GEANIA B. DICKEY

Passionate and results-driven professional dedicated to enhancing access to quality early care and education for all children. Proven ability to cultivate lasting relationships with partners and allies, driving the development of sustainable solutions through trust and collaborative decision-making. Skilled in evaluating internal and statewide systems, overseeing project operations, and creating impactful professional development programs for small teams, certificate programs, and statewide initiatives. Adept at identifying talents, leveraging strengths for organizational/team success, connecting initiatives, and nurturing individual growth within the organization.

Relationship Development and Partner Alignment

• Member of three Quality Improvement Systems design teams: Arkansas, Connecticut, and United Arab Emirates. Supported implementation in Arkansas and Ohio. Work included the development of a comprehensive communications plan, steering multiple outreach efforts, and contributed to ongoing evaluations of effectiveness. Tailored communications included Family Child Care, Faith-Based, and federally funded programs as target audiences.
• Co-facilitated the Arkansas Department of Human Services/Division of Children and Family Services; Racial Equity and Inclusion Action Team. One of five teams, part of a statewide project, in partnership with the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute. The Action Teams implemented workforce initiatives and used data to inform their work throughout the process.
• Conducted a needs assessment for a statewide NGO interested in better serving their stakeholders: the early care and education workforce. Designed and facilitated mixed methods of research including, but not limited to, a statewide assessment, one-on-one interviews with board members and staff, and regional focus groups. The findings and recommendations were provided to the board in a report.
• Facilitated the Family and Community Engagement Taskforce under Arkansas's state board of education and supported by the Arkansas Department of Education to develop the first set of state essential standards for family and community engagement as well as an accompanying interactive toolkit. The taskforce was a two-year process that emphasized inclusivity and promoted the active engagement of all stakeholders.

Facilitated Knowledge Sharing and Learning

• Routinely requested to create tailored professional development and facilitate learning across a wide variety of teams and topics. The settings range from single sessions, monthly roundtables, community convenings, and statewide conference coordination.
• Created, oversaw, and facilitated the Arkansas Children's Program Administrators Credential for the state of Arkansas. Partnered with other contractors to provide training modules for administrators, enabling more Credential pathway options for participants and eliminating any duplication of efforts with state resources.

Project Management (Data Analysis & Informed Decision Making)

• Coordinated the rollout of a state mandated, regional program, with a short implementation deadline, on behalf of A-State University. Legislation directed the establishment of local early childhood lead organizations. Charged with establishing a comprehensive, locally supported plan for providing early childhood programs and services.
• Designed and implemented multi-pronged strategies to reduce the turnover in three key customer-focused positions withing Arkansas Department of Human Services. Retention plans developed during my time there are still in use.
• Assisted a state with the rollout of a new T.E.A.C.H. scholarship program targeting the state's early care and education workforce. The assistance included review of applicants to ensure proportionate representation of the field using a variety of demographic standards. Using that information, recommendations provided for the modification of communications and recruitment efforts, resulting in a representative number of scholars.

Arkansas Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Advisory Committee (now known as the Excel by Eight (E8) Foundation 2013 – present

McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership Advisory Board 2015 – 2024

Arkansas Early Childhood Association Board Member 2001-2015, 2017 – 2022

Named one of nine, National Exchange Leaders, 2019

Named one of twenty, Arkansas Times’ Visionary Arkansans, 2013

Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, Friend of Children Award, 2013

• 904 Riverview Drive, Malvern, AR 72104
• Cell phone: 501-749-2413
• geaniadickey@dot2dotconsult.com