MELVEEN S. GARRETT
Summary
Results-driven Child and Youth Services professional with leadership experience in Department of Defense Child & Youth Programs. Successfully leads preschool operations, ensuring compliance with regulations while fostering strong family partnerships and delivering developmentally appropriate curricula.
Overview
1
1
Certification
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Child & Youth Program Assistant (Lead CYP A – Preschool Module)
Child & Youth Services
Fort Gregg-Adams (Fort Lee)
01.2025 - Current
- Led Child & Youth Program Assistant for a Preschool Module, providing leadership and oversight for daily classroom operations while maintaining compliance with Department of Defense, Army, and Child & Youth Services regulations.
- Leads daily preschool classroom operations while maintaining compliance with DoD, Army, and CYS policies and procedures.
- Provides leadership, mentoring, coaching, and guidance to Child & Youth Program Assistants, modeling professional standards and best practices.
- Develops and implements developmentally appropriate lesson plans utilizing Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies GOLD.
- Conducts ongoing developmental observations, assessments, and documentation to monitor children's progress and school readiness.
- Maintains classroom accountability, safety, sanitation, and regulatory compliance while fostering a positive learning environment.
- Built partnerships with families through daily communication and developmental updates, fostering a collaborative environment for child development.
- Assists management with staffing, classroom coverage, child-to-staff ratios, and overall program operations.
- Assists with onboarding and mentoring new staff while promoting teamwork and continuous professional growth.
- Supported environmental rating scales (ITERS/ECCRS) and accreditation initiatives that adhered to high-quality program standards.
- Demonstrated customer service excellence, prioritizing health, safety, and well-being of children, families, staff, and visitors.
- Hours per Week: 40
Lead Child & Youth Program Assistant
Child & Youth Services
USAG Camp Humphreys
01.2023 - 12.2024
- Led classroom leadership, implemented curriculum, and guided staff while maintaining high-quality early childhood programming.
- Led classroom operations while ensuring compliance with CYS operational standards.
- Planned and implemented developmentally appropriate curriculum using Creative Curriculum.
- Conducted weekly and monthly developmental assessments utilizing Teaching Strategies GOLD.
- Maintained accurate child documentation and developmental records.
- Collaborated with Training Specialists during environmental rating scale observations to enhance program quality.
- Assisted with COA Accreditation preparation and quality assurance initiatives.
- Communicated regularly with families about child development and classroom activities to foster engagement.
- Fostered a positive and inclusive learning environment promoting children's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development.
- Ensured classroom safety, accountability, and compliance with all DoD regulations.
- Managed inventory and ordered classroom supplies to ensure availability of resources for effective programming.
- Series: 1702 | Pay Plan: CY-02
Lead Child & Youth Program Assistant
Child & Youth Services
Fort Stewart
12.2010 - 12.2022
- Served as Lead Child & Youth Program Assistant providing classroom leadership while assisting management with daily operations and staff supervision.
- Assisted with staff scheduling, classroom coverage, and maintaining required child-to-staff ratios.
- Acted as Supervisory Program Specialist in the absence of leadership.
- Developed and implemented Creative Curriculum lesson plans.
- Collaborated with Training and Curriculum Specialists to improve classroom quality.
- Performed developmental observations and documented progress using Teaching Strategies GOLD to track child development.
- Facilitated positive communication with families to keep them informed about children's developmental milestones.
- Conducted new parent orientations to promote positive family engagement.
- Ensured compliance with DoD regulations, health standards, and child safety requirements.
- Promoted teamwork, professionalism, and high-quality customer service throughout the program.
- Defined key responsibilities and tasks to enhance clarity of role expectations.
- Assisted in maintaining classroom inventories and ordering supplies.
- Hours per Week: 40
- Series: 1702 | Pay Plan: CY-02
Education
Associate Degree - Early Childhood Development
Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential -
High School Diploma -
Skills
- CYS leadership
- Preschool management
- Program Oversight & Accountability
- Creative curriculum development
- Teaching Strategies assessment
- Child Development Assessments
- Environmental Rating Scales (ITERS/ECCRS)
- COA Accreditation Support
- DoD & Army Regulatory Compliance
- DoD regulations knowledge
- Safety & Risk Management
- Classroom Management
- Family engagement
- Staff Training & Mentoring
- Employee mentoring
- Communication and Team Leadership
- Budget and Supply Management
- Customer service
- Child services leadership
- Accreditation preparation
- Organizational skills
- Conflict resolution
- Inclusive learning environments
- Professional development
- Microsoft Office Suite
Certification
- Leadership Development Intensive Program (40 Hours)
- Virtual Lab School (VLS) Certification (95 Hours)
- Teaching Strategies GOLD
- Objectives for Development & Learning
- Supporting Positive Behavior
- Respectful Accommodations in Child & Youth Programs
- Army CYS Operational Guidance for Behavior Support
- Adult & Pediatric CPR/First Aid
- AHHI Accreditation Experience
- NAEYC Accreditation Experience
- COA Accreditation Support
- SHARP Foundation Training
- Army OPSEC
- Threat Awareness & Reporting
- Preventing Workplace Violence
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
Timeline
Lead Child & Youth Program Assistant (Lead CYP A – Preschool Module)
Child & Youth Services
01.2025 - Current
Lead Child & Youth Program Assistant
Child & Youth Services
01.2023 - 12.2024
Lead Child & Youth Program Assistant
Child & Youth Services
12.2010 - 12.2022