Jody Dickter
West Hempstead
Summary
Collaborative leader and problem-solver with strong organizational skills and ability to thrive under pressure. Known for attention to detail and excellent communication abilities. Eager to tackle new challenges and actively seeking opportunities to make a meaningful impact.
Experienced with curriculum development, staff training, and program management. Utilizes collaborative leadership style to enhance team performance and drive educational success. Track record of creating nurturing and stimulating environments that support child development.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Early Childhood Program Director
Commonpoint
07.2021 - Current
- Established clear expectations for staff behavior while fostering a supportive work environment conducive to open communication between colleagues.
- Maintained accurate documentation surrounding licensing requirements ensuring all necessary paperwork is up-to-date regularly without fail. Ensured compliance with state regulations by maintaining thorough records of staff qualifications, classroom ratios, and safety protocols.
- Stayed current on guidelines to maintain compliant program operations.
- Observed and assessed classroom activities to verify conformity with quality standards.
- Enhanced operational workflows by maintaining well-organized documentation systems and updating records accurately as needed.
- Gathered and organized materials to support operations.
- Managed vendor relationships to secure best quality of services and products.
- Hired, managed, developed and trained staff, established and monitored goals, conducted performance reviews and administered salaries for staff.
- Provided ongoing professional development opportunities tailored to individual teacher needs fostering continuous growth and improvement among all team members.
- Promoted a culture of inclusion.
- Collaborated with local schools to ensure smooth transitions for preschool graduates entering kindergarten classes.
- Used data collection methods such as surveys, observations, or assessments to evaluate effectiveness.
Early Childhood Program Director
All My Children Daycare & Nursery School
01.2019 - 07.2021
- Enhanced teacher collaboration and performance through regular professional development workshops and trainings.
- Fostered positive relationships with families to support children's growth and development at home and in the educational setting.
- Assessed teacher performance regularly through formal observations or evaluations, providing constructive feedback for improvement opportunities consistently throughout the year.
- Maintained and fostered positive and constructive interactions with staff, families, and children.
- Observed children to identify individuals in need of additional support and developed strategies to improve assistance.
- Communicated with parents and support staff about student progress.
- Implemented developmentally and culturally appropriate curriculum for children, creating positive and safe classroom environments.
- Maintained high-quality child care standards based on developmentally appropriate practices.
- Implemented school policies, procedures, and systems to promote safe and healthy environment in compliance with state standards.
- Oversaw safety requirements, inspection, and certification procedures to facilitate annual licensing review.
- Established program schedules.
- Collaborated on strategies to enhance student learning and behavior alongside parents and teaching staff.
UPK Lead Teacher
Positive Beginnings
09.2014 - 01.2019
- Established positive relationships with parents through regular communication regarding student progress, collaborating on strategies for academic success at home and school.
- Communicated frequently with parents about student growth and progress, recommending at-home reinforcement to support struggling students.
- Maintained patience and level-headedness in diverse situations to support student development and personal growth.
- Developed and implemented differentiated instruction strategies to accommodate diverse learning styles, resulting in increased student engagement and success.
- Planned and implemented different daily activities to enhance overall development and growth of every student.
- Incorporated culturally responsive teaching practices into curriculum design and delivery models promoting inclusivity within the educational setting.
- Conducted ongoing assessments to monitor student progress and inform instructional adjustments.
- Communicated frequently with parents, students, and faculty to provide feedback and discuss instructional strategies.
- Scheduled conferences with parents to discuss students' progress and classroom behavior.
- Worked with staff members and teachers to design comprehensive and individualized plans to optimize student education.
Second Grade Teacher
Yeshiva Har Torah
09.2012 - 09.2014
- Created a welcoming classroom atmosphere by establishing clear expectations and routines, promoting a sense of belonging among students.
- Collaborated with colleagues to develop cross-curricular projects, fostering critical thinking skills and interdisciplinary learning.
- Built positive relationships with parents to involve families in educational process.
- Used data-driven decision-making processes to analyze student performance and adjust instruction.
- Differentiated instruction to meet the unique learning needs of each student, ensuring all students were able to access the curriculum successfully.
- Assessed student progress regularly through formative assessments, providing timely feedback for improved academic performance.
- Developed strong relationships with parents through consistent communication, leading to increased parental involvement in their child's education.
Kindergarten Teacher
Hebrew Academy of Five Towns and Rockaway
09.2006 - 09.2012
- Served as Balanced Literacy and Writers workshop coach for kindergarten teachers.
- Trained in Wilson Fundations, a multisensory, structured curricula for reading and writing.
- Utilized a hands-on approach to math through the math workshop model.
- Differentiated and small group instruction.
- Collaborated with colleagues to share resources, brainstorm ideas, and problem-solve challenges faced in the classroom environment.
- Developed strong relationships with families to address any concerns or issues impacting student success.
- Reported to parents and administration about student progress.
- Exercised good classroom management focused on positive behavior support by clearly articulating fair and consistent expectations along with appropriate natural consequences.
Kindergarten Teacher
NYC Department of Education
09.2004 - 09.2006
- Trained in Balanced Literacy and varied phonics-based methods of reading.
- Writers Workshop and Math Workshop, served as staff developer for social studies and writing workshop.
- Mentor to new teachers.
- School Literacy committee.
- Participated in curriculum-writing, leader of kindergarten Family Literacy Night, Math Night and orientation for incoming parents.
- Modified curriculum to suit IEP requirements and ESL students.
- Improved student reading skills by implementing phonics-based instruction and guided reading activities.
- Increased parent involvement through regular communication, parent-teacher conferences, and workshops.
- Assisted in curriculum development to align lessons with state standards and improve overall instructional quality.
- Collaborated with other faculty and staff to promote rigorous learning opportunities, general well-being of school and collective interest of staff and student body.
- Facilitated individualized learning plans for students with special needs, ensuring their successful integration into classroom.
Education
School Building Leader Advanced Certificate -
College of Saint Rose
06.2017
M.A. - Early Childhood Education
06.1992
B.A. - Early Childhood Education
Brooklyn College, CUNY
06.1990
Skills
- Curriculum Planning
- Performance Improvement
- Operations Management
- Staff Management
- Staff Development
- Organizational Development
- Hiring, Onboarding and Retention
- Regulatory Compliance
- Parent communication
Certification
- School Building Leader, The State Education Department of New York
- Nursery-6, The State Education Department of New York
Timeline
Early Childhood Program Director
Commonpoint
07.2021 - Current
Early Childhood Program Director
All My Children Daycare & Nursery School
01.2019 - 07.2021
UPK Lead Teacher
Positive Beginnings
09.2014 - 01.2019
Second Grade Teacher
Yeshiva Har Torah
09.2012 - 09.2014
Kindergarten Teacher
Hebrew Academy of Five Towns and Rockaway
09.2006 - 09.2012
Kindergarten Teacher
NYC Department of Education
09.2004 - 09.2006
M.A. - Early Childhood Education
B.A. - Early Childhood Education
Brooklyn College, CUNY
School Building Leader Advanced Certificate -
College of Saint Rose
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