Mihaela Schwartz Ph.D.
Educational Leader
Philadelphia,PA
Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.
Steve Jobs
Summary
Early childhood and elementary accomplished director recognized for leveraging strong team leadership and development to drive progress—over 30 years of successful experience in teaching and administration. Strengths in preschool and elementary programs, focused on promoting the mission and increasing the effectiveness of critical programs. Passionate about managing and overseeing the implementation of the school's daily operations. Recognized for successfully collaborating with management to develop work plans, financials, and strategies. Highly organized, detail-oriented leader skilled in directing high-performing teams to build solutions and solve operational and technical problems.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
5
5
Certificate
4
4
Languages
Work History
Director of Early Childhood Education
School For Early Childhood MLRT
06.2021 - Current
- Monitored and evaluated educational programs to maintain high-quality performance objectives and standards and promote inclusive classroom settings by increasing the neurodiverse student population to 25%.
- Administered personnel policies and procedures, including conception, modification, and approval of professional staff additions for 50 staff.
- Oversaw the operational side of the school to generate a budget of $2.5 million annually.
- Collaborated on strategies to welcome and integrate families with children who possess an IEP by enhancing student learning and behavior alongside parents and teaching staff in three phases: the beginning-of-the-year IEP meeting; monthly check-ins with teaching teams, families with students with IEPs, and administration; and Descriptive Reviews (progress reports) of children with IEPs during the fall and late spring.
- Oversaw administrative functions such as schedule management and protocols for orientation, registration, and related activities to increase enrollment by 35%. .
- Built intentional relationships with parents and students through active participation and supported the work of the Home School Association chairs to annually organize 45 events to strengthen the school community and parents' involvement in the school's activities.
- Developed team communications, monthly PNL, performance reports and information for monthly team meetings for 42 members of the MLRT board.
- Performed daily classroom evaluations to assess teacher strategies and effectiveness and trained teachers on effective teaching techniques, classroom management strategies, and behavior modification to accommodate a broader range of young learners.
- Observed 38 classroom teachers and students weekly to gather data and improve instruction.
- Interviewed, hired, supervised, and assisted school employees and provided feedback through positive methods daily and twice per year during teachers' clinical supervision cycles.
- Established early education center accreditation through OCDEL, DHS, NAEYC, and KeyStone Stars.
Director of Early Childhood Education
Bala Cynwyd School For Young Children
07.2018 - 06.2021
- Directed day-to-day operations of the education program with 250 students and supervised support to 54 staff to delegate assignments and evaluate performance.
- Facilitated development of program structure within classrooms to formulate and implement individualized student goals for 25% of the student population.
- Drove operational improvements, which resulted in savings and improved profit margins during the COVID-19 pandemic, and maintained the site operational throughout the world and national health crisis.
- Upheld sound financial principles to keep the program operating within budget levels, maximizing resource utilization while minimizing costs and painting all four buildings and 26 classrooms at total capacity.
- Reestablished the school's success towards the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and received the Cadence Education National Award—$2 mil. Budget.
- Planned and implemented quarterly staff development and in-service training programs to enhance knowledge and skills and introduce new topics related to serving a broader range of young learners.
- Reached out to vendors to evaluate available curriculums and associated materials.
- Designed, implemented, and managed successful training programs to meet department and school needs.
Director of Early Childhood Education
YLEARNS
07.2016 - 06.2018
- Oversaw the operational and funded budget for the school - annual revenue $1.5 mil.
- Developed and implemented 5 new after school programs within organizational policies, and reported major activities to administrators through conferences and reports.
- Managed and coached 34 teachers by leading data analysis cycles, observing instruction, providing feedback, and co-planning units of study and lesson plans.
- Led teachers, tutors, enrichment coordinators, and support staff to collectively deliver gap-closing, personalized instruction to students.
- Modeled expected and appropriate leadership to promote teaching staff and administrative personnel's positive interaction with students and families.
- Maintained accurate and complete records for 150 students.
- Assisted teachers with individual student programs, teaching strategies, IEP development, effective methods of data collection and assessment.
- Reviewed and evaluated teacher and student documentation to include data collection, lesson plans and IEP's.
- Assisted teachers with material requisitions.
- Met with students, parents and administrators to address and resolve students' behavioral and academic issues.
- Served as in-service representative for staff development.
- Special Education Advisor for other NY city based YLEARNS settings.
Team Leader Early Intervention Teacher
Kids Centric
07.2014 - 06.2016
- Collaborated with school administrators, parents, and teachers in designing and implementing individualized education plans (IEPs)for students.
- Conducted training and mentored team members - administrators and teaching staff on SEL and PBIs.
- Delivered compelling and differentiated classroom instruction to a range of neurodiverse students - 10 annually.
- We have partnered with standard education teachers from across academic departments.
- Assessed student achievement through data analysis and maintained appropriate documentation for school-based and individual reporting purposes.
Education
Ph.D. - Education
10.2009
Ph.D. - Educational, Instructional, And Curriculum Supervision
02.2025
Master of Science - Leadership in Early Childhood Education
05.2017
Extension For Special Education NY Certification - Early Childhood Special Education
06.2016
Relevant Courseworks:
- The Education of Young Children - Principles and Methods
- Patterns of Parenting and Child Care in Relation to Early Intervention and Education
Master of Science - Childhood & Early Childhood Education
05.2011
Thesis/Publication:
Using the contextual model of learning in a museum program to prepare for student visitors with autism spectrum disorder (https://educate.bankstreet.edu/independent-studies/140/).
Abstract:
This study represents the findings from the evaluation of two distinct programs developed around the needs of children with autism and their families. Both programs were developed to provide accessible, sensory-rich, project-based learning experiences, where families with children on the autism spectrum can learn together while pursuing the children's social nd behavioral goals and the health of the community overall.
Skills
- Education proficiency
- Standards of Excellence
- Program Development and Management
- Instructional Leadership
- Group Facilitation and Presentations
- Educational Staff Supervision
- Team Leadership
- Student Achievement
- School Administration
- Neurodiverse Students
- Faculty Collaboration
- Curriculum Development
- Individualized support
Accomplishments
- Cadence Education School of the Year Award 2019 & 2020.
- Awarded three OCDEL PA grants - $150.000 - to help with staff retention and program quality.
- Dynamic, caring professional with more that 30 years in education to include preschool and elementary teaching and administrative experience.
- Expertise in ESE needs assessment, behavior management progress and program evaluations.
- Skilled in evaluation and assessment measures as they apply to both students and staff.
- Superior communication, interpersonal, teaching, administrative and leadership skills. Excel in both independent and team environments.
- Proficient in numerous computer programs and software to include Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Photoshop, KidReports, Procare, Google Classroom (to include multiple platforms that enabled distance learning), and Publisher.
Timeline
Director of Early Childhood Education - School For Early Childhood MLRT
06.2021 - Current
Director of Early Childhood Education - Bala Cynwyd School For Young Children
07.2018 - 06.2021
Director of Early Childhood Education - YLEARNS
07.2016 - 06.2018
Team Leader Early Intervention Teacher - Kids Centric
07.2014 - 06.2016
Babes Bolyai University - Ph.D., Education
Liberty University - Ph.D., Educational, Instructional, And Curriculum Supervision
Bank Street College of Education - Master of Science, Leadership in Early Childhood Education
Touro College - Extension For Special Education NY Certification, Early Childhood Special Education
Bank Street College of Education - Master of Science, Childhood & Early Childhood Education
Certification
Certified
- Principal I Professional Certificate, PreK-12, PA
- Principal I Professional Certificate, PreK-12, NY
- Teacher Professional Certificate PreK-4, PA
- Special Education Teacher Professional Certificate PreK-4, NY
Affiliations
- ECE-RJ - Vice President of Learning and Board Member
- NAEYC
- PAESSP
Languages
Romanian
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Limited Working
French
Professional Working
Italian
Professional Working
Additional Information
Early childhood and elementary accomplished director recognized for leveraging strong team leadership and development to drive progress—over 30 years of successful experience in teaching and administration. Strengths in preschool and elementary programs, focused on promoting the mission and increasing the effectiveness of critical programs. Passionate about managing and overseeing the implementation of the school's daily operations. Recognized for successfully collaborating with management to develop work plans, financials, and strategies. Highly organized, detail-oriented leader skilled in directing high-performing teams to build solutions and solve operational and technical problems.