Preschool & Early Childhood Education

Creating Developmentally Appropriate, Engaging, and Responsive Learning Environments

Early childhood is a critical time for laying the foundation of lifelong learning—and Stephanie Lester brings over four decades of experience in leading, designing, and supporting early childhood education programs that promote whole-child development. As an educational consultant, former Early Childhood Education Director, and preschool teacher, Stephanie offers practical, research-based guidance to help educators create classrooms where children, staff, and families thrive.

Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)

Stephanie specializes in helping early educators implement Developmentally Appropriate Practices that foster high levels of engagement, exploration, and creativity. Through professional development, coaching, and classroom observation, she supports the design of effective environments grounded in age-appropriate routines, schedules, and behavior management systems. Her approach emphasizes creating a safe, inclusive, and positive learning atmosphere where every child is encouraged to explore, build relationships, and experience success.

Guidance & Behavior Support

Effectively guiding young children’s behavior is essential to building nurturing classrooms that support learning. Stephanie provides training and coaching on a variety of guidance models including Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Second Step Social-Emotional Curriculum, and Conscious Discipline. Her support includes modeling how to embed principles of guidance—like consistent routines, clear expectations, and respectful communication—into daily classroom practices. Educators leave her sessions with tools to create calm, respectful, and developmentally responsive environments.

Family Engagement

Stephanie believes that families are essential partners in early learning. She brings deep experience in community outreach and home–school connections, including organizing Kindergarten Transition Fairs, STEM Family Events, and Partners in Print workshops. She supports schools in building authentic relationships with families through strategies like literacy backpacks, home newsletters, and take-home book programs—ensuring learning continues beyond the classroom.

Grant Writing for Early Childhood Programs

Stephanie Lester – Educational Consultant & Instructional Leader

Stephanie is a nationally respected consultant, speaker, author, and college instructor with extensive experience in preschool and early childhood education, curriculum leadership, and instructional coaching.

To learn more about early childhood consulting services or to schedule a customized training session, contact Stephanie Lester.

Fall and spring DRDP results for 2014 - 2015 indicated:

0%

gain in students at building and
integrating in Self and Social Development.

0%

gain in students at building and
integrating in Language and Literacy.

0%

gain in students at building and
integrating in Mathematics.

As a director of an Early Childhood Education program I applied and was awarded several grants from various local state and federal funding sources.

Feedback From Families:

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Parents satisfied or very satisfied
from completed surveys.
(59% of parents completed surveys)

0%

of parents responded that they felt their child was happy in the program

0%

of parents responded that they felt their child was safe in the program

Testimonials

Rose A. Kellegher

Counselor, Lincoln Primary School: Anaconda School District

"Stephanie is more than a consultant, she always goes above and beyond and has most assuredly became a part of our school family. She is a breath of fresh air with charisma and a genuine heart. She encourages all staff to identify their strengths and grow their capabilities while keeping the student's learning at the center of instruction. Her wealth of knowledge in research and theory and multitude of past experiences has helped our school to grow and achieve goals we never dreamed possible. What she has brought to our school will live on for many years to come."

BJ Robertson

“I want to thank Stephanie for her time and mentorship in my first year of teaching. The guidance I received through her classroom visits and follow up meetings were extremely helpful. Her instruction, goal setting, and feedback helped me implement bell ringers, the use of timers, improving student responses, group discussion, and exit tickets over the course of the year. She is a tremendous resource with classroom experience and knowledge.”

Hannah Gullickson

Running Start Kindergarten Lead Teacher, Whittier Elementary School

“Stephanie Lester is an instructional consultant I wish every program could have. With her knowledge and experience in evidence-based practices for ECE, the teachers she worked with gained valuable instructional methods to improve the quality of their programs. Stephanie also collaborated with the administrators who were able to learn how to carry out her on-site coaching into other grades. Collaborating with Stephanie was instrumental in improving our district's preschool programs with short and long-term goals. The programs would not be to the high standard they are without her guidance.”

Sandy Cade

DPHHS/OPI Regional Specialist

“Teaming with Stephanie to support Montana Preschool Development programs was tremendously successful; her genuine ability to develop relationship based coaching support increased quality of practice and outcomes. Stephanie’s knowledge of content and training & technical skills created effective and successful professional development for leadership and staff.”

D. Swatman-Stewart

Teacher participating in coaching cycles

“I love kids, and I definitely don't want to lose the incredible joy that this profession can bring. I just really appreciated having someone who simultaneously validated how I was feeling, highlighted the strengths seen, and gave actual constructive feedback! In all honesty I think I'll remember our talk for a very long time. Thank you.”

Brenda Smith

Retired, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services

"Stephanie Lester is a true visionary in Early Childhood Education (ECE)! Her leadership and expertise for ECE programs is outstanding. She brings quality and expertise to program development which consistently leads to success for young learners. Her support to ECE programs increases the quality of the environment and instruction, which in turn is reflected in increased student achievement!

Susan Hyder

Educational Specialist

"Stephanie Lester is passionate about science, early childhood education, and empowering educators. While our director, she built quality and consistency into our early childhood education program by focusing on developmentally appropriate practice and research-based strategies. Her leadership skills and experience in teaching and mentoring both children and adults enable her to provide highly motivating training that gives participants research based, hands-on activities that motivate our youngest learners. She never disappoints to entertain, engage, and enlighten early childhood educators!"