Profile
I started my career as a teacher in preschool and K-3 elementary schools within the Durham, Orange and Chapel Hill school districts. Subsequently, I assumed the role of an early childhood state consultant for the NC Department of Public Instruction where I led exciting work such as state standards development, K-2 mathematics curriculum and professional development, NC Kindergarten Power of K Teacher Leader initiative, and the NC Kindergarten Entry Assessment. I am delighted to continue my journey by supporting the next generation of child development professionals in my current role as an Assistant Professor of Child Development and the Birth-Kindergarten Teaching License Program Coordinator.
Academic Credentials
Ed.D. University of North Carolina, Chapel-Hill
M.A. Ed. Bank Street College of Education
B.S. James Madison University
Professional Credentials
Elementary Education (K-6) Educator License
Pre-K, Kindergarten Add-On Educator License
Language Arts (6-9) Educator License
Presentations
Scrinzi, A. (May, 2024). It鈥檚 Time to Celebrate. Invited motivational featured speaker for Stokes County
2024 Early Childhood Provider Appreciation Banquet for early childhood teachers, administrators,
community members, and county officials.
Scrinzi, A. (August 2023). Making the Most of Mathematics in K-2. Invited presenter for K-2 teachers and
assistants for Hobgood Charter School.
Scrinzi, A. (June 2023). Making the Most of Mathematics in K-2: Day 1 & Day 2. Invited presenter for K-2
teachers for Martin Millennium Academy.
Scrinzi, A. & Phillips, E. (July 2022). Creating a K-2 Environment for Active Learning. Invited presenter for
K-8 Hobgood Charter School.
Scrinzi, A. (August 2021). Making the Most of Mathematics Opening Session; Getting the Facts about
Fluency; K-2 Math Time; Closing Session. Invited presenter for K-8 Hobgood Charter School.
Scrinzi, A. (June 2021). Seven Big Ideas of Number. Invited presenter for New Hanover Public Pre-
Kindergarten Programs.
Scrinzi, A. (December 2020). Relationships, Routines & Rituals: Building the Foundation. Presented at the
Indiana Youth Institute Kids Count Conference.
Scrinzi, A. (August/November 2020). Mathematics in Pre-Kindergarten: Digging into Number Sense;
Digging into Geometry. Presented at Johnston County Smart Start Pre-Kindergarten Professional
Development Conference.
Scrinzi, A. (September 2020). Relationships, Routines & Rituals: The 3Rs for 2020. Featured presentation
at North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference.
Pierce, P. & Scrinzi, A. (April 2020). Early Literacy for All. Invited Presentation for SCRIPT-NC Faculty
Webinar.
Scrinzi, A. (August/November 2019). Mathematics in Kindergarten: Number Sense; Geometry. Invited
Presenter for North Carolina Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Public Schools.
Choplin, S., Phillips, E. & Scrinzi, A. (November 2018). Let鈥檚 Get Real about DAP in Kindergarten.
Presented at NAEYC Annual Conference, Washington DC.
Scrinzi, A. (November 2018). Subitizing- Moving Beyond Counting; Getting the Facts about Fluency;
Presented at North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference.
Scrinzi, A. & Phillips, E. (November 2018). Building a STEM Foundation with Unit Blocks. Presented at
North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference.
Bagwell, C. & Scrinzi, A. (August 2018). K-3 Formative Assessment Pilot Training: Day 1, Day 2. Invited
Trainer for Oregon State Department of Education.
Bagwell, C. & Scrinzi, A. (August 2018). K-3 Formative Assessment Pilot Training: Day 1, Day 2, for
teachers; K-3 Formative Assessment Training, for administrators. Invited Trainer for North Dakota State
Department of Education.
Bagwell, C. & Scrinzi, A. (July 2018). K-3 Formative Assessment Pilot Training: Day 1, Day 2, for teachers;
Invited Trainer for North Dakota State Department of Education.
Scrinzi, A. (September 2015). What Does Rigor Look Like in Kindergarten? Presented at North Carolina
Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference.
Heritage, M., Bagwell, C., Scrinzi, A. & Neslon, D. (June 2015). Moving Beyond Can Do It, Can鈥檛 Do It:
Innovative Approaches to the Assessment of Students K-3. Presented at National Conference on Student
Assessment, San Diego CA.
Bagwell, C. & Scrinzi, A. (June 2013). Designing and Implementing a Developmentally Appropriate
Statewide Kindergarten Entry and Assessment and K-3 Formative Assessment System: Necessary
Considerations. Presented at NAEYC National Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development,
San Francisco CA.
Scrinzi, A. (June 2013). Developmentally Appropriate Practices in Kindergarten. Presented at NAEYC
National Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development, San Francisco CA.
Scrinzi, A. (2011, October). Using rich data to guide mathematics instruction in K-2. Presented at the
North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC.
Scrinzi, A. (2011, October). Marvelous math time. Presented at the North Carolina Council of Teachers of
Mathematics Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC.
Scrinzi, A. (2011, October). DPI Update: Unpacking the K-2 common core state standards. Presented at
the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC.
Scrinzi, A. (2011, September). Let鈥檚 dive into counting. Presented at the North Carolina Association for
the Education of Young Children Annual Conference, Raleigh, NC.
Scrinzi, A. (2011, September). What else can I do with my pattern blocks? Presented at the North
Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference, Raleigh, NC.
Phillips, E. & Scrinzi, A. (2011, June). The power of K: North Carolina鈥檚 kindergarten teacher leader
initiative. Presented at the National Association for the Education of Young Children Professional
Development Annual Conference, Providence, RI.
Scrinzi, A. (2010, September). Math is everywhere! Presented at the North Carolina Association for the
Education of Young Children Annual Conference, Raleigh, NC.
Scrinzi, A. (2009, October). Getting the most out of calendar time. Presented at the North Carolina
Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC.
Scrinzi, A. (2009, October). To time test or not time test- what really works? Presented at the North
Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC.
Scrinzi, a. (2009, October). Let鈥檚 Play! Learning mathematics through games. Presented at the North
Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC.
Scrinzi, A. (2009, September). The power of blocks in kindergarten. Presented at the North Carolina
Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC.
Phillips, E. & Smith, A. (2008, September). The revised guide to the early years is here! Presented at the
North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC.
Smith, A. (2008, October). Pattern Blocks, Attribute Blocks, and Tangrams- Oh My!, Presented at the
North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC.
Smith, A. (2008, September). Pattern Blocks, Attribute Blocks, and Tangrams- Oh My!, Presented at the
North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC and
the North Carolina Association of Elementary Educators Annual Conference.
Smith, A., Boyd, H., & Shockley, P. (2007, June). K-1 Summer Math and Science Institute. Presented at
the Caraway Conference Center, Sophia, NC.
Smith, A. (2007, August). K-1 Summer Math and Science Institute. Presented at the Trinity Center, Salter
Path, NC.
Phillips, E. & Smith, A. (2007, September). The Power of the child: Kindergarten children today. Power of
K Opening Session at the North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children Annual
Conference, Raleigh, NC.
Smith, A. & Phillips, E. (2007, September). The Power of the kindergarten environment. Presented at the
North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference, Raleigh, NC.
Smith, A., & Phillips, E. (2007, October). The power of K. Presented at the North Carolina Association of
Elementary Educators Annual Conference, Raleigh, NC.
Smith, A., & Phillips, E. (2007, October). Math and science family night. Presented at the North Carolina
Association of Elementary Educators Annual Conference, Raleigh, NC.
Smith, A. (2007, October). Dynamite dominoes. Presented at the North Carolina Association of
Elementary Educators Annual Conference, Raleigh, NC.
Smith, A. (2006, October). Using ten frames to develop K-2 number concepts. Presented at the North
Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC.
Smith, A. (2006, October). Let鈥檚 Grapple with K-2 Number Development. Presented at the North
Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC.
Smith, A. (2006, October). Assessing K-2 students in mathematics. Presented at the North Carolina
Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC.
Smith, A. & Phillips, E. (2006, September). Centers in Kindergarten: Presented at the North Carolina
Association of Elementary Educators Annual Conference, Raleigh, NC and Presented at the North
Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC.
Smith, A. (2005, October). Fitting it all in. Presented at the North Carolina Council of Teachers of
Mathematics Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC.
Smith, A. (2005, October). Understanding Equality using Balances. Presented at the North Carolina
Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC.
Smith, A. (2005, July). K-1 Math Matters II. Presented at the Meredith Math and Science Institute,
Raleigh, NC.
Smith, A. (2005, February). Understanding Equality using Balances. Presented at the North Carolina
Council of Teachers of Mathematics Eastern & Centeral Region Conference.
Smith, A. (2005, February). Algebraic thinking in the early childhood classroom. . Presented at the North
Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics Eastern & Centeral Region Conference.
Smith, A. (2004, April). Understanding K-2 Number Sense. Presented at the National Council of Teachers
of Mathematics Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
Smith, A. (2004, October). Learn to solve: solve to learn- CGI. Presented at the North Carolina
Association of Elementary Educators Annual Conference, Raleigh, NC.
Smith, A. (2004, October). Math and standards. Presented at the North Carolina Exceptional Children鈥檚
Conference: Greensboro, NC.
Smith, A. (2004). K-1 Math Matters I: Presented in Forsyth, Richmond & Cabarrus Counties.
Smith, A.& Clemmons, L. (2003, October). Penny mall: A Real world counting experience. . Presented at
the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC.
Awards
School of Education, Health, and Human Sciences Service Award (May 2023). Outstanding service to the
department, college, and profession, Merdith College.
Mathematics Expert Panel Member (February 2022). North Carolina standard setting study. NC
Department of Public Instruction & UNC-Charlotte.
Board of Directors Member (January 2022-present), B.H. Rowland Foundation.
Featured Presenter (October 2011). North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual
Conference, Greensboro, NC.
Keynote Speaker (September 2011). DAP it or SCRAP it! North Carolina Association for the Education of
Young Children Annual Conference.
K-2 Panelist (October 2008). Engaging in and Reasoning about Important K-2 Mathematics with Doug
Clements, Susan Friel, Julie Hughes, and Terry Gunter. North Carolina Council for Teachers of
Mathematics Annual Conference.
Board Member, Eastern Central Region (2008-2011). North Carolina Association for the Education of
Young Children.
Guest Speaker (2008). North Carolina Early Childhood Professional Development Research and Policy
Forum.
Teacher of the Year (2003 鈥� 2004). Mary Scroggs Elementary, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools.
Math Teacher of the Year Finalist (2003). Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools.
National Board Certification (2000). Early Childhood Generalist.
Teacher of the Year (1996-1997). Grady Brown Elementary, Orange County Schools.
Golden Key National Honor Society (1991). James Madison University.
Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society (1991). James Madison University.
Publications
Phillips, E. & Scrinzi, A. (Eds.). (in press). Focus on DAP in Kindergarten. NAEYC.
Scrinzi, A. & Phillips, E. (2014). NAEYC Co-Author: Forward. In Copple, C., Koralek, D., Charner, K. &
Bredekamp, S., Developmentally appropriate practice: Focus on kindergartners. (pp. xiii-xiv).
Washington, DC: NAEYC.
Phillips, E. & Scrinzi, A. (2014). What is developmentally appropriate practice? In Copple, E., Bredekamp,
S., Koralek, D., & Charner, K. (Eds.) Developmentally appropriate practice: Focus on kindergartners (pp.
1-4). Washington, DC: NAEYC.
Phillips, E. & Scrinzi, A. (2013). Basics of developmentally appropriate practice: An introduction for
teachers of kindergartners. Washington, DC: NAEYC.
Scrinzi, A. (2011). An examination of the relationships between kindergarten teachers鈥� beliefs,
mathematical knowledge for teaching, and instructional practices. University of North Carolina, Chapel
Hill.
Scrinzi, A. & Day, B. (2011, Spring). Keeping Healthy. New Teacher Advocate. Kappa Delta Pi, 18 (3),
cover, 6-7.
Scrinzi, A. & Day, B. (2010). On your mark, get set, play! New Teacher Advocate. Kappa Delta Pi 17 (3),
14-15.
Smith, A. (2008). The mathematical power of blocks. Milestones. Raleigh, NCaeyc.
Bryce, R & Smith, A. (1999): Creating a family center for an early childhood setting, Milestones. Raleigh,
NCaeyc.
