- Music
- Photography
- Participate in local theater productions, enhancing my public speaking and teamwork skills
- Youth mentor, providing guidance and support to empower the next generation of leaders
- Animal Care
Heidi Uptegrove
Summary
Professional educator with significant experience in early childhood education. Skilled in curriculum development, classroom management, and fostering nurturing learning environment. Strong collaborator and adaptable team player, focused on achieving educational goals. Known for patience, creativity, and effective communication with children and parents.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Preschool Educator
Smithville School District
08.2021 - Current
- Provided constructive feedback on student work while maintaining a positive environment that encouraged self-reflection and growth.
- Utilized diverse teaching methods to accommodate different learning styles, ensuring each child received personalized attention.
- Incorporated sensory materials and creative play opportunities to foster fine motor skill development in preschoolers.
- Supported children''s cognitive growth with hands-on learning experiences and problem-solving tasks.
- Established positive relationships with parents through regular communication, fostering a supportive learning environment at home and school.
- Fostered a love of art and creativity within students by integrating arts-based activities into daily lessons.
- Coordinated with support staff such as speech therapists or occupational therapists when needed to provide comprehensive care for students requiring additional services.
- Continuously updated personal knowledge of early childhood education best practices through professional development courses and workshops.
- Developed weekly lesson plans and activities to engage children and promote learning.
- Enhanced preschoolers' social and emotional development by implementing engaging activities and group interactions.
Director
A Step Above Learning Center
01.2011 - 08.2021
- Collaborated with other early childhood professionals to stay current on best practices in the field of early education.
- Developed strong relationships with families, fostering open communication and collaboration for children''s success.
- Managed staff recruitment, hiring, training, and retention to maintain a team of highly qualified educators.
- Mentored new hires guiding them towards seamless integration within the existing team to ensure a united front in achieving program goals.
- Delivered technical assistance and validated programmatic data for state and federal reporting.
- Coordinated and facilitated development of cooperative efforts between schools and other community agencies in serving students.
- Enhanced program quality by implementing research-based early childhood education practices and curriculum.
- Created a safe, nurturing environment that promoted the social-emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development of each child.
- Navigator between regulatory agencies' requirements ensuring accurate documentation submission including health department inspections.
- Increased enrollment numbers by developing effective marketing strategies and community outreach efforts.
- Developed annual budgets, managed financial records, and secured funding through fundraising events.
- Organized family engagement events to build trust between the program staff and parents or guardians of enrolled children.
- Implemented ongoing professional development opportunities for staff members to foster continuous growth and improvement.
- Conducted regular staff meetings promoting transparency fostering open exchange discussing ongoing feedback/suggestions for improvements.
- Evaluated program effectiveness using data-driven assessments, making adjustments as needed to meet goals and objectives.
- Streamlined administrative processes to improve overall efficiency in day-to-day operations.
- Managed program paperwork and child records to comply with state requirements.
- Resolved conflicts and administered corrective action to foster positive experience for children and staff.
- Modernized instructional plans and educational approaches to enhance student learning.
- Planned and monitored curriculum and program activities and liaised with teachers to create fun and engaging learning experiences.
- Oversaw safety requirements, inspection, and certification procedures to facilitate annual licensing review.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Lee University
Cleveland, TN05-2001
Skills
- Child development expertise
- Lesson implementation
- Creative lesson planning
- Strong work ethic and dependable
- Multitasking Abilities
- Organizational and planning skills
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Collaborative and Team-oriented
- Problem-solving abilities
- Excellent classroom management
- Social-emotional learning
Interests
Timeline
Preschool Educator
Smithville School District
08.2021 - Current
Director
A Step Above Learning Center
01.2011 - 08.2021
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Lee University
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