Stephanie is a Social Worker who has worked in the field of Early Childhood Development and Early Intervention for 30 years. The beginning of her career introduced her to the benefits of early intervention and early detection, where she spearheaded the expansion of a birth-three program in a publicly funded, private school in Brooklyn, New York. 

Her family’s move to the DC-area led her to Adas Israel Congregation’s Gan HaYeled Preschool, where she remained for 23 years. Through individual consultations and community-wide webinars, Stephanie supported countless families navigating parenthood, and significantly expanded Gan HaYeled’s capabilities for supporting young children with developmental differences and neurodiverse learning profiles. Her work laid the foundation for a culture of developmental diversity and inclusion, and her vast network of clinicians in the DMV area has supported students and propelled them toward an upward trajectory for future learning. Her final accomplishments there included the opening of a multidisciplinary evaluation center for children 12 months to 5-years-old, and a one-of-a-kind therapeutic learning group, aimed to prepare neurodivergent preschoolers as they got ready to matriculate to Kindergarten; both housed within the synagogue-based preschool. These initiatives were created to support families as they navigated the confusion around early childhood diagnoses and changed the course of their long-term needs. 

Stephanie also serves as a consultant for The Matan Institute, where she develops workshop curricula and trains teachers on the benefits of early identification and intervention, while also supporting the social and emotional needs of the students. 

With the launch of The Rooted Child – Slater Early Childhood Consulting, Stephanie aims to broaden her impact by supporting more families in understanding their child’s developmental profile and navigating the complexities of available support services. She holds a deep belief in the competence, capability, and resilience of young children. 

Inspired by their unfiltered perspective and the joy they bring to every experience, Stephanie approaches her work with genuine enthusiasm. She maintains that children’s behavior communicates meaningful messages, and that interpreting and responding to these cues thoughtfully can have lasting, positive effects on a child’s self-concept and overall well-being. 

Stephanie served as a mentor for American Jewish University’s first master’s cohort in Early Childhood Special Education and Inclusion and will be an adjunct professor for the 2026-27 master’s in early childhood education. 

Stephanie holds a BA in Psychology from SUNY College at Oneonta and a master’s in social work from Adelphi University. Stephanie has a Certificate in Early Intervention from 

Georgetown University and is a Certified Children’s Yoga instructor. Her most rewarding role is mother to Sophie (25) and Macie (21) and partner to Matt.