Amy Schmidtke, Ed.D.
Director of Educational Practice
School as Hub approach, Guided play, Professional learning, Instructional coaching, Educational leadership
Areas of Expertise
- School as Hub approach
- Guided play
- Professional learning
- Instructional coaching
- Educational leadership
Biography
Amy Schmidtke is director of educational practice. In her role, she conceptualizes and leads approaches to reducing opportunity gaps in early learning and education settings, birth through Grade 3, blending a working knowledge of applied research, high-quality practices, and effective family engagement strategies to improve school, community, and child outcomes.
Media Coverage
Behind the Book: Amy Schmidtke on Editing 'The Intentional Teacher' and the Power of Joyful Learning [Blog post]. (2025, Sept. 29). Early Years Matter.
School as Hub: Omaha School Builds Community and Inspires Lifelong Learners [Blog post]. (2025, May 2). Early Years Matter.
Books and Beyond: How Early Educators Can Incorporate Literacy Into Their Classrooms [Blog post]. (2024, Nov. 11). Early Years Matter.
School and community leaders gather at Superintendents’ Plan convening [Blog post]. (2024, April 2). Early Years Matter.
'It brought me back to my purpose with children': Teachers examine learning through the lens of the child [Blog post]. (2022, December 22). Early Years Matter.
Learning Community programs that help at-risk Omaha-area kids are paying off, consultant says, (2014, November 21). Omaha World-Herald.
Featured Publications
The Intentional Teacher: Choosing the Best Strategies for Young Children’s Learning. 3rd ed. Schmidtke, A., ed. 2025. NAEYC.
Counting collection in community [Case study]. Schmidtke, A. (2023). In Brillante, P., Chen, J., Cuevas, S., Dundorf, C., Hoffman, E. B., Meier, D. R., Mindes, G., & Roy, L. R. (Eds.) Casebook: Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth Through Age 8, NAEYC, 2023.
A qualitative study of Kindergarten teachers’ perceptions about the influences of professional learning on their implementation of guided play, Schmidtke, A. (2022). Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 37(1), 49-76.
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