Title: Early Intervention Specialist
Company: University of Oregon
Location: Springfield, Oregon, United States
Liz Watters, MS, Early Intervention Specialist at the University of Oregon, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Early Childhood Education.
Ms. Watters has established herself as a leading expert in early childhood intervention, with a career spanning three decades dedicated to supporting children and families. Since 2022, she has served as an early intervention specialist and early childhood education specialist at the University of Oregon in Eugene. In this capacity, Ms. Watters works closely with children from birth to age 5 and their families, focusing on those identified with developmental delays or at risk for them. She provides critical assistance in obtaining Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs), ensuring that each child receives tailored support to foster their development.
Throughout her tenure at the University of Oregon, Ms. Watters has demonstrated a profound commitment to helping children thrive academically and personally. She takes particular pride in witnessing children and families succeed, especially when a child is able to exit an IEP, signifying that they no longer require special services. For Ms. Watters, these moments represent the culmination of collaborative efforts between professionals and families, affirming that the necessary steps have been taken to help each child reach their goals and prepare for future success.
In addition to her primary role, Ms. Watters has worked as a consultant since 2021, offering her expertise to organizations and individuals seeking guidance in early childhood intervention strategies. Her consulting work builds upon her extensive experience and deep understanding of developmental milestones from infancy through age 5.
Before relocating to Oregon, Ms. Watters spent 2013 to 2015 as a project liaison for the Orange County Department of Education in Costa Mesa, California, which serves some of Orange County’s most vulnerable student populations. In this position, she facilitated communication and collaboration between various stakeholders involved in early childhood education initiatives, further honing her skills in program coordination and advocacy.
Ms. Watters’s earlier experience included her role as an early childhood coordinator for a local school district from 2011 to 2013, where she oversaw programs designed to support young learners and their families. Additionally, Ms. Watters contributed as a trainer for Peachstone and Triple P and was a social-emotional development trainer for The Pyramid model, sharing her knowledge with fellow educators and professionals in the field.
In preparation for her career, Ms. Watters earned a Bachelor of Arts in business management from the University of Phoenix, which she completed in 1994. Later returning to college, she received a Master of Science in early childhood education and teaching from the University of La Verne in 2009, equipping her with advanced knowledge of child development theories and instructional practices.
Ms. Watters’s expertise has been recognized by her peers through her active involvement in several professional organizations. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National Head Start Association. Previously, Ms. Watters presented at the California Association for the Education of Young Children and was affiliated with the HighScope Educational Research Foundation.
Beyond her professional achievements, Ms. Watters has demonstrated an enduring commitment to civic engagement through volunteerism and community service. From 2005 to 2010, she volunteered weekly at a homeless shelter in Vista, California, leading parenting classes, serving dinners and participating in fundraising efforts. In the 1990s, she served as a Girl Scout leader for Brownies within the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. Among other involvements, she volunteered annually at Camp Minnow through Head Start, collected prom dresses for high school students as part of Soroptimist International, and contributed time to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Ms. Watters’s contributions extend into project development and publication. Most notably, she was a key contributor to the Special Needs and Abilities Project (SNAP) program, a special needs initiative focused on early intervention, in Lake Elsinore, California, from 2005 to 2011. Her contributions resulted in an accolade from First 5 California for her work on the program in 2005.
In addition to the recognition she received from First 5 California, Ms. Watters received a Camp Minnow Award for her contributions to Head Start programming. She was also honored with a Soroptimist Award for her community service efforts.
Ms. Watters credits much of her professional success to her upbringing and personal experiences overcoming adversity during her childhood in Long Beach, California. Growing up in an abusive home and foster care instilled in her a deep sense of empathy for families facing hardship, a quality that continues to inform her work today. Ms. Watters emphasizes the importance of building relationships with children and understanding each family’s unique background, priorities and aspirations rather than imposing external opinions or solutions.
Mentorship has also played a significant role in Ms. Watters’s journey. Her high school child development teacher was instrumental in recognizing her talent for working with young children and encouraging her to pursue this path. This formative influence set the stage for Ms. Watters’s lifelong dedication to early intervention.
Looking ahead, Ms. Watters intends to focus on volunteering and advocating for changes within the foster care system, specifically aiming to prevent children from being moved more than twice while under care. She also aims to seek opportunities to influence public policy, which would enable young children to experience greater stability during their formative years. Through unwavering dedication to early childhood intervention, advocacy for vulnerable populations and ongoing community involvement, Ms. Watters continues to make a lasting impact on countless lives across Oregon and beyond.
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