MaríaMercedes Champion

MaríaMercedes Champion serves as a Professor at University of the Potomac with over 18 years of classroom experience in early childhood education. She has additionally worked as a program coordinator and bilingual facilitator, advocating for young children through innovative teaching approaches.

Educated across three countries—Colombia, Spain, and the USA—Champion brings an international perspective to her teaching practice. Her academic journey across diverse educational systems informs her culturally responsive methodology in early childhood development.

Champion's research interests center on Early Childhood Education, Bilingual Education, and Play-Based Learning, with particular emphasis on creating rich language environments for young learners. She develops original songs and activities that integrate play with language acquisition, believing in the critical connection between joyful learning experiences and cognitive development in early childhood. Her work emphasizes practical applications that fellow educators can implement in diverse classroom settings to support multilingual development through playful engagement.

As an active member of the educational community, Champion shares her methodologies and resources with fellow educators to promote collaborative learning and professional growth in early childhood education practices. She advocates for teaching approaches that honor children's natural curiosity while systematically developing language skills through play-centered activities.