Courtney Riley
Rincon,GA
Summary
Creative and enthusiastic preschool teacher with experience teaching special needs, learning-different and general-population students within a state-accredited and regionally quality 3 stars-rated preschool. Passionate about early childhood education; adore working with preschoolers; and deeply committed to providing quality, learner-centered instruction optimizing student success.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Lead Teacher and Executive Director
Allegiance Learning Center
Port Wentworth, GA
06.2022 - Current
Preschool Teacher Leader
The Children's House
Savannah, GA
05.2019 - 06.2022
- Provided individual support to students requiring additional assistance with classroom activities.
- Guided children in developing basic reading and writing skills.
- Sourced and prepared materials for arts, crafts, and other hands-on learning activities.
- Participated in professional development workshops to stay updated on educational trends.
- Implemented daily activities that supported children's emotional, social, and intellectual development.
- Developed age-appropriate lesson plans that encouraged creativity and learning.
- Conducted assessments to evaluate student learning and development regularly.
- Facilitated group activities that promoted teamwork and social skills among students.
- Adapted teaching strategies to meet the diverse needs of students.
- Monitored children's progress and communicated effectively with parents during regular meetings.
- Utilized interactive teaching methods to engage students in the learning process.
- Leveraged technology in the classroom to enhance teaching methods and student engagement.
- Implemented health and safety protocols to ensure a clean and safe classroom environment.
- Collaborated with colleagues to develop and implement interdisciplinary lessons.
- Cultivated strong relationships with families to support children's growth outside of school.
- Maintained accurate records of student attendance, progress, and developmental milestones.
- Attended educational conferences, trainings, workshops and courses to maintain and enhance professional knowledge.
- Changed children's clothes and tended to injuries, illnesses and toileting needs.
- Planned programs and prepared activities for preschoolers.
- Observed and redirected behavior using positive reinforcement techniques.
- Led, supervised and supported children during classroom activities.
- Provided learning readiness experiences in various key areas.
- Monitored, organized and reordered classroom supplies for continual availability.
- Incorporated nature-based learning experiences and outdoor exploration to foster deeper connection with environment and enhance children's understanding of natural world.
- Evaluated student achievement and growth using assessments.
- Utilized mindfulness and yoga techniques to teach young children relaxation and self-regulation skills.
- Maintained student progress records with regular updates.
- Participated in staff meetings to receive updates and contribute to discussion.
- Established and maintained student behavior standards by explaining and enforcing rules.
- Conducted parent-teacher conferences to discuss children's school adjustment, academic progress and classroom behavior.
- Helped children integrate into school environment by establishing boundaries while maintaining welcoming atmosphere.
- Observed children's performance, providing personalized written feedback.
- Discussed children's progress in routine and additional parent-teacher meetings.
- Worked closely with struggling students to improve focus, eating habits and personal hygiene.
- Identified children displaying signs of emotional, developmental or health-related problems, notifying parents and recommending further support.
- Kept required amount of classroom supplies and lesson resources.
- Organized classroom spaces to meet various needs throughout school day.
- Managed behavioral issues with use of positive reinforcement strategies.
- Led art, music and storytelling activities to cater to interests of all students.
- Designed and collated materials as part of lesson planning.
- Taught students foundational skills in reading and math to reach expected level.
- Offered various resources for children to explore imaginative and academic ideas.
- Supported students emotionally, socially, and academically with one-on-one care.
- Inspired children to be good students and citizens by modeling and rewarding positive behavior.
- Displayed student work around classroom to instill pride.
- Established and maintained reliable routine to minimize poor behavior and anxieties.
- Supervised recess and monitored cafeteria, intervening to provide support or mediate disagreements.
- Promoted good nutrition for every student by preparing and serving healthy meals and snacks.
- Adapted teaching methods to meet needs of individual students and provide personalized support.
- Encouraged positive behavior through the implementation of classroom management techniques.
- Developed and implemented daily lesson plans to meet student needs.
- Spearheaded initiatives aimed at improving curriculum quality and teaching effectiveness.
Preschool teacher
Maggie's Morning School
Savannah, GA
08.2008 - 05.2019
- Organize and lead activities designed to promote physical, mental and social development, such as games, arts and crafts, music, storytelling, and field trips.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior, and procedures for maintaining order.
- Teach basic skills such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.
- Read books to entire classes or to small groups.
- Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
- Teach proper eating habits and personal hygiene.
- Identify children showing signs of emotional, developmental, or health-related problems, and discuss them with supervisors, parents or guardians, and child development specialists.
- Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and needs, determine their priorities for their children, and suggest ways that they can promote learning and development.
- Arrange indoor and outdoor space to facilitate creative play, motor-skill activities, and safety.
- Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.
- Organize and label materials, and display students' work in a manner appropriate for their ages and perceptual skills.
- Demonstrate activities to children.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Observed and redirected behavior using positive reinforcement techniques.
- Planned programs and prepared activities for preschoolers.
- Developed and implemented daily lesson plans to meet student needs.
- Monitored, organized and reordered classroom supplies for continual availability.
- Attended educational conferences, trainings, workshops and courses to maintain and enhance professional knowledge.
- Provided learning readiness experiences in various key areas.
- Changed children's clothes and tended to injuries, illnesses and toileting needs.
- Participated in staff meetings to receive updates and contribute to discussion.
- Evaluated student achievement and growth using assessments.
- Incorporated nature-based learning experiences and outdoor exploration to foster deeper connection with environment and enhance children's understanding of natural world.
- Led, supervised and supported children during classroom activities.
- Utilized mindfulness and yoga techniques to teach young children relaxation and self-regulation skills.
- Established and maintained student behavior standards by explaining and enforcing rules.
- Conducted parent-teacher conferences to discuss children's school adjustment, academic progress and classroom behavior.
- Maintained student progress records with regular updates.
- Cultivated strong relationships with families to support children's growth outside of school.
- Organized field trips and educational outings that complemented classroom learning.
- Conducted assessments to evaluate student learning and development regularly.
- Implemented health and safety protocols to ensure a clean and safe classroom environment.
- Encouraged positive behavior through the implementation of classroom management techniques.
- Leveraged technology in the classroom to enhance teaching methods and student engagement.
- Sourced and prepared materials for arts, crafts, and other hands-on learning activities.
- Utilized interactive teaching methods to engage students in the learning process.
- Facilitated group activities that promoted teamwork and social skills among students.
- Monitored children's progress and communicated effectively with parents during regular meetings.
- Adapted teaching strategies to meet the diverse needs of students.
- Participated in professional development workshops to stay updated on educational trends.
- Guided children in developing basic reading and writing skills.
- Spearheaded initiatives aimed at improving curriculum quality and teaching effectiveness.
- Collaborated with colleagues to develop and implement interdisciplinary lessons.
- Provided individual support to students requiring additional assistance with classroom activities.
- Developed age-appropriate lesson plans that encouraged creativity and learning.
- Led art, music and storytelling activities to cater to interests of all students.
- Adapted teaching methods to meet needs of individual students and provide personalized support.
- Managed behavioral issues with use of positive reinforcement strategies.
- Promoted good nutrition for every student by preparing and serving healthy meals and snacks.
- Supervised recess and monitored cafeteria, intervening to provide support or mediate disagreements.
- Established and maintained reliable routine to minimize poor behavior and anxieties.
- Designed and collated materials as part of lesson planning.
- Incorporated wide range of activities and field trip opportunities to broaden horizons of each child.
- Helped children integrate into school environment by establishing boundaries while maintaining welcoming atmosphere.
- Inspired children to be good students and citizens by modeling and rewarding positive behavior.
- Worked closely with struggling students to improve focus, eating habits and personal hygiene.
- Taught students foundational skills in reading and math to reach expected level.
- Organized classroom spaces to meet various needs throughout school day.
- Supported students emotionally, socially, and academically with one-on-one care.
- Observed children's performance, providing personalized written feedback.
- Discussed children's progress in routine and additional parent-teacher meetings.
- Kept required amount of classroom supplies and lesson resources.
- Offered various resources for children to explore imaginative and academic ideas.
- Displayed student work around classroom to instill pride.
- Identified children displaying signs of emotional, developmental or health-related problems, notifying parents and recommending further support.
- Implemented daily activities that supported children's emotional, social, and intellectual development.
- Maintained accurate records of student attendance, progress, and developmental milestones.
Customer service associate
Dillard's
Savannah, GA
05.2005 - 08.2008
- Answer telephones to provide information and receive orders.
- Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers.
- Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.
- Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices.
- Place special orders or call other stores to find desired items.
- Open and close cash registers, performing tasks such as counting money, separating charge slips, coupons, and vouchers, balancing cash drawers, and making deposits.
- Inventory stock and requisition new stock.
- Ticket, arrange and display merchandise to promote sales.
- Exchange merchandise for customers and accept returns.
- Bag or package purchases, and wrap gifts.
- Clean shelves, counters, and tables.
- Help customers try on or fit merchandise.
- Compute sales prices, total purchases and receive and process cash or credit payment.
- Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.
- Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.
- Receive payment by cash, check, credit cards, vouchers, or automatic debits.
- Issue receipts, refunds, credits, or change due to customers.
- Count money and audit money drawers.
- Accept credit applications and verify credit references to provide check-cashing authorization or to establish house credit accounts.
Sales associate/cashier
Citi Trends
Savannah, GA
11.2002 - 02.2005
- Answer telephones and give information to callers, take messages, or transfer calls to appropriate individuals.
- Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers.
- Compute sales prices, total purchases and receive and process cash or credit payment.
- Prepare sales slips or sales contracts.
- Help customers try on or fit merchandise.
- Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices.
- Maintain records related to sales.
- Place special orders or call other stores to find desired items.
- Open and close cash registers, performing tasks such as counting money, separating charge slips, coupons, and vouchers, balancing cash drawers, and making deposits.
- Watch for and recognize security risks and thefts, and know how to prevent or handle these situations.
- Inventory stock and requisition new stock.
- Ticket, arrange and display merchandise to promote sales.
- Bag or package purchases, and wrap gifts.
- Exchange merchandise for customers and accept returns.
- Clean shelves, counters, and tables.
Preschool teacher
Maggie's Morning School
Savannah, GA
06.1999 - 06.2002
- Teach basic skills such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.
- Read books to entire classes or to small groups.
- Attend to children's basic needs by feeding them, dressing them, and changing their diapers.
- Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
- Assimilate arriving children to the school environment by greeting them, helping them remove outerwear, and selecting activities of interest to them.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Identify children showing signs of emotional, developmental, or health-related problems, and discuss them with supervisors, parents or guardians, and child development specialists.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to children.
- Demonstrate activities to children.
Education
High School Diploma -
Sol C. Johnson High School
Savannah, GASome College - Early Childhood Education
Savannah Technical College
Savannah, GASkills
- Speaking
- Learning Strategies
- Education and Training
- Coordination
- Social Perceptiveness
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Customer and Personal Service
- Reading Comprehension
- Time Management
- Active Learning
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Instructing
- English Language
- Complex Problem Solving
- Clerical
- Mathematics
- Sales and Marketing
- Fine Arts
- Science
- Biology
- Safety procedures
- Inquiry-based learning
- Time management abilities
- Classroom technology implementation
- Teamwork
- Core curriculum and standards
- Multicultural education
- Manage classrooms
- Student support
- Student assessment
- Decision-making
- Active listening
- Verbal and written communication
- Professional demeanor
- Task prioritization
- Interpersonal and social skills
- Problem-solving abilities
- Child development
- Student motivation and engagement
- Social Media Education
- Plan lessons
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Cognitive Learning
- Literacy strategies
- Cognitive and behavioral development
- Time management
- Project-based learning
- Lesson planning
- Documentation and reporting
- Self motivation
- Positive learning environment
- Written communication
- Parent communication
- Peer mediation
- Special needs students
- Adaptability
- Effective listening
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Cooperative learning
- Organizational skills
- Reliability
- Classroom safety practices
- Outdoor education
- Multitasking capacity
- Multitasking Abilities
- Analytical thinking
Certification
- I have multiple certifications in early childhood development course. From Bright from the Start.
- I'm also certified in first aid CPR and first aid. Also healthy and safety.
Timeline
Lead Teacher and Executive Director
Allegiance Learning Center
06.2022 - Current
Preschool Teacher Leader
The Children's House
05.2019 - 06.2022
Preschool teacher
Maggie's Morning School
08.2008 - 05.2019
Customer service associate
Dillard's
05.2005 - 08.2008
Sales associate/cashier
Citi Trends
11.2002 - 02.2005
Preschool teacher
Maggie's Morning School
06.1999 - 06.2002
High School Diploma -
Sol C. Johnson High School
Some College - Early Childhood Education
Savannah Technical College