Dorothy A. Meyer, C.A.G.S., M. Ed., has been working with young children and their families for more than forty years. Dotty is Director I and II certified by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education and Care (DEEC), and is deeply committed to improving the quality of care and education for all young children.  

Dotty became a UMASS faculty member in 1989 and taught several courses including Curriculum Methods for Early Child -hood Education and Introduction to Early Childhood Education. She was also the master teacher/director of the UMASS Early Childhood Laboratory School for sixteen years prior to opening the Renaissance School. 

While teaching at the University, Dotty learned about the internationally acclaimed schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy. The Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education inspires teachers to partner with children to discover, create, solve problems, and learn together. Dotty's study of this approach includes attending numerous professional conferences, working with Amelia Gambetti, master teacher from Reggio Emilia, and visiting the schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy, to learn more firsthand.

Dotty has presented at many national early education conferences and was invited to become a faculty member at the teachers college of Christchurch, New Zealand, while on sabbatical from UMASS. She also provides workshops and professional development trainings on topics such designing engaging learning environments, developing meaningful co-constructivist curriculum, helping children learn through art, and using assessment and documentation to support learning. She has taught graduate classes on Science Methods in Elementary Education, to masters degree candidates in the Pre-K-2nd Grade public school certification program.