About
Azspire
Azspire, LLC, with Jacky Howell and consultants, take information, coupled with inspiration and work with you to build a high quality, strong community of educators. We establish learning communities, provide coaching and mentoring, workshop sessions, and much more through our on-site work and virtual work with early childhood programs.
At Azspire, LLC, we believe that learning is lifelong, that we all have gifts to give and new ideas to explore and understand. We believe in creating learning communities. With over 40 years of experience in the ECE field, Jacky Howell collects resources, writes articles, conducts webinars, and has a book, Rituals, and Traditions: Building a Sense of Community in Preschool, published by NAEYC.
Jacky Howell currently works hands-on in early childhood classrooms and programs, presents on current topics, creates book study groups, and much more! Her colleague, Graciela Semidey, brings her expertise in early childhood education in both Spanish and English. We believe in opportunities to learn together in interactive, engaging ways!
Azspire, LLC provides coaching, mentoring, interactive/information workshops, ongoing learning communities, book studies, keynote addresses, and much more! We work with administrators, classroom educators, families, and we can work with your staff virtually! We believe in creating a “culture of inquiry,” as fostered by the work of Margie Carter and Ann Pelo. We respect adults in bringing their knowledge and experiences as the basis of their learning process.
With over 48 years of experience, including teaching children, being administrators, writing, presenting, webinars, and courses, we have so much to offer!
Expertise
Jacky Howell, MA – Early Childhood Education Consultant and Owner, Azspire, LLC
With over 52 years of experience in early childhood education, Jacky Howell brings a lifelong commitment to supporting young children, families, and the educators who care for them. Her work has spanned multiple roles, including teacher, administrator, trainer, coach, and technical assistant—each informed by a deep belief in the power of quality early learning experiences.
Jacky earned her Master’s degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College and has spent more than 35 years as a course instructor and presenter on topics related to child development, curriculum, and best practices in early care and education. For the past two decades, she has mentored and provided technical assistance to educators and programs across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.
Jacky is an accomplished keynote speaker and presenter, regularly invited to share her expertise at conferences ranging from local forums to prominent national and international events, including the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Annual Conference and Professional Learning Institute. Her writing appears in respected early childhood publications, where she authored a regular column for Teaching Young Children. She is also the co-author of two influential books: Rituals and Traditions: Fostering a Sense of Community in Preschool (NAEYC, 2015) and Reflection, Perspective-Taking, and Social Justice: Stories of Empathy and Kindness in the Early Childhood Classroom (Redleaf Press, 2024).
Currently, Jacky consults with early childhood programs throughout the DC metro area, offering professional development, coaching, and workshops—both in person and virtually. Her work focuses on helping educators create inclusive, compassionate, and community-centered environments for all children.
Her passions include exploring themes of kindness, empathy, social justice, classroom community, and the role of women in sports—along with a personal love of nature and animals. Jacky remains deeply inspired by the resilience and potential of young children and is dedicated to creating spaces that honor and nurture their growth.
Graciela Semidey, is a bilingual (Spanish-English) professional that has been working in the education field for more than 30 years. Born in Valencia, Venezuela, she attended Jean Piaget University College in Caracas where she earned a degree in Psychological Pedagogy with a focus in Learning Disabilities. Graciela has dedicated her career to facilitating educational services that support the cognitive, emotional, and personal development of children and adolescents. After establishing herself in the United States in 1997, she worked with middle and high school students that qualified to receive special education services and participated in migrant programs. Following relocation to the DC Metro area, Graciela has worked as an Early Childhood Education Coordinator and Education Consultant providing Technical Assistance to ECE programs supporting teachers, families and children’s school readiness. Additionally, since 2009 Graciela has been an adjunct faculty member at Montgomery College for the Early Childhood Education Department of the Workforce Development and Continuing Education Program. Graciela has recently been actively involved in creating and developing a wellness program for early childhood education (ECE) teachers and educators. Along with her extensive background in education, Graciela holds a certification in pedal and palm reflexology and is a Reiki practitioner.
Graciela Semidey es una profesional bilingüe (español-inglés) que trabaja en el campo de la educación desde hace más de 30 años. Nacida en Valencia, Venezuela, asistió al Colegio Universitario Jean Piaget en Caracas, donde obtuvo una licenciatura en Pedagogía Psicológica con especialización en Discapacidades del Aprendizaje. Graciela ha dedicado su carrera a facilitar servicios educativos que apoyen el desarrollo cognitivo, emocional y personal de niños y adolescentes. Después de establecerse en los Estados Unidos en 1997, trabajó con estudiantes de secundaria y preparatoria que calificaron para recibir servicios de educación especial y participaron en programas para migrantes. Después de la reubicación en el área metropolitana de DC, Graciela ha trabajado como Coordinadora de Educación Infantil y Consultora de Educación brindando asistencia técnica a los programas de ECE que apoyan la preparación escolar de los maestros, las familias y los niños. Además, desde 2009 Graciela ha sido miembro adjunto de la facultad en Montgomery College para el Departamento de Educación Infantil del Programa de Desarrollo de la Fuerza Laboral y Educación Continua. En tiempos recientes, Graciela ha participado activamente en la creación y desarrollo de un programa de bienestar y auto cuidado para maestras y educadores de educación infantil temprana (ECE). Junto con su amplia experiencia en educación, Graciela tiene una certificación en reflexología de podal y palmar y es practicante de Reiki.
Saba Ahmed is a seasoned leader in the world of early childhood professional development and growth. Saba fosters a collaborative environment for early childhood education teachers to grow, learn about emerging trends, and tackle critical issues in the field of ECE.
Saba’s mission is rooted in the belief that every learner deserves an education that not only imparts knowledge but also empowers and equips them with strong social, emotional, and cognitive abilities. She recognizes the transformative power of education as young minds venture into the vast world ahead. Over the course of her 20-year career, Saba has honed her expertise from diverse roles including Program Director, Manager of Higher Education Accreditation for NAEYC, and Professional Development Manager. Saba currently owns and operates a private training and consulting firm specializing in best practices in Early Childhood, coaching, mentoring and resource development and serves as adjunct faculty in the Education Department at the University of Maryland.
Saba earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Special Education, with a specialized focus on Emotional and Learning Differences. This academic background fuels her passion for creating inclusive and nurturing learning environments that cater to the unique needs of every individual.
Azspire llc has other consultants that offer workshops based on their area of expertise. These include sessions in equity, mindfulness, heartful environments, play and much more! We can meet your professional development needs!
