Alicia Buckingham
Collinsville
Summary
Educational and program leader with more than 16 years of experience supporting children, families, and youth-focused programs through early childhood education, nonprofit operations, and Christian ministry leadership. Experienced in program development, staff support and training, curriculum planning, family engagement, operational improvement, documentation systems, and community partnerships. Skilled in creating safe, organized, and engaging environments through servant leadership, collaboration, and effective program administration. Available to support extended learning programs, school events, and summer programming as needed. Passionate about supporting children’s academic, social, emotional, and spiritual growth within Christ-centered and mission-driven settings.
Overview
1
1
Certification
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Membership Experience Lead
YMCA of Greater Tulsa
01.2025 - Current
- Serve as lead support for the Membership Experience Director, providing departmental leadership and operational support in the Director’s absence.
- Partner with leadership to develop standardized workflows, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), communication templates, and process improvements that improve consistency and efficiency.
- Managed payment tracking and billing audits for approximately $300,000 in Summer Camp tuition, developing processes that improved accuracy, accountability, and timely payment collection.
- Support youth and family programming through operational coordination, member communication, account management, and program support.
- Lead onboarding and training for new team members on membership systems, software applications, policies, and operational procedures.
- Develop and implement member retention strategies to strengthen engagement and improve the overall member experience.
- Audit membership records to verify eligibility, maintain compliance, and ensure accurate account information.
- Coordinate Oklahoma Complete Health (OCH) and Ambetter membership enrollment and activation processes.
- Resolve complex member concerns while maintaining positive relationships with members, families, and community partners.
- Serve as Vendor Coordinator for the YMCA’s annual Healthy Kids Day, managing vendor communication, logistics, placement planning, and event coordination. Helped increase attendance from approximately 400 participants to more than 1,000 participants over two years.
- Collaborate with YMCA leadership to plan and coordinate the Sidewalk Social Club, a community outreach initiative designed to strengthen relationships and increase community engagement.
Planned Career Pause
09.2023 - 01.2025
- Dedicated time to family responsibilities while continuing professional growth and remaining active in leadership and community involvement.
Lead Teacher
Tulsa Educare
09.2012 - 09.2023
- Planned and implemented developmentally appropriate curriculum supporting children’s academic, social, emotional, and physical development.
- Developed individualized learning plans using assessment data to support student growth and meet individual needs.
- Supervised, coached, and mentored associate teachers, teacher assistants, and college interns while fostering a collaborative team environment.
- Led reflective practice meetings focused on continuous improvement, professional development, and student outcomes.
- Maintained student records, developmental assessments, and documentation to support instructional planning and organizational compliance.
- Built strong family partnerships through parent conferences, home visits, and consistent communication regarding student progress.
- Managed classroom budgets, educational materials, and inventory while ensuring responsible use of resources.
- Created organized learning environments that promoted student engagement, safety, and positive behavior management.
- Successfully led classroom teams through annual observations, consistently meeting or exceeding organizational expectations.
- Mentored Tulsa Community College Child Development students during classroom internships.
Lead Teacher
KinderCare Learning Centers
08.2008 - 09.2012
- Provided developmentally appropriate instruction and care for young children in a safe, nurturing learning environment.
- Developed and implemented engaging activities supporting children’s academic, social, emotional, and physical development.
- Built positive relationships with families through consistent communication and collaboration.
- Maintained classroom documentation, supported student growth, and collaborated with teaching teams to provide high-quality learning experiences.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
Cameron University
Claremore, OK01-2011
Skills
- Youth Development & Program Administration
- Curriculum Development & Implementation
- Staff Leadership, Training & Mentoring
- Parent & Family Engagement
- Student Safety & Behavior Management
- Event Planning & Coordination
- Budget & Resource Management
- Operational Systems & Process Improvement
- Data Tracking & Documentation
- Community Partnerships
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Google Workspace
- Membership Management Systems
- Data Management & Reporting
- Workflow Development
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Creation
- Process Documentation
Certification
- Oklahoma Teaching Certificate — Active (Expires June 2031)
- CPR & First Aid Certified — Expires February 2027
Timeline
Membership Experience Lead
YMCA of Greater Tulsa
01.2025 - Current
Planned Career Pause
09.2023 - 01.2025
Lead Teacher
Tulsa Educare
09.2012 - 09.2023
Lead Teacher
KinderCare Learning Centers
08.2008 - 09.2012
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
Cameron University