Dr. Cynthia Zierhut-Ursu, Ph.D

Founder Every Child Oaks

Dr. Cynthia Zierhut-Ursu is a licensed clinical and developmental psychologist (PSY 19810) with over two decades of experience supporting young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. Her career integrates clinical expertise, academic research, and a transformative commitment to community-based education and inclusion.

Cynthia’s foundational training took place at the University of California, Los Angeles, followed by more than a decade at the UC Davis MIND Institute, where she managed multiple intervention studies and led professional training in the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM). Her work took an international turn when she joined the team at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, collaborating with Dr. Dissanayake and Dr. Vivanti on the groundbreaking first randomized controlled trial of the Group Early Start Denver Model (G-ESDM).
Motivated to bring evidence-based practices into real-world learning environments, Dr. Zierhut-Ursu founded Early Days Autism Center (EDAC), Inc. in 2015, and co-founded Every Child nonprofit in 2018 with Dr. Irene Russo.  In 2020 Irene and Cynthia opened their first demonstration school, Every Child Bay.  The success of this program laid the foundation for Every Child Oaks.

Every Child Oaks and Cynthia are committed to initiatives focused on equipping early education communities to meaningfully include children with ASD through training and the dissemination of effective inclusive practices.

Emmanuel Ursu

Treasurer | Facilities

Emmanuel Ursu serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Every Child Oaks, bringing a collaborative spirit and a deep commitment to inclusive community development. With a professional background rooted in urban planning and public service, Emmanuel has spent over 20 years facilitating meaningful partnerships across diverse communities. His work has consistently focused on aligning diverse perspectives around shared goals—an approach that mirrors ECO’s vision for systemic change in early childhood education.
At ECO, Emmanuel oversees financial stewardship with a focus on transparency, long-term sustainability, and growth planning. In addition to his responsibilities as Treasurer, he plays a key leadership role in facility expansion and building projects, guiding the development of inclusive, child-centered learning environments that reflect the values of accessibility, safety, and belonging.

Emmanuel’s thoughtful, pragmatic approach and systems-level thinking make him an invaluable contributor to ECO’s mission to enrich early childhood experiences through developmentally appropriate, community-rooted education.

Matthais Zierhut

Inclusive Specialist/Group ESDM Trainer (Apprentice) | 

Matthais is a dedicated and experienced early childhood educator whose work reflects a deep commitment to inclusive, relationship-based learning for young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). HIs work began in 2016, Matthais has contributed to a wide range of learning environments, including several years of service within Every Child Bay, where he cultivated a collaborative and child-centered approach inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy.

His professional journey began in school-based settings and has expanded to include specialized support roles that center on developmental individualization, emotional attunement, and the promotion of belonging. Matthais participates in ECO’s intensive learning pathway in the Group Early Start Denver Model (G-ESDM)—an evidence-based, play-based intervention designed to foster social engagement, communication, and cognitive growth in young children.

Matthais brings to his role a rich foundation in behavior support, co-regulation, and activity design, alongside a passion for inclusive education. He supports new team members in ESDM fidelity development, reflecting ECO’s investment in practitioner excellence and interdisciplinary growth.

Known for his calm presence, creativity, and responsiveness to each child’s unique strengths, Matthais exemplifies ECO’s core values of growth, reciprocity, and community belonging. His longstanding presence and versatility across roles have made him a valued member of the ECO’s  community and a consistent support to both colleagues and families.

Susana Razumovsky

Admissions/Group-ESDM Trainer (Apprentice) 

Susana Razumovsky is a dedicated early childhood educator and neurodiversity-affirming practitioner who brings both personal insight and professional expertise to her role within Every Child Oaks (ECO). Susana began working with Dr. Zierhut Ursu in Fall 2017 following her participation as a parent in a parent coaching and play group model—an experience that sparked a deep commitment to inclusion and developmental relationship-based practice.

With extensive experience supporting young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Susana has served across inclusive classroom environments and in-home settings, offering individualized support rooted in attunement, reciprocity, and respect for the child’s unique learning path. She holds training in the Group Early Start Denver Model (Group-ESDM) and currently serves as an Apprentice Trainer, supporting the thoughtful implementation of the model across ECO’s Sacramento sites.

Susana mentors and trains new educators, fostering a reflective culture of practice that emphasizes co-regulation, play-based learning, and meaningful participation within inclusive group settings. Her work reflects ECO’s core values—growth, inclusion, and community belonging—while nurturing emerging educators to observe with curiosity, teach with intentionality, and partner with families through a strengths-based lens.

Susana’s approach is deeply informed by her dual perspective as both a parent and a professional, allowing her to bridge understanding across systems and model the collaborative, responsive care at the heart of ECO’s vision for systemic change in early childhood education.

Sydney Manning

Early Childhood Educator 

Sydney is a compassionate early childhood educator whose professional path reflects a longstanding commitment to nurturing the growth, autonomy, and joy of young children. Her journey into the field of autism support began during adolescence, when she first encountered the profound impact of attuned relationships and inclusive practices while working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This formative experience laid the foundation for her relational and strengths-based approach to care.

As a camp counselor, Sydney led a wide range of group activities designed to foster social connection, self-expression, and belonging. She honed her skills in behavior support, activity planning, and responsive communication—tools that continue to shape her presence within the learning environments at Every Child Oaks (ECO). Her subsequent role as a full-time nanny deepened her understanding of individualized developmental support and the power of attunement in building trust and promoting co-regulation.

Sydney brings to ECO a thoughtful, hands-on approach rooted in patience, adaptability, and a belief in each child’s capacity for growth. Her work reflects ECO’s guiding values of inclusion, reciprocity, and relationship-based teaching. Whether supporting group engagement or offering one-on-one care, Sydney is devoted to co-creating environments where children feel seen, supported, and celebrated.