Avril Mills
Kinderhook,NY
Summary
Experienced professional development leader with a strong commitment to excellence and a track record of delivering tangible results. Recognized for fostering collaboration among team members and adapting quickly to changing needs. Skilled in strategic planning, curriculum development, and performance evaluation to ensure the highest standards of quality and effectiveness. Known for reliability, resourcefulness, and laser-focused approach to achieving organizational goals.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Professional Development Director
New York AEYC
01.2010 - Current
- Statewide implementation and candidate support of the NYAEYC Credentials – Infant Toddler Credential, Children’s Program Administrator Credential, Family Child Care Credential, Training and Technical Assistance Professional Credential
- Oversight and implementation of the NYAEYC PDGB5 Sub-Contract, working specifically on the Professional Development, Pyramid and Shared Services scopes of work and budget
- This includes the supervision of the Professional Development Assistant, Pyramid Model Coordinators and the Shared Services Coordinator
- Oversight and implementation of the ECLC Infant Toddler Contract focusing on professional development for Infant Toddler Specialists and Infant Toddler teaching teams
- Development Committee for the New York State Training and Technical Assistance Professional Credential
- Specifically focused on the creation of the Coach designation and the revisions of the Professional Development Specialist designation
- Former participant in the State Technical Assistant Workgroups for Practice Based Coaching and Strengthening Infant Toddler Practices and Policies
- Active workgroup member of the New York State Early Childhood Advisory Council for strategic plan area #7, the New York State Pyramid Model Implementation Leadership Committee, the NYS Career Ladder Revision Group and the NYS Network For Youth Success Credential Committee
- Oversight of the selection process of presenters for the NYAEYC Annual Conference
- Event manager for the Interest Driven Learning Framework Series, Core Body of Knowledge Series, New York State Trainer Institute and New York State Coaching Institute
- Cultivate and maintain partnerships and communication with key stakeholders and funders
- Researched possible grants and created proposals to submit along with grant applications.
- Cultivated relationships with community, business and local civic leaders in order to draw attention to [Type] institution and bring in new donors and volunteers.
- Created fundraising materials utilized on social media and websites and sent out in mass mailings.
- Managed budgets for all training activities, ensuring cost-effective delivery without sacrificing quality or impact.
- Coordinated training events and conferences, providing employees with opportunities to network and learn from industry experts.
- Championed a culture of continuous learning within the organization by promoting the importance of professional growth at all levels of staff hierarchy.
- Facilitated cross-functional collaboration in the development of multi-disciplinary training programs addressing company-wide objectives.
- Collaborated with other departments to align training programs with organizational goals and objectives.
- Organized and edited training manuals, multimedia visual aids, and other educational materials.
- Analyzed effectiveness of training programs at all levels and recommended updates.
- Consistently monitored industry trends and advancements to ensure professional development initiatives remained relevant and competitive in the marketplace.
- Developed strong relationships with clients and vendors, fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.
- Coordinated regular contract reviews to identify areas for improvement or renegotiation opportunities.
- Supported timely and complete billing by documenting milestones and submitting accurate invoicing paperwork.
- Managed, supervised and controlled execution of contracts ranging from $[Amount] to $[Amount].
- Facilitated communication between internal teams and external partners, ensuring seamless collaboration throughout the contracting process.
- Implemented project management techniques to overcome obstacles and increase team productivity.
- Implemented effective attendee feedback collection methods to continuously improve conference experiences.
- Selected appropriate venues based on event requirements, budget constraints, and location preferences.
- Assisted speakers in preparing presentations materials while ensuring adherence to time constraints.
- Evaluated post-conference data to identify areas of improvement and implement changes in subsequent events.
- Oversaw on-site staff during conferences, maintaining a high level of professionalism and responsiveness to attendee needs.
- Negotiated favorable contracts with vendors, resulting in cost savings and improved event quality.
- Provided exceptional customer service to conference attendees, addressing inquiries promptly and efficiently.
- Collaborated with marketing teams to promote conferences through various channels, increasing attendance rates and overall visibility.
- Managed budgets effectively to optimize resource allocation without compromising event standards.
- Streamlined registration processes for increased efficiency and reduced wait times for attendees.
- Coordinated seamless audio-visual setups, ensuring uninterrupted presentations and smooth transitions between speakers.
- Coordinated schedules and timelines for events.
- Managed event logistics and operations.
Program Associate
WBKEARNEY & Associates
01.2010 - 01.2011
- Developed and delivered program support and consulting services for school-age child care program development and implementation
- Assessed needs of individual programs through observations and data collection and created and presented specific training and provided professional development support
- Designed engaging materials and resources to support participant learning and growth throughout the After School Accreditation process.
Program Director
Greenbush Child Caring, Inc
01.2004 - 01.2010
- Hire and supervise a staff of 55 people providing care for school-age children in a before and after-school programs and summer day camp setting
- Lead trainer and coordinator of all agency wide professional development programs
- Mentor the development of quality programming with guidance from the National Accreditation Standards
- Successfully supervised three programs through the National AfterSchool Association Accreditation process
Registrar
Capital District Child Care Council
01.2001 - 01.2004
- Managed and conducted compliance, technical assistance and compliant inspections for caseload of 58 registered school-age child care programs and 18 registered family childcare programs
- Provided technical assistance to all registered and potential school-age childcare programs and ¼ of the family child care programs in Albany County to ensure understanding and compliance with NYS Regulations
- Developed and delivered a statewide workshop on understanding and implementing the NYS School-Age and Family Child Care Regulations
- Worked in collaboration with the School-Age and Family Child Care Education/Training Team to accomplish goals
Assistant Teacher/Floater
Bright Horizons Child Care
01.1996 - 01.1998
- Ensured a safe and supportive learning environment by enforcing classroom rules and addressing behavioral issues promptly.
- Worked with teachers to design lesson plans and coordinate activities for classes.
- Fostered positive and supportive classroom atmosphere, encouraging student participation and confidence.
- Participated in professional development workshops, staying abreast of best practices in education.
Education
Associates Degree - Individual Studies
Hudson Valley Community College
Troy, NY01.1998
Skills
- Data-driven decision-making
- Problem-solving abilities
- Professionalism
- Budget Management
Affiliations
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Personalprofessionalreferences
- Erin Broderick, Capacity Building Director, New York State Network for Youth Success, Troy, NY, (518) 577-0082, ebroderick@networkforyouthsuccess.org
- Diana Diaz, Director of New York Works For Children, New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute, Brooklyn, NY, (718) 254 7705, Diana.diaz@cuny.edu
- Rachel Wagner Sperry, MSW, National Trainer & Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist, The Devereux Early Childhood Initiative, 444 Devereux Drive, Villanova, PA, 19085, (610) 283-1627
- Louisa Higgins, Former Director of New York Works For Children, New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute, Brooklyn, NY, (415) 812-5043, louisahiggins@gmail.com
- Dana Benzo, Director of Elementary Programs, Rome City School District, Rome, NY, dbenzo@romecsd.org, (646) 823-3393
- Lynn Siebert, Executive Director of Child Care, Capital District YMCA, (518) 810-5465, lsiebert@cdymca.org
Awards
- New York State School-Age Care Credential, 2001
- Girl Scout Gold Award, 1993
- Girl Scout Silver Award, 1991
Volunteer Experience
- Girl Scout Leader, 20 Years
- Girl Scout Service Unit Manager, 2 years
- Church Street Preschool Board Member, 7 years
- President, Church Street Preschool Board, 6 years
- AfterSchool Works! New York School-Age Care Credential Committee Member, 20 years
- Council on Accreditation After School Endorser, 7 years
- Cub Scout Leader, Niverville Pack 2117, 1 year
Employmentreferences
- Kristen Kerr, Executive Director, New York Association for the Education of Young Children, 230 Washington Avenue Extension, Albany, NY, 12203, (518) 867-3517, (518) 222-6685, kkerr@nysaeyc.org
- Mary Mattern, Director of Community Based Programs, WBKEARNEY & Associates, 12755 Century Drive, Alpharetta, GA, 30009, (770) 500-6115, mary@wbkearney.com
- Kimberlee Berben, Executive Director, Greenbush Child Caring, Inc., 620 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush, NY, 12061, (518) 477-4125, kberben@gbccinc.org
- Abbe Kovacik, Executive Director, BrightSide Up, 91 Broadway, Menands, NY, 12204, 426-7181 X349, akovacik@brightsideup.org
Timeline
Professional Development Director
New York AEYC
01.2010 - Current
Program Associate
WBKEARNEY & Associates
01.2010 - 01.2011
Program Director
Greenbush Child Caring, Inc
01.2004 - 01.2010
Registrar
Capital District Child Care Council
01.2001 - 01.2004
Assistant Teacher/Floater
Bright Horizons Child Care
01.1996 - 01.1998
Associates Degree - Individual Studies
Hudson Valley Community College