Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Core Competencies
Timeline
Generic

Juanita Crafton

Brooklyn

Summary

Visionary and results-driven educational leader with extensive experience in early childhood and elementary education. Proven ability to lead school-wide improvement initiatives, coach and develop instructional staff, and cultivate inclusive learning environments that promote student success and family engagement. Skilled in compliance management, strategic planning, and fostering collaborative school communities to drive academic excellence and holistic child development.

Overview

33
33
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Director

Ella Baker/Charles Romain Child Development Center
09.2021 - Current
  • Direct all aspects of the program’s operations, including curriculum implementation, staff supervision, and compliance with state and local regulations, while ensuring high-quality early childhood learning experiences for all students.
  • Provide instructional leadership to staff by coaching and mentoring both tenured and novice teachers, focusing on lesson planning and differentiation, classroom management, and culturally responsive teaching practices to enhance effective instruction.
  • Facilitate regular professional development workshops to promote collaboration, sharing of best practices and analyzing student data to identify areas of improvement and monitor student’s progress towards their learning goals.
  • Use data to identify students with developmental delays and collaborate with staff to create targeted intervention plans, tailored to the student’s individual needs.
  • Conduct regular classroom observations and provide actionable feedback to staff to support their professional growth and student success.
  • Forge positive relationships with families through regular communication and hosting monthly parent engagement workshops.
  • Guide parents through the early intervention process by offering workshops, resources and regular updates on their child’s progress.
  • Oversee program’s budget to ensure efficient allocation of resources and monitoring expenditures to maintain financial stability.
  • Administer payroll for a staff of twelve employees, ensuring accurate and timely processing.
  • Key Accomplishments
  • Established a Parent Advisory Committee to ensure parents are actively involved in the program.
  • Achieved a QUALITYstarsNY rating of 4 within two years.
  • Secured funding to establish a children’s library and is leading efforts to create an indoor gym facility.

Teacher

PS/IS 109
09.2016 - 08.2021
  • Planned and implemented standards-based lessons across multiple content areas, creating engaging, differentiated learning experiences tailored to meet the diverse academic and social-emotional needs of students.
  • Applied data-driven instructional strategies to improve student performance on formative and summative assessments.
  • Fostered an inclusive classroom community rooted in respect, equity, and cultural responsiveness, supporting a positive and supportive learning environment.
  • Integrated hands-on learning activities to enhance student engagement.
  • Collaborated with instructional teams, specialists, and administration to design interdisciplinary units and intervention supports for struggling students.
  • Communicated regularly with families through conferences, newsletters, and workshops to build home-school partnerships that support student growth.
  • Served as a mentor teacher for new staff, modeling best practices in classroom management, instructional planning, and student engagement.
  • Organized and facilitated parent engagement workshops on literacy, homework support, and strategies to foster learning at home.

Adjunct Professor

Medgar Evers College (Brooklyn, NY)
08.2017 - 06.2020
  • Designed and facilitated college-level courses in elementary mathematics instruction and child development for teacher candidates.
  • Mentored and coached teacher candidates in instructional planning, classroom management, and culturally responsive teaching practices.
  • Developed and assessed curriculum-aligned assignments and performance tasks to support teacher certification readiness.
  • Modeled effective teaching strategies and promoted reflective practice to prepare students for success in diverse classroom settings.

Educational Director

Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center (Brooklyn, NY)
07.2014 - 08.2016
  • Provided instructional leadership and compliance oversight for a multi-classroom early childhood program.
  • Supported curriculum implementation and teacher development for NYCDOE Pre-K classrooms.
  • Collaborated with families and community organizations to provide holistic student support.
  • Maintained compliance with NYCDOHMH, ACS, and NYCDOE regulations, ensuring program quality and safety.

Early Childhood Educator (3 year olds)

Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center (Brooklyn, NY)
06.2013 - 07.2014
  • Designed and delivered child-centered lessons using the Creative Curriculum, fostering children's curiosity and a love for learning through hands-on exploration.
  • Assessed children's progress using Teaching Strategies Gold, creating individualized learning plans to support school readiness skills.
  • Fostered students’ social-emotional growth through positive behavior supports and developmentally appropriate classroom routines.
  • Served as Acting Director in the director’s absence, demonstrating leadership in overseeing daily operations, staff support, and compliance management.

Universal Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

Ella Baker/Charles Romain Child Development Center (Brooklyn, NY)
09.2010 - 05.2013
  • Developed and implemented play-based, developmentally appropriate curriculum aligned with the New York State Prekindergarten Foundation for the Common Core.
  • Used formative assessments, including Teaching Strategies Gold, to monitor student progress and adjust instruction to support academic, social, and emotional growth.
  • Differentiated instruction to meet the needs of students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and those identified for early intervention services.
  • Promoted emergent literacy and language development through interactive read-alouds, storytelling, and vocabulary-building activities.
  • Cultivated strong family partnerships by leading literacy workshops, parent-teacher conferences, and family events focused on child development and learning strategies.
  • Ensured the classroom met NAEYC accreditation standards by maintaining a safe, enriching, and inclusive environment that supported each child’s learning potential.

Tutor

Medgar Evers College (Brooklyn, NY)
12.2012 - 02.2013
  • Provided individualized and small-group support for teacher candidates preparing for the NYS Multi-Subject CST Exam.

Elementary School Teacher

Canon Laurie Anglican Primary School (St. Lucia)
03.1992 - 12.2007
  • Instructed core academic subjects, adapting teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students’ diverse academic needs and learning styles.
  • Designed and led the school’s music program, integrating creative arts into the curriculum to enhance students’ cognitive, social, and emotional development.
  • Mentored novice teachers and collaborated with colleagues to develop instructional strategies, assessment tools, and student support plans.
  • Facilitated school-wide events and cultural programs that fostered community spirit and celebrated student achievements.

Education

M.S. Ed. - Educational Leadership: School Building Leader; School District Leader

Brooklyn College – City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY
06.2025

M.S. Ed. - Childhood Education Teacher (Grades 1-6)

Brooklyn College – City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY
06.2020

M.S. Ed. - Early Childhood Education Teacher (Birth – Grade 2)

Brooklyn College – City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY
06.2016

B. A. - Early Childhood, Special Education

Medgar Evers College – City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY
06.2012

Certificate - Teacher Education

Sir Arthur Lewis Community College - Division of Teacher Education
12.2000

Certificate - Teaching School Music

St. Lucia School of Music
06.1996

Skills

  • Relationship building
  • Strategic planning
  • Verbal and written communication
  • Decision-making

Certification

  • New York State Professional Certificate Early Childhood (Birth – Grade 2)
  • New York State Professional Certificate Childhood Education (Grades 1-6)

Core Competencies

Demonstrated leadership in guiding staff and students toward academic excellence through effective instructional practices and organizational management. Proven ability to communicate clearly and professionally with diverse stakeholders, fostering transparency and collaboration. Skilled in strategic planning and informed decision-making to set and achieve both short- and long-term goals that drive school improvement. Experienced in cultivating a collaborative and supportive school culture through team-building and shared leadership. Adept at analyzing and solving complex challenges, implementing innovative solutions that enhance teaching and learning. Extensive experience mentoring and coaching early childhood educators to improve instructional quality and student outcomes.

Timeline

Director

Ella Baker/Charles Romain Child Development Center
09.2021 - Current

Adjunct Professor

Medgar Evers College (Brooklyn, NY)
08.2017 - 06.2020

Teacher

PS/IS 109
09.2016 - 08.2021

Educational Director

Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center (Brooklyn, NY)
07.2014 - 08.2016

Early Childhood Educator (3 year olds)

Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center (Brooklyn, NY)
06.2013 - 07.2014

Tutor

Medgar Evers College (Brooklyn, NY)
12.2012 - 02.2013

Universal Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

Ella Baker/Charles Romain Child Development Center (Brooklyn, NY)
09.2010 - 05.2013

Elementary School Teacher

Canon Laurie Anglican Primary School (St. Lucia)
03.1992 - 12.2007

M.S. Ed. - Childhood Education Teacher (Grades 1-6)

Brooklyn College – City University of New York

M.S. Ed. - Early Childhood Education Teacher (Birth – Grade 2)

Brooklyn College – City University of New York

B. A. - Early Childhood, Special Education

Medgar Evers College – City University of New York

Certificate - Teacher Education

Sir Arthur Lewis Community College - Division of Teacher Education

Certificate - Teaching School Music

St. Lucia School of Music

M.S. Ed. - Educational Leadership: School Building Leader; School District Leader

Brooklyn College – City University of New York

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