Marni Nissen Olmstead (she/her/hers) is a Consultant, Reggio Support and Early Childhood Learning Specialist at SIEF. She holds an Illinois teaching license and is a full time faculty member with the education program at Columbia College Chicago, specializing in early childhood and arts integration. She helped prepare pre-service teachers as an instructor, field supervisor, mentor and instructional coach where she took groups of students on educational study trips to Reggio Emilia, Italy to learn about their student-driven, relationship based environments and constructivist approach.

Marni has taught in both public and private schools and community organizations in and around Chicago. As an instructional coach for Pears School Solutions, Marni designed and provided professional development to early childhood teachers on increasing math proficiency. Marni worked with the Illinois Writing Project, providing professional development on writing instruction. She has studied linguistics and has experience working with ESL learners. She lives in the Budlong Woods neighborhood with her husband, 2 children and 2 cats and likes to practice and teach meditation and tai chi.