Ed. from Harvard University, and her B.A. from Stanford University. She was a Fulbright Fellow to the University of Patagonia, Argentina.
Fun Facts

Bucket List Items

Travel to Asia, Europe, and Australia

Favorite Place

The Mountains

Most Surprising Thing About You

In middle school, I had to pass a test taking apart and assembling an AK-47.

Elena Bodrova, Ph.D.

Co-founder and Tools Knowledge Advisor

Elena Bodrova, Ph.D. is currently the Director for Research and Development at Tools of the Mind and a Research Fellow at the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University. In collaboration with Dr. Deborah Leong, she developed Tools of the Mind program based on Vygotskian and post-Vygotskian theories of learning and Luria’s theories of brain development. Dr. Bodrova’s work on applying Lev Vygotsky’s theory to education began in Russia where she worked in the Institute for Preschool Education, and continued in the US where she worked as a Visiting Professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver and later as a Principal Researcher at Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning. Dr. Bodrova is the coauthor with Dr. Leong of multiple articles and book chapters on early literacy, assessment, play, and self-regulation. Dr. Bodrova holds Ph.D. in Child Development and Educational Psychology from Russian Academy of Pedagogical Sciences and M.A. in Child Development and Educational psychology from Moscow State University, Russia.

Elena Bodrova, Ph.D. is currently the Director for Research and Development at Tools of the Mind and a Research Fellow at the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University. In collaboration with Dr. Deborah Leong, she developed Tools of the Mind program based on Vygotskian and post-Vygotskian theories of learning and Luria’s theories of brain development. Dr. Bodrova’s work on applying Lev Vygotsky’s theory to education began in Russia where she worked in the Institute for Preschool Education, and continued in the US where she worked as a Visiting Professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver and later as a Principal Researcher at Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning. Dr. Bodrova is the coauthor with Dr. Leong of multiple articles and book chapters on early literacy, assessment, play, and self-regulation. Dr. Bodrova holds Ph.D. in Child Development and Educational Psychology from Russian Academy of Pedagogical Sciences and M.A. in Child Development and Educational psychology from Moscow State University, Russia.

The Leadership Team

Fun Facts

Bucket List

Seeing a moose, northern lights and grandchildren!

Favorite Place

Anywhere by the ocean.

Coveted Superpower

Teleportation, so I could spend more time with the ones I love (and more time by the ocean!).

Barb Wilder-Smith

Executive Director & Co-Developer
Fun Facts

Most Unusual Job

Sesame Workshop on a study that led to Sesame Street's Healthy Habit Initiative.

Weekends Spent

Hiking, snowshoeing and/or rock climbing. Sometimes it's spent binge-watching Netflix though!

Bucket List

See the northern lights in Iceland

Megan Spacciapoli

Director of Evaluation and P3 Partnerships
Fun Facts

Describe yourself using three words.

Passionate, enthusiastic, and thoughtful

What inspires you?

Watching children play and interact

Who has been the most influential person in your life?

My mother

Giordana Cote

Director of Partnership Development

The Content Development Team

Fun Facts

Favorite Quote

“If you don’t like what’s being said, change the conversation.” — Don Draper

Most Unusual Job

Teaching English in Italy to 11-year-olds.

Coveted Superpower

Touch a book and know everything inside.

David Brooke

Creative Development Manager
Fun Facts

Who has been the most influential person in your life?

My mom, hands down.

What is the most surprising thing about you?

I wrote a published book about fairies for children.

What talent or superpower would you like to have (not including flight or invisibility) and why?

To be in several places at once...so I can explore and learn about everything I want to!

Angela Robinson

Content Specialist
Fun Facts

What three things are on your bucket list?

Camping under the Aurora Borealis, touching the Egyptian pyramids, and experiencing zero-G

What inspires you?

The way young children experience the world around them

What talent or superpower would you like to have (not including flight or invisibility) and why?

Teleportation (is that cheating?)

Jillian Sullivan

Content Specialist
Fun Facts

Favorite Quote

The only way to have a friend is to be one.

Theme Song

Canon in D Major by Pachelbel

Inspiration

Music

Ruth Hensen

Content Advisor

The Operations Team

Fun Facts

Most Unusual Job

Body toning exercise instructor.

Favorite Food

Dessert.

Coveted Superpower

Healer.

Carolyn Erhart

Program Assistant
Fun Facts

What is your favorite quote?

"Never lose your sense of wonder."

How do you spend your weekends?

Exploring, trying new foods, and writing. (Relaxing and watching Netflix, too!)

Describe yourself using three words.

Adventurous, empathetic, passionate

Tatianna Plefka

Partnership Development Administrator
Fun Facts

What is your favorite quote?

"The tool is the love." -- Japanese bike designer

What inspires you?

People driven to make the world a better place, nature, transformation

What talent or superpower would you like to have (not including flight or invisibility) and why?

Omniscience

Mara Viana

Program Coordinator
Fun Facts

Who has been the most influential person in your life?

My mom

Describe yourself using three words.

mother, environmentalist, passionate

How do you spend your weekends?

Camping, hiking, biking...or anything educational.

Cyndi Cadigan

Finance and Administration Manager
Fun Facts

Favorite place in the entire world?

Being on any mountain.

How do you spend your weekends?

Taking my dog out on an adventure, exploring different neighbourhoods & restaurants in Toronto, cooking a batch of food for the upcoming week, unwinding with a nice workout class.

What is your favorite quote?

The mind is like a parachute, it only works when it’s open

Jasmine Lam

PowerTools Segment Manager
Fun Facts

Describe yourself using three words.

Honest, Easy-Going, Creative

Favorite place in the entire world?

Japan

What is the most unusual job you've ever had?

Television program monitor for NHK World Japan

Evan Eisenberger

Business Development Specialist

The Training Team

Fun Facts

Bucket List

Hike Machu Picchu, travel Europe by bicycle, qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Favorite Food

Veggie Pizza.

Weekends Spent

Running, doing yoga, hiking with my husband, walking my pup Teal, and cooking.

Aisha O’Donnell

Partnership Development Manager
Fun Facts

Three Words

Inquisitive, reflective, persistent.

Favorite Place

Laguna de Iguaque, Colombia.

Most Surprising Thing

I am not allowed to go by myself to any toy store (no self-regulation).

Luis Gallego

Partnership Development Manager
Fun Facts

Bucket List

Travel to Italy.

Most Unusual Job

Working at Casa Bonita as a photographer in the jail.

Most Surprising Thing

I love to watch Seinfeld.

Kim Wilson

Lead Partnership Development Manager: CEM
Fun Facts

What are three things on your bucket list?

Fly an Airplane, Write A Book, Cliff Dive With a Wing Suit

What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?

Coffee and Sunshine

What is your favorite quote?

"Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein

Jennifer Martin

Partnership Development Manager
Fun Facts

Favorite Quote

"If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun." —Katherine Hepburn

First Thought Upon Waking

Coffee.

Weekends Spent

Walking, reading, and rowing my rowboat.

Maggie Sullivan

Partnership Development Specialist
Fun Facts

Describe yourself using three words.

Thoughtful, empathic, curious

What is your favorite food?

Berries and breakfast sandwiches

How do you spend your weekends?

Hiking, cooking and working on home projects.

Alina Russo

Partnership Development Specialist
Fun Facts

Three Words

Tall, curious, helpful.

Favorite Quote

"I knew when I met you an adventure was going to happen." —A.A. Milne

Bucket List

Cross-country road trip, eating my way through Italy.

Carol Carroll

Partnership Development Specialist
Fun Facts

Describe yourself using three words.

Curious, persistent, nurturing

Favorite place in the entire world?

Oregon coast

What talent or superpower would you like to have (not including flight or invisibility) and why?

I wish I could telepathically transmit a calming energy to others.

Megan Blair-Cabasco

Partnership Development Specialist
Fun Facts

Describe yourself using three words.

adventurous, gregarious, sincere

What is the most surprising thing about you?

I did Outward Bound for 21days in Utah when I was 17. They confiscated my curling iron upon arrival. It ended up changing my life.

What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?

my to do list, then my kids :)

Kristen Contis

Partnership Development Specialist
Fun Facts

If you had a song that played whenever you walked into a room what would it be?

Happy by Pharrell

What inspires you?

A smile.

What is the most surprising thing about you?

I'm an eclectic artist

Susan Coopersmith

Partnership Development Specialist