Expert Details
Early Childhood Consultant
ID: 735739
Illinois, USA
Legal Expert Witness for Court Cases. Assigned cases for review through testifying in court.
Training of childcare professionals. Work with various local childcare centers: Staff in-services, on-site technical assistance, accreditation mentoring, program evaluation, licensing/quality issues.
Reviewed and made official recommendations to Federal Program Specialist on Head Start programs throughout Region V, based on the OSPRI tool and on-site observation/evaluation.
Parent Educator. Facilitated DCFS parenting classes and the on-site home visit parent education component for families that lost custody/parental rights of their children due to abuse &/or neglect.
Computer Related Skills: Microsoft Office – Word, Notepad, Publisher, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint; Internet proficient; Adobe Acrobat; Limited Photoshop; Experience with IL Gateways documentation/record-keeping; CCAP (subsidy); ISBE Food Program; Social Media Marketing proficient.
Expert is willing to travel.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 2004 | Degree: MEd | Subject: Education | Institution: Stafford University |
| Year: 1987 | Degree: Bachelor of Arts | Subject: Applied Behavioral Sciences | Institution: National College of Education |
| Year: 1985 | Degree: C.D.A. Credential | Subject: | Institution: Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition |
| Year: 1982 | Degree: A.A./ A.S. | Subject: Early Childhood/ Pre-Education | Institution: Waubonsee Community College |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2001 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Consultant | Department: |
Responsibilities:Available upon request. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2000 to 2001 | Employer: Childtime Children’s Centers | Title: Training Coordinator | Department: |
Responsibilities:National position responsible for developing, facilitating, and coordinating company classroom efforts for over 300 centers in 23 states - Design and development of training resources, materials, and curriculum enhancements; On-site center technical assistance/training; Training needs assessment with data impacting the development of training plans company-wide, area-specific, and under some circumstances, center-specific; Development of a comprehensive 12-module accreditation support manual; Monitoring, mentoring, and support of centers pursing accreditation; Behavior action plans/ authorization for disenrollment of children company-wide; Updating of select company manuals/forms/systems; $76,500 in grant awards; company Special Projects. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1998 to 2001 | Employer: Exploration Bay | Title: Director of Operations and Education | Department: |
Responsibilities:Proposed the GSA contractual bid on the FAA site, then hired to stabilize/“turn around” the center in addition to researching, developing and facilitating additional contracts and center acquisitions; Cultivated 42 leads on possible purchases/contracts; Assumed FAA center (7 day/wk, extended evening hours) on one-day notice when vendor pulled out, writing all policies/procedures, handbooks, forms, and manuals; Brought center enrollment from 23 to capacity limit of 98 (with a waiting list) in a period of 4 months; Served p/t as Program Consultant/Mentor 4/00 – 3/01, returning full time after the re-organization of Childtime. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1998 to 1998 | Employer: KinderCare Learning Centers | Title: CDA/Training Coordinator | Department: |
Responsibilities:Developed 12-week CDA curriculum/program, and implemented classes for the 72 Chicago area centers; Mentored and facilitated initial cluster of 11 centers through the accreditation process in a period of 6 months; Designed and provided related materials to support accreditation; Edited company materials on the CDA process for content; Developed a center-specific training plan for a center facing license revocation, instrumental in resolution with the state. Training plan was proposed be implemented company-wide in response to similar situations in the future. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1988 to 1989 | Employer: LaPetite Academy | Title: Director, Illinois Training Center and Master Academy | Department: |
Responsibilities:In addition to day-to-day center operations, responsible for the training of new center directors and serving in the capacity of substitute for the Regional in absencia; Surpassed company records for occupancy upon opening and weekly deposit at that point in time; Brought center to capacity within 3 months of opening; Division VP secured an unprecedented/outside of company guidelines bonus based on job performance; No parent complaints above the center level entire duration of tenure; Assisted in opening of new IL centers. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1985 to 1988 | Employer: Fox Hill Group Home | Title: Residential Treatment Specialist | Department: |
Responsibilities:Supervision of emotionally disturbed adolescent female wards of the state within a residential setting; Co-facilitated group therapy; Established/ facilitated treatment goals, life skill objectives, and discharge planning; Crisis intervention. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1988 to 1998 | Employer: Fox Hill Group Home | Title: Director | Department: |
Responsibilities:Director: All facets of small center operations – hiring/training/supervision of staff, budgeting, fiscal management, marketing, fundraising, community relations/involvement, grant-writing, quality of program, parent relations; Corrected existing licensing issues and brought center from 30% capacity to 100% capacity with a waiting list; Secured $20,000 in grant funding. |
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Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| Professional Affiliations: (Past/Present) - Member of National Association for the Education of Young Children (Affiliate memberships: ILAEYC, ChicagoMetroAEYC, DuPage AEYC, Fox Valley AEYC) - Member of National Child Care Association - Member of National Association for Child Care Professionals - Member of National Head Start Association - Member of National Afterschool Association - Member of the American Society for Trainers and Development - Former member of the Parent/Teacher Association - On many professional-related pages online and on LinkedIn to stay current in field |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| Credentials/Certifications: IL Gateways Early Childhood Credential Level 4 IL Infant Toddler Credential Level 4 IL Training and Technical Assistance Credential Level 4 IL School Age and Youth Development Credential Level 3 IL Directors Credential Level 1 ISBE ParaProfessional Certification CPR/ First Aid Food Handling CPI (Non violent Crisis Intervention) |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| Community/Volunteer/Related: - Vice President and founding Board Member, Prevent Child Abuse Kane County – a chapter of the National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse - Secretary and Board Member, Marie Wilkinson Child Development Center - Board Member, Fox Valley Association for the Education of Young Children - Volunteer, Crisis Line of the Fox Valley; Family Support Center - Volunteer Consultant, Herbie House Children’s Bereavement Center. - C.A.S.A. Volunteer (Court Appointed Special Advocate) - DuPage AEYC “In Praise of Providers” Committee. - Coordinated toy drive for Hesed House homeless shelter playroom. WOYC - DuPage CCR&R Advisory Board. - “Life Choices” Teen Group Facilitator, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Elgin. - “T.O.D.A.Y.” Work with Youth Award. - Nominated - DuPage AEYC “In Praise of Providers” Award - Fox Valley Child Care Committee. Secretary - Nominated for the Aurora YWCA “Woman of the Year” in the Education category. - President of the Waubonsee Child Development Club Voted “Outstanding Member.” - Aurora Business and Professional Women’s “Young Career Woman.” - Awarded “Certificate of Merit” from the International Poetry Society - Approved State of Pennsylvania TQAS Trainer - NH Early Childhood Credential – Mentor/Trainer Level III - Child Care Information Exchange “Panel of 300” member/participant - Trainer for the “Illinois Training Network” - Youth Outlook Volunteer Conference/Workshop Presentations: - Chicago AEYC Conference(s) - NAEYC Conference - Lake Co. IN First Steps Conference(s) - Region V Head Start Conference - IL DCFS State Licensing Rep Training - Fox Valley AEYC Conference(s) - CEDA Head Start Pre-service(s) - KinderCare Director Trainings (Chic) - DuPage AEYC Conference(s) - Morraine Valley Conference(s) - Vigo Co. IN Head Start Pre-service - Joliet CCR&R workshops - CASA Conference(s)/in-service(s) - Childtime Director’s Conference - Northern IL AEYC Conference(s) - “Baby Talk” Parenting Conference(s) - Approved State of Illinois Inclusion Trainer - Public School Dist #300 Pre-service - Hildebrandt annual staff conferences - Nashua ECE Annual Inservice Day - Del Valle Migrant Heat Start - Allegheny Child Care Inservice days - DeKalb 4-C workshops - Mid-Valley Vocational Center - Bright Horizons – Chancellery site - Parents Supporting Parents - CDA Classes Teaching Experience: LaPetite Academy (1980 – 1982) KinderCare (1982 – 1983) Little People, Inc. (1983) Mooseheart (summers and school breaks, 1978 – 1980) |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
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| Published Works: 21 |