Melissa Cujas
Summary
Seasoned Deputy Director with wealth of continual process and operation improvement experience. Successfully oversees daily operations, planning, and develops and monitors program assessments. Broad history in establishing protocol's and tracking and reporting processes, tools and information flows. Actively engages direct reports to achieve goals, tracks progress toward goals and increases effectiveness and efficiency of leaders.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Deputy Director of Provider Quality and Child Development
Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County
06.2021 - Current
- Maintain state requirements for both School Readiness (SR) and Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) assessments
- Reliably conducts CLASS Assessments of assigned providers
- Affiliate CLASS Trainer PreK and Toddler
- Conducts CLASS Group Coaching, both PreK and Infant/Toddler.
Early Learning Specialist
Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County
10.2018 - 06.2021
- Assess, monitor, and develop quality improvement plans for School Readiness providers
- Reliably conducts CLASS Assessments of assigned providers in accordance with Coalition procedures and DEL SR/VPK Assessment Criteria
- Maintain all CLASS reliability recertification's on an annual basis
- Provides expertise and technical assistance in current Coalition-approved programs and training designated by the coalition to all assigned childcare centers and/or homes.
Parenting Educator
Forty Carrots
10.2016 - 09.2018
- Work with families and children to facilitate play and learning
- Support families in making appropriate decisions that work for their family dynamic
- Wrote an article in Mommy Magazine, “Parenting Partners Toddlers and STEAM”
- Trained in Circle of Security Parenting Program.
- Built relationships and communicated with parents to provide best learning environment for children.
Education Delivery Manager
Pittsburgh Public Schools, Early Childhood Program
01.2012 - 05.2016
- Oversee the daily operations for 41 early childhood classrooms development, in accordance with Head Start policies
- Assisted in writing the program curriculum, and oversaw the implementation of the curriculum in the Early Childhood classrooms
- Train teachers in RISE (Research-based Inclusive System of Evaluation), and conduct formal and informal observations on a regular basis
- Co-wrote an article in a NAEYC magazine, Teaching Young Children, “A Preschool and a Children's Museum: Partners in Promoting Learning”.
Educational/Partnership Coach
Pittsburgh Public Schools, Early Childhood Program
01.2010 - 01.2012
- Support classrooms in the use of various curriculums
- Implement and offer Professional Development several times throughout the school year.
Education Coordinator
Pittsburgh Public Schools, Early Childhood Program
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Oversee the daily operations of 38 early childhood classrooms
- Oversee the implementation of Curriculum and Assessment in the Early Childhood classrooms.
Partnership Coordinator
Pittsburgh Public Schools, Early Childhood Program
01.2007 - 01.2009
- Oversee Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program Partnership sites
- Implemented and offered professional development opportunities for partners
Education and Communication Coordinator
Healthy Home Resources
01.2006 - 01.2007
- Educate community members about Asthma through presentations, puppet shows, and asthma lessons in local elementary schools and Head Start classrooms
- Educate families about potential asthma triggers within their homes.
Head Start Teacher
Pittsburgh Public Schools
01.2003 - 01.2006
- Plan and teach objectives that correspond with the program's curriculum
- Ensure that children receive all aspects of learning and development including physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and language
- Meet with parents and caregivers to discuss the child's progress.
Preschool Teacher
Point Park Children's School
01.2001 - 01.2003
- Provide children with learning and growth experiences
- Plan activities that follow the High Scope of Key Experiences.
Preschool Teacher
ABC's For Children
01.2000 - 01.2001
- Develop and organize both child and teacher-initiated activities
- Plan and utilize Developmentally Appropriate Practices.
Education
M.A Curriculum and Instruction -
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, PAEarly Childhood Certificate -
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, PAB.S in Elementary Education -
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Clarion, PA08.2000
Skills
- Process Updates
- Program Oversight
- Process Improvements
- Team Operations
- Staff Coordination
- Staff Management
- Effective Communication Skills
Certification
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Professional Certificate, Early Childhood N-3, Level II
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Professional Certificate, Supervisory Certificate Curriculum and Instruction, Level II
- CLASS certification in Pre-K, Infant, and Toddler tools
Organizations
- NAEYC
- FLAEYC
Timeline
Deputy Director of Provider Quality and Child Development
Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County
06.2021 - Current
Early Learning Specialist
Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County
10.2018 - 06.2021
Parenting Educator
Forty Carrots
10.2016 - 09.2018
Education Delivery Manager
Pittsburgh Public Schools, Early Childhood Program
01.2012 - 05.2016
Educational/Partnership Coach
Pittsburgh Public Schools, Early Childhood Program
01.2010 - 01.2012
Education Coordinator
Pittsburgh Public Schools, Early Childhood Program
01.2009 - 01.2010
Partnership Coordinator
Pittsburgh Public Schools, Early Childhood Program
01.2007 - 01.2009
Education and Communication Coordinator
Healthy Home Resources
01.2006 - 01.2007
Head Start Teacher
Pittsburgh Public Schools
01.2003 - 01.2006
Preschool Teacher
Point Park Children's School
01.2001 - 01.2003
Preschool Teacher
ABC's For Children
01.2000 - 01.2001
M.A Curriculum and Instruction -
Point Park University
Early Childhood Certificate -
Point Park University
B.S in Elementary Education -
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Similar Profiles
Natalie NavarroNatalie Navarro
Instructional Support Coach at Early Learning Coalition Of Manatee CountyInstructional Support Coach at Early Learning Coalition Of Manatee County
Mary PeacherMary Peacher
Specialist for Early Education Programs at Early Learning Coalition of Santa Rosa CountySpecialist for Early Education Programs at Early Learning Coalition of Santa Rosa County
Alanna RosarioAlanna Rosario
Quality Assurance Specialist at Early Learning Coalition Lake CountyQuality Assurance Specialist at Early Learning Coalition Lake County
Waeil MusaWaeil Musa
Deputy Country Director- Programme Development and Quality at Save the Children InternationalDeputy Country Director- Programme Development and Quality at Save the Children International
CAROLINE KINOTI MURIITHICAROLINE KINOTI MURIITHI
Deputy Director of Health Promotion and Capacity Development/ Ag. Deputy Director Communication at National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC)Deputy Director of Health Promotion and Capacity Development/ Ag. Deputy Director Communication at National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC)