Denise C. Mitchell
College Park,MD
Summary
Early Childhood Education Leader with close to 20 years of successful experience. Responsible for overseeing multiple facilities at a time, reviewing all areas from recruiting, enrollment, safety policies, budgeting, marketing and compliance. Strong ability to collaborate with employees to create an enjoyable work environment and a safe and effective learning experience. Excel at implementing and directing curriculum programs.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Constituent Services
Prince George's County Government
12.2022 - Current
- Implemented stakeholder engagement strategies to enhance community relationships and address constituent needs effectively.
- Streamlined resource allocation processes to optimize service delivery and improve response times for constituents.
- Led strategic planning initiatives to align departmental goals with community service objectives and enhance overall effectiveness.
- Conducted performance evaluations to assess staff contributions and identify areas for professional development and training.
- Ensured compliance with local, state, and federal regulations to maintain transparency and accountability in constituent services.
- Analyzed constituent feedback to identify trends and implement process improvements for enhanced service delivery.
- Facilitated community forums to gather feedback and foster collaboration between government officials and residents.
- Coordinated cross-departmental initiatives to address complex constituent issues and improve inter-agency collaboration.
- Managed crisis response efforts, providing timely information and resources to constituents during emergencies.
- Developed outreach programs to educate the community about available services and resources to improve engagement.
- Monitored service delivery metrics to evaluate program effectiveness and inform policy recommendations for improvement.
- Actively participated in community meetings and events to strengthen relationships and promote government services.
- Enhanced team collaboration through regular communication, goal setting, and performance evaluations.
- Utilized data analytics to assess the impact of services on community needs and adjust strategies accordingly.
- Established a culture of continuous improvement by fostering open communication channels and empowering employees to voice their ideas.
Area Manager
AlphaBEST Education, INC.
07.2014 - 02.2018
- Operated eight Before and After Care programs, delivering quality care and curriculum. Managed state licensing regulations and stakeholder satisfaction, optimizing all resources provided to create a positive learning experience. Improved customer service and program quality by instituting a Principal Roundtable to encourage collaboration amongst employees. Established Parent and Community Service marketing activities. Performed site visits and actively recruited talent from diverse backgrounds, overseeing onboarding to staff development, minimizing turnover.
- Achieved Level 1 status for all 20 of Montgomery and Prince George’s County sites through Maryland Excels.
- Increased enrollment in all sites by 3% in 2017.
- Inaugurated a total of 9 brand new sites between Montgomery and Prince George’s County from 2015-2018 with full compliance and licensing.
Chief Operations Officer
EEM&J Child Care Solutions-Part Time Child Care Consulting Firm
09.2009 - 11.2015
- Direct recruiting efforts, onboarding and training of new staff according to OSSE and MSDE requirements. Assist clients with preparation of their annual renewal packets, including the Emergency Preparedness Handbook and Operations manual, submitting to NAEYC, OSSE, and MSDE. Conduct pre-licensing facility inspections on the space, curriculum and staff files.
- Aided clients with the development of marketing analysis, specific to the demographics of each facility.
- Contributed to the signature of contracts, most recently, CLASS Reviewer for Apple Tree Institute and Head Start Reviewer.
Child Care Division Director
Family and Child Services
06.2005 - 08.2009
- Initiated protocols for location visits to increase program quality, adding quality assurance components to operations. Organized the COA Renewal Accreditation Process as part of the Internal Quality Improvement and Personnel Committees. Ensured that directors were held accountable for meeting operational objectives, implementing the operating policies and procedures and conducted ongoing training, as well as director orientation. Appointed to the Strategic Planning Committee to develop agency plans between 2009-2013. Collaborated with the Grants department to write proposals and effectively increase funding for the unit.
- Awarded Chief Executive Officer’s Unit of the Year recognition, in Family and Child Services.
- Cultivated retention and marketing plans to increase enrollment and create a better learning environment.
KinderCare Center Director
Knowledge Universe
07.2003 - 01.2005
- Managed day to day operations including health, safety, staff and child supervision. Ensured program activities reflected developmentally appropriate practices, including the implementation of a Creative Curriculum that was physically and emotionally safe for all children. Oversaw fiscal controls of the facility, from annual budgets to preparing monthly financial reports. Strengthened community stakeholder collaboration through events and serving on community boards and committees.
- Established positive communication and partnership between families of staff and students, effectively reporting school policies, events, concerns and strategies related to health and safety.
Education
M.A. - Early Childhood Education
University of District Columbia
Washington, D.C.B.S. - Public Health Administration
University of New Jersey-Rutgers
New Brunswick, New JerseySkills
- Employee development
- Licensing Adherence
- Increasing Enrollment
- Developing Marketing Programs
- Conducting Purposeful Site Visits
- Recruiting and Onboarding
- Budget Management
- Safety and Security Audits
- Quality Assurance
- Curriculum Implementation
- Decision-making
Accomplishments
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets.
- Supervised team of 150 staff members.
- Achieved 100 compliance by completing required tasks with accuracy and efficiency.
Timeline
Director of Constituent Services
Prince George's County Government
12.2022 - Current
Area Manager
AlphaBEST Education, INC.
07.2014 - 02.2018
Chief Operations Officer
EEM&J Child Care Solutions-Part Time Child Care Consulting Firm
09.2009 - 11.2015
Child Care Division Director
Family and Child Services
06.2005 - 08.2009
KinderCare Center Director
Knowledge Universe
07.2003 - 01.2005
M.A. - Early Childhood Education
University of District Columbia
B.S. - Public Health Administration
University of New Jersey-Rutgers
Additional Experience
Regional Director for Childcare Services, Associates for Renewal in Education, Washington D.C.