Meet the Administrative Team
Cynthia Fontcuberta DiCarlo, PhD
Executive Director
Cynthia Fontcuberta DiCarlo, PhD, serves as the Executive Director of the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool and is a Professor and Program Coordinator of the Early Childhood Education Teacher Education Program in the LSU School of Education. Prior to joining LSU in 2004, she worked as an infant/toddler teacher, public preschool teacher, Early Steps Provider, consultant, trainer, state assessor, and NAEYC validator. She has worked in the field of early childhood since 1993 and holds a teaching certificate in early intervention and Birth to Kindergarten. She has visited the infant/toddler and preschool programs in Reggio Emilia, Italy and surrounding regions, incorporating this knowledge into both the ECELP and the Early Childhood Academic Programs at LSU.
Charlene P. Jenkins, MEd
Associate Director, Infant-Toddler Programs
Charlene P. Jenkins, MEd, serves as the Associate Director of Infant-Toddler Programs at the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool. She has served as an early childhood consultant, teacher, a teacher's assistant, early head start program center director and manager, and owner/director of a five-star rated child care facility. She has worked in the field of early childhood since 2001and holds an ancillary certificate in Early Childhood. Charlene is a certified Pathways trainer, CLASS certified observer and trainer – toddlers, and trained in the Program for Infant and Toddler Caregivers (PITC). She has visited the infant/toddler programs in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and brings a wealth of knowledge on this approach to her professional practice.
Michelle Grantham-Caston, PhD
Associate Director, Preschool Programs
Michelle Grantham-Caston, EdS, is the Associate Director of Preschool Programs. She has served as a public school preschool teacher, CLASS assessor, and coach, working with teachers of children from birth- preschool in a variety of settings including Head Start, childcare, public and private schools. She has worked in the field of early childhood since 2007 and holds a teaching certificate in PK-3. Michelle is a certified Pathways trainer and CLASS certified observer – infant, toddler, and preschool.
Celeste Smith
Finance Coordinator