Explore how to prepare children for an uncertain future through rich learning environments that encourage exploration, collaboration, and lifelong learning.
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Influential Woman · Early Childhood Education
Mary Ann Biermeier, M.Ed
Managing Director, Riverbend Studios
Little Rock, AR 71909
2001Years experience
1Article published
2Awards received
Her Story
About Mary Ann
Mary Ann Biermeier, M.Ed., is an experienced instructional designer, educator, and Managing Director of Riverbend Studios, where she produces high-quality online learning content for early childhood educators and higher education programs. With more than 25 years of experience in early childhood education, she is recognized for her expertise in curriculum design, multisensory learning environments, and educator professional development. Her work is grounded in the Reggio Emilia philosophy, emphasizing creativity, exploration, and child-centered learning approaches that support meaningful engagement for both children and educators.
Her career began in software design and development before transitioning into early childhood education following a strong personal and professional calling to improve learning experiences for children and families. She began in classroom teaching, later returning to earn a master’s degree in early childhood education with a focus on curriculum and instructional design. From there, she expanded into teacher training and instructional design, developing and publishing educational video content and online courses for early childhood professionals. She continues to evolve her digital learning footprint by transitioning content from platforms such as Udemy to YouTube and other media channels to broaden access to professional development resources.
Mary Ann has also served as Executive Director of the Valley of the Sun Early Childhood Association, where she was a dedicated advocate for quality early learning environments and contributed to early childhood education boards in Phoenix. In this role, she led community initiatives that transformed Title I school playgrounds into enriched outdoor learning spaces, including gardens, music areas, and nature-based environments designed to support multisensory exploration and child development. Her professional philosophy centers on the belief that high-quality, child-centered learning environments are essential to lifelong development, and she continues to advocate for educators, families, and communities to invest in early childhood education while preserving the importance of hands-on, human-centered learning in an increasingly digital world.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mary Ann
01What do you attribute your success to?
She attributes her success to a lifelong commitment to learning, adaptability, and the ability to continually reinvent herself in response to new opportunities and challenges. She believes meaningful work that aligns with her passion has been a driving force throughout her career, allowing her to remain engaged, innovative, and purpose-driven. Equally important is her persistence in advocating for improved early learning environments for children.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Ask seasoned professionals and elders, "what advice can you share with me?" You might be surprised at the wonderful conversation that follows.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
For women navigating career transitions, personal challenges, or evolving professional goals, my message is simple: your ability to adapt is one of your greatest strengths. Reinvention is not a detour from success-it is often the very thing that makes success possible. Also keep in mind, you excel at what you love and enjoy. Follow your passion.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges faced by working parents in balancing careers and childcare. The need for stronger support systems such as high quality preschools and daycare programs. Ongoing difficulties related to compensation and treatment of professionals in education. The growing importance of people-centered service professions such as childcare and elder care.
One of my strong interests is to encourage corporations and small businesses to financial support the early education of young children. Support the women within your organization that are juggling a busy life and worries about who is caring for their children. Corporations and small businesses could partner with local early childhood centers and neighborhood learning pods to finance child care. When we take care of the children, we take care of everyone.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
She emphasizes compassion, advocacy, and purpose-driven service as the core values guiding both her professional and personal life. Her son’s autism diagnosis marked a pivotal turning point that led her to transition from software development into early childhood education, shaping a lifelong commitment to supporting children and families. This experience deepened her dedication to creating equitable, inclusive, and supportive learning environments, and continues to influence her work in improving educational opportunities and outcomes for all children.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Mary Ann
Fostering Creativity within an A.I. Generation
Preparing for an Unpredictable Future Through Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Resilience
Children Entering School Today Will Graduate in 2038. What Will They Need to Succeed?
Children entering school this year will graduate from high school in 2038. What will they need to know to succeed in life?
For the most part, we can hardly imagine. This AI generation is leading us into a future that is difficult to fully grasp.
Yet, there are a few things we do know.
We know they will need to think critically and solve problems. They will need strong communication skills, including listening, reading, speaking, and yes, writing.
We also know that creativity, ingenuity, and inventiveness will serve them well. We must teach and nurture these skills.
We also know that creativity is most effectively fostered by providing rich and supportive learning environments.
There are three important things we know about fostering creativity:
First, We Learn Through the Many Ways We Experience the World
We think visually, we think through sound, and we think through movement. We move to learn. If it is not in the hand, it cannot be found in the head or the heart.
- We need learning environments that value open-ended creative materials over replicated, predetermined crafts.
- We need learning environments that encourage play and exploration outdoors in the natural world.
- We need learning environments that foster conversation, collaboration, and problem-solving through play.
Second, Creativity Is Dynamic
If you look at the interactions within the human brain, intelligence is wonderfully interconnected, with multiple regions working together. Creativity often emerges through the interaction of different disciplines and ways of thinking.
- We need learning environments that follow children's interests through research and investigation.
- We need learning environments that connect learning across the curriculum by integrating reading, writing, drawing, experimentation, measurement, and calculation.
- We need learning environments where topics of interest are explored through multiple disciplines and perspectives.
Third, Creativity Requires Revision and Persistence
Creativity often involves revisiting ideas, learning from mistakes, and trying again. It requires the tenacity to improve, invent, and overcome setbacks.
- We need learning environments where adults model curiosity and inquiry.
- We need learning environments where adults openly express their desire to learn more and demonstrate lifelong learning alongside children.
- We need learning environments where failure is viewed not as an endpoint, but as an opportunity to learn and grow.
- We need learning environments that slow down and resist the urgency to move on too quickly. Children need time to investigate, explore, build, rebuild, and deepen their understanding.
Whatever the future holds, one thing is certain: to succeed in life, we must nurture these skills in ourselves and strive to cultivate them in others.
The future may be unpredictable, but curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and resilience will always matter.
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