Open To Work
Marilyn Morales
Early Childhood Center Administration
Tallahassee,FL
Work Preference
Summary
Dynamic early childhood administrator with a proven track record of enhancing educational quality and family engagement in VPK programs. Demonstrates expertise in curriculum development, compliance management, and team leadership, ensuring children are school-ready and thriving through high standards of care and instruction.
Overview
1
1
Certification
42
42
years of professional experience
Work History
VPK Director and VPK Lead Teacher
Tallahassee Classical School
Tallahassee
08.2024 - 05.2026
- Highly effective VPK director with instructional expertise and a proven record of leading high quality early childhood programs that elevate teaching standards, strengthen family partnerships, and ensure every child enters kindergarten confident and ready.
- Exceptionally skilled at maintaining full compliance with the Early Learning Coalition and state VPK requirements.
- Experienced in the administration and management of assessments and documentation, progress monitoring, data review and instructional adjustments, ensuring classrooms consistently meet or exceed quality benchmarks.
- Excels in people center leadership where teachers thrive, young learners flourish, and families are engaged through clear communication and warm interactions.
- Intentional about supporting each student’s developmental, emotional and cognitive needs by facilitating parent-teacher conferences and encouraging the screening process and early intervention where needed.
- Dedicated and highly effective VPK lead teacher with a proven ability to create nurturing and engaging learning environments that support optimal social-emotional growth, early literacy, critical thinking, moral and spiritual development and kindergarten readiness.
- Skilled in creating hands-on, play-based and literacy focused lessons that align with the Florida Early Learning Standards.
- Adept at implementing the Classical method of education, which cultivates truth, goodness and beauty through the development of virtue and critical thinking in a manner that adapts to preschool age students.
- Built trusting relationships with students and families, fostering a calm and positive classroom environment through effective behavior management strategies that support emotional regulation.
Director
Freedom Church Preschool
05.2015 - 08.2024
- Driven, passionate and proactive preschool director who is well liked by parents, children, and staff.
- Spearheaded staff training, curriculum development and implementation, developmental assessments and compliance with Florida’s license and contract requirements, to enhance the quality of education, health and safety of the children enrolled.
- Enhanced quality of care and education at Freedom Church Preschool by streamlining staff leadership and fostering clear communication with parents.
- Managed VPK and School Readiness programs, led student and staff recruitment, coordinated events, and organized fundraising to maintain a fully equipped and engaging educational facility.
- Coordinated fundraising initiatives that provided resources for facility enhancements and educational materials.
- Coordinated the screening process and early intervention to support children's development.
- Utilized Microsoft Word, Excel, and Publisher to enhance documentation and reporting processes.
- Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, the Child Care SEER online platform and other online systems.
Afternoon Manager
Freedom Church Preschool
06.2013 - 05.2015
- Efficiently managed the center’s operation during the afternoon hours, ensuring the safety of the children, providing leadership for the afternoon staff, and making sure to maintain a clean and organized facility.
- Attended to children's needs and responded to parent inquiries daily, ensuring clear communication on urgent matters affecting their children.
- Supported Director by facilitating communication between morning and afternoon staff on updates and events.
- Maintained organized student records, including medical forms for DCF compliance, sign in/out sheets, pick up lists, health alerts, and snack menus.
- Provided informative tours for families inquiring about the program.
Floating Teacher
Freedom Church Preschool
03.2011 - 06.2013
- Stepped into classrooms across all age groups, providing support to Director and teachers during critical teaching moments.
- Substituted for Director or Afternoon Manager during absences, maintaining continuity of operations and supporting staff.
- Assisted Director and Afternoon Manager with various office and floor tasks, contributing to smooth daily operations.
International Investigations Specialist
Manufacturers Hanover Trust
NYC
01.1984 - 03.1991
- Facilitated electronic communication with overseas banks regarding refund requests, guarantees, and payment confirmations.
- Conducted research to identify and rectify errors in international electronic transactions between banks.
- Managed client account inquiries and resolved issues promptly.
- Coordinated internal communications between departments to streamline processes.
Education
National Child Development Associate - Early Childhood Care And Education
Tallahassee Community College
05-2015
Bilingual (Spanish/English) Secretarial Science/Technical High School Degree Equivalent -
Instituto Evangélico America Latina
Guatemala City, Guatemala01-1982
Skills
- Early childhood education
- Curriculum development
- Relationship building
- Instructional support
- Family engagement
- Quality assurance
- Compliance oversight
- Non-profit management
- Event planning
- Fundraising events
- Budget management
- Staff training
- Staff development
- Staff supervision
- Team leadership
- Leadership
- Visionary leadership
- Decision-making
- Coaching skills
- Communication strategies
- Communication skills
- Relationship building
- Multitasking and organization
- Employee development
- Employee development
- Bilingual communication skills
Certification
- FCCPC
- Director Credential
- VPK Director Credential
- CPR/First Aid
Timeline
VPK Director and VPK Lead Teacher
Tallahassee Classical School
08.2024 - 05.2026
Director
Freedom Church Preschool
05.2015 - 08.2024
Afternoon Manager
Freedom Church Preschool
06.2013 - 05.2015
Floating Teacher
Freedom Church Preschool
03.2011 - 06.2013
International Investigations Specialist
Manufacturers Hanover Trust
01.1984 - 03.1991
National Child Development Associate - Early Childhood Care And Education
Tallahassee Community College
Bilingual (Spanish/English) Secretarial Science/Technical High School Degree Equivalent -
Instituto Evangélico America Latina