Heather Tennison
Tyler,TX
Summary
Early childhood education and administrative professional with 13+ years of experience supporting classroom instruction, center operations, and higher-education laboratory school environment at the Family Learning Center of Tyler (Tyler Junior College). Knowledgeable in licensing and accreditation compliance, ProCare software, tuition processing, staff and student support, and family communication. Holds a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Director’s Credentials. Recognized for strong organizational skills, professionalism, and a student- and family-centered approach that supports leadership and high-quality program standards.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Administrative Assistant
Tyler Junior College – Family Learning Center of Tyler
11.2023 - Current
- Support daily center operations by maintaining a professional office environment and serving as a primary point of contact for parents, staff, students, and visitors via phone, email, and in-person communication; monitor building access and visitor compliance.
- Maintain comprehensive center records, including individual child files, staff and child attendance, parent and staff communications, center forms, and staff training documentation, ensuring continuous compliance with Child Care Regulations and National Accreditation standards.
- Manage and maintain all data within the ProCare system, including posting weekly and monthly tuition, monitoring daily clock-in/clock-out activity, managing fingerprint registrations and keyless entry access, and maintaining enrollment records for children, families, staff, PAVE participants, and TJC CDEC students.
- Collaborate with the Assistant Director to write, publish, and distribute the monthly center newsletter, Tidbits, supporting consistent family communication and stakeholder engagement.
- Support and assist with accreditation readiness by maintaining required documentation and assisting with ongoing compliance for National Accreditation Council (NAC) and Association for Early Learning Leaders (AELL) accreditation processes.
- Generate and distribute operational and compliance reports, including weekly and monthly staff timesheets, parent account statements, and observation-hour reports for Child Development/Early Childhood (CDEC) department faculty.
- Assist with financial operations by overseeing tuition and fee collection, preparing and distributing parent account statements, and ensuring timely delivery of end-of-year tax documentation to families.
- Serve as Designated Person in Charge in the absence of the Center Director, ensuring continuity of operations, staff support, and regulatory compliance.
- Provide direct operational support to classroom staff, including brief coverage as needed, assistance with challenging child situations, preparation of classroom materials, and coordination of center resources.
- Assist with child guidance and discipline practices and communicate professionally with parents regarding illness, injury, or behavioral concerns.
- Record, prepare, and submit official minutes for biannual CDEC Advisory Committee meetings and transmit documentation to the Dean’s Office.
- Assist with meal planning, preparation, and service; support oversight of facility maintenance, safety, and cleanliness.
- Assist with planning, coordinating, and overseeing Family Learning Center events and promote the center within the community.
- Support supervision and coordination of Tyler Junior College student observers, including submission and tracking of background checks for student observers, staff, work-study participants, and Co-Op students.
Preschool Teacher
Tyler Junior College – Family Learning Center of Tyler
08.2012 - 11.2023
- Planned and implemented developmentally appropriate curriculum for children ages 18 months through four years, completing detailed weekly lesson plans for assigned classroom.
- Maintained comprehensive developmental records, portfolios, case notes, and reports to accurately document each child’s progress and individual needs.
- Designed and prepared classroom environments that reflected cultural diversity and supported inclusive learning experiences.
- Demonstrated respect for cultural differences in interactions with coworkers, college students, families, and children.
- Maintained classroom organization, appearance, décor, and learning environments in accordance with Center standards and professional dress guidelines.
- Built and maintained positive, professional relationships with college staff, students, parents, and children.
- Modeled best practices and developmentally appropriate teaching strategies to support college students completing observation and field experience requirements in the laboratory school setting.
- Maintained and enhanced professional knowledge and skills through participation in workshops, coursework, and professional organizations related to early childhood education.
- Adhered to College and Center attendance policies and performed additional duties as assigned.
Head Cashier
Levines Department Store
08.2007 - 04.2011
- Managed all front-end checkout operations, ensuring efficient customer flow, accurate transactions, and a positive shopping experience.
- Supervised, trained, and coached cashiers on customer service standards, register procedures, and loss-prevention practices.
- Oversaw daily cash handling, including opening and closing registers, balancing and reconciling tills, maintaining adequate change funds, and preparing deposits.
- Served as the primary point of contact for complex customer issues, including returns, exchanges, complaints, and escalated inquiries.
- Ensured operational efficiency by maintaining a clean, organized checkout area and resolving price checks, voids, coupon issues, and gift card transactions.
- Generated daily sales reports and financial summaries to support management review and decision-making.
- Acted as the on-duty lead in the absence of store management, ensuring adherence to company policies, security procedures, and asset-protection standards.
- Assisted with additional store operations, including stocking, promotional displays, and troubleshooting register or equipment issues.
Education
Master of Science - Early Childhood Education
University of North Texas
Denton, TX12-2024
BAAS - Business Occupations
University of Texas At Tyler
Tyler, TX04-2023
Associate of Applied Science - Child Development/Early Childhood
Tyler Junior College
Tyler12-2016
Skills
- Early Childhood Education & Child Development
- Licensing & Accreditation Compliance (DFPS, NAC)
- Center Operations & Administrative Support
- ProCare Software (billing, attendance, enrollment, reporting)
- Tuition Processing & Financial Tracking
- Parent & Family Communication
- Staff & Student Mentorship
- Records Management & Data Confidentiality
- Meeting Coordination & Documentation
- Microsoft Word, Excel & PowerPoint
- Customer Service & Professional Communication
Timeline
Administrative Assistant
Tyler Junior College – Family Learning Center of Tyler
11.2023 - Current
Preschool Teacher
Tyler Junior College – Family Learning Center of Tyler
08.2012 - 11.2023
Head Cashier
Levines Department Store
08.2007 - 04.2011
Master of Science - Early Childhood Education
University of North Texas
BAAS - Business Occupations
University of Texas At Tyler
Associate of Applied Science - Child Development/Early Childhood
Tyler Junior College
Certificates and Credentials
Director’s Credentials
Administrator’s Credentials
CPR and First Aid Certified
Certificates of Proficiency:
Infant and Toddler Caregiver
Preschool Teaching
Early Childhood Education