Please join us in welcoming Rebecca Berlin, PhD to Kaplan Early Learning Company! Rebecca has extensive experience working in senior leadership roles in the early childhood field. She is joining Kaplan as the Senior Vice President of Intellectual Properties and President of Gryphon House, Inc.
"With Kaplan's wide network of connections across early education influencers and leaders, I can bring my experiences in research, book publishing, and product development together to better meet the needs of leaders, teachers, children, and families." - Rebecca Berlin
Keep reading to learn more about Rebecca, her role with Kaplan, and the one piece of advice she wishes every early childhood educator would follow.
Who is Rebecca Berlin, PhD?
Rebecca has a B.A. in American Government and English from Georgetown University, an M.A. in Infant and Toddler Special Education from George Washington University, and a Ph.D. in Education Policy, Leadership, and Foundations from the University of Virginia. She is recognized as an industry expert and leads many transformative early childhood initiatives throughout the United States. She lives in Charlottesville, VA, but works with our team onsite in the Lewisville office and remotely from her home office.
Rebecca is joining Kaplan as the Senior Vice President of Intellectual Properties and President of Gryphon House, Inc. In her new role, Rebecca is accountable for acquiring and selling high-quality educational products and services that will drive growth and innovation for Kaplan and Gryphon House.
Throughout her career, Rebecca has researched and implemented a number of child screeners and assessments as well as classroom curricula and assessments. She brings that expertise to Kaplan to support and grow our Curriculum, Assessment, and Professional Learning resources. Rebecca understands that the needs of children and classrooms are always changing. Through her new role at Kaplan, she will look for additional tools to add to our portfolio.
“With Kaplan’s wide network of connections across early education influencers and leaders, I am able to bring my experiences in research, book publishing, and product development together to better meet the needs of leaders, teachers, children, and families.” - Rebecca Berlin, PhD
What is Gryphon House, and how is it connected to Kaplan Early Learning Company?
Gryphon House, a subsidiary of Kaplan, is an award-winning publisher of early childhood books and resources. Written by early childhood experts and backed by research, Gryphon House's books share practical strategies to support the development and education of young children. As you browse the Gryphon House website, you will find books, developmentally appropriate activities, and practical strategies covering an array of topics, such as:- Behavior guidance and classroom challenges
- Early childhood environments, learning centers, and play
- Program management and leadership support
- Dual language learning
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Family engagement
- Nature-based education
Some experts who publish books with Gryphon House also work with the product development team at Kaplan to design and create products and furnishings for early childhood facilities that facilitate the growth and development of young children.
What makes Rebecca a perfect fit for this role?
Along with her prestigious educational background, Rebecca also understands firsthand the challenges that leaders and teachers face. Her professional experience includes:- Being an early intervention home visitor
- Working in special education classrooms
- Supporting Inclusion and Head Start classrooms
- Working as an autism specialist
- Serving as a researcher and teacher education faculty member at the University of Virginia
"Having been in the field myself, I understand the importance of helping future teachers find books and resources that provide insights and guidance into the challenges families and children face today. I love that this new role allows me to support educators in this way." - Rebecca Berlin, PhD
Another factor that influenced Rebecca's decision to join Kaplan is knowing that many of our employees have a background in education or early childhood. They thoroughly understand what goes on in the classroom, making the work they do for our company all the more impactful.
Here are some fun facts about Rebecca we think you should know:
- Her favorite Gryphon House book is Inspired By Nature: Designing Play Places for the Littlest Learners, by Christina Burkholder Sandra Duncan
- Her favorite Kaplan product is the Rainbow Arch Discovery Stackers
- She has a four-year-old Goldendoodle who loves to attend Zoom meetings and help with emails when she works from home
- She is an elected School Board Member for Albemarle County Public Schools in Virginia
- In her free time, she does yoga to relax and recharge herself. She is even a certified yoga instructor
If Rebecca could share one piece of advice with early childhood educators, it would be this:
Being an early childhood teacher or leader is stressful, even more so now. I wish everyone would find joy in their work and make time to care for themselves, both physically and mentally. The book Find the Joyful Leader Within: Banishing Burnout in Early Childhood Education is a great place to start if you need something to uplift and inspire you in your day-to-day professional life. If you want to stay active and work on your physical wellness, try yoga!
Connect with Rebecca!
If you want to connect with Rebecca in person, stop by the Kaplan or Gryphon House booths at the upcoming NAEYC and NHSA conferences. Otherwise, you can reach out to her via email (rberlin@kaplanco.com) to congratulate her on her new role at Kaplan.
Follow Rebecca on LinkedIn to get regular insight into her professional life and to hear about new professional learning webinars, early childhood conferences, and events hosted by Kaplan and Gryphon House.