Sarah Smith
Lima,OH
Summary
Dynamic daycare director with expertise in child development, curriculum planning, and staff management. Committed to fostering safe, engaging learning environments that enhance children's emotional and social growth.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Early Childhood Education Instructor
Apollo Career Center
Lima, OH
08.2025 - Current
- Instruct the Adult Education Course for Early Childhood Education
- Developed and implemented engaging lesson plans tailored to diverse learning styles.
- Fostered a nurturing classroom environment promoting social and emotional growth.
- Collaborated with parents to enhance student development through regular communication.
- Assessed student progress and adapted teaching strategies to meet individual needs.
- Mentored new teachers, sharing best practices for effective classroom management.
- Streamlined curriculum delivery processes, ensuring alignment with educational standards.
- Participated in professional development opportunities to stay current with research-based teaching methods in early childhood education.
- Collaborated with colleagues to design cross-curricular lesson plans that enhanced student understanding of multiple subjects.
- Established clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, ensuring a consistent focus on desired learning outcomes.
- Served as a mentor for new teachers, providing guidance on best practices in early childhood education and sharing valuable resources.
- Instruct 12 adults to earn their CDA credential.
Daycare Director
Tiny Tech University
Lima, OH
08.2020 - Current
- Developed and implemented curriculum promoting early childhood development and technology integration.
- Managed daily operations, ensuring compliance with state regulations and safety standards.
- Supervised and mentored staff, fostering a collaborative and nurturing environment.
- Coordinated parent communication and engagement initiatives to enhance community involvement.
- Conducted regular training sessions for staff on best practices in child care management.
- Ensured safety of children by enforcing strict health and safety guidelines in compliance with state regulations.
- Implemented ongoing professional development opportunities for staff members, improving overall quality of care provided at the facility.
- Brought center into full compliance with licensing and safety regulations for fire and disaster preparedness, Department of Public Health codes and USDA nutritional guidelines.
- Enhanced children''s emotional and social development by implementing age-appropriate programs and activities.
- Coordinated special events such as holiday parties or field trips that enriched children''s experiences at the daycare center.
- Streamlined daycare operations through effective scheduling, staff management, and budget control.
- Increased parent satisfaction by maintaining open communication channels and addressing concerns promptly.
- Reviewed and updated emergency preparedness procedures regularly to maintain a safe environment for children and staff members.
- Promoted a positive learning culture by modeling appropriate behavior management strategies for staff members to emulate.
- Manage a staff of 20 members
PreK Teacher
Tiny Tech University
Lima, OH
01.2017 - Current
- Developed engaging lesson plans that fostered creativity and critical thinking in young learners.
- Implemented effective classroom management strategies to create a positive learning environment.
- Collaborated with parents to support children's development and address individual needs.
- Utilized educational technology tools to enhance interactive learning experiences for students.
- Assessed student progress through observational techniques and tailored instructional approaches accordingly.
- Advocated for inclusive teaching practices that accommodate diverse learning styles and abilities among students.
- Gave one-on-one attention to children while maintaining overall focus on entire group.
- Sanitized toys and play equipment each day to maintain safety and cleanliness.
- Promoted social-emotional development with interactive lessons on empathy, conflict resolution, and self-regulation techniques.
- Observed children to identify individuals in need of additional support and developed strategies to improve assistance.
- Boosted student engagement by incorporating hands-on activities and group projects into lesson plans.
- Fostered a love of learning among students by maintaining an energetic teaching style and incorporating creative, interactive elements into lessons.
- Established strong relationships with parents through regular communication, enhancing family involvement in the educational process.
- Monitored students' academic, social, and emotional progress and recorded in individual files.
- Maintained organized, fun and interactive classroom to help children feel safe.
- Allowed for ample outdoor discovery time in schedule each day.
- Manage a classroom of 14-24 children (depending on the year).
Head of Receiving Department
Gifts of Joy
Lima, OH
07.2013 - 01.2017
- Oversaw receiving operations, ensuring timely processing of incoming inventory.
- Implemented standard operating procedures to enhance efficiency in stock management.
- Trained and mentored staff on best practices for inventory handling and safety protocols.
- Coordinated with suppliers to resolve discrepancies in shipment quantities promptly.
- Minimized product damage during receiving process by implementing proper handling techniques and staff training.
- Optimized warehouse space utilization by regularly analyzing storage needs and adjusting layout as needed.
- Achieved cost savings through effective negotiation of contracts with suppliers and carriers.
- Pulled, verified, and packaged items for shipment.
- Maintained established levels of goods based on sales forecasts and demand to fulfill orders on time.
- Conducted research to address shipping errors and packaging mistakes.
- Collaborated with manufacturing and supply chain management.
- Maintained positive working relationships with over 20 vendors.
Retail Sales Associate
Gifts of Joy
Lima, OH
07.2013 - 01.2017
- Provided exceptional customer service by addressing inquiries and resolving issues efficiently.
- Assisted in merchandising strategies to enhance product visibility and drive sales.
- Analyzed sales trends to identify opportunities for product placement and specials.
- Implemented best practices for maintaining store cleanliness and organization, enhancing shopping experience.
- Greeted customers and helped with product questions, selections, and purchases.
- Maintained a clean and organized store environment, enhancing the overall shopping experience for customers.
- Helped customers complete purchases, locate items, and join reward programs.
- Handled returns and exchanges professionally, resolving customer issues while adhering to company policies.
- Answered questions about store policies and addressed customer concerns.
- Assisted in managing inventory levels, accurately processing shipments, and restocking merchandise as needed.
- Boosted customer satisfaction by providing exceptional service and addressing concerns promptly.
- Processed transactions efficiently using point-of-sale systems, minimizing wait times for customers at checkout.
- Contributed to our goal of $2k in sales a day.
Assistant Preschool Teacher
Shawnee Weekday Early Learning Center
Lima, OH
10.2009 - 07.2013
- Fostered positive learning environment through engaging activities and individualized attention.
- Collaborated with lead teacher to develop curriculum aligned with developmental milestones.
- Assisted in classroom management, promoting social skills and cooperative play among students.
- Implemented daily routines that enhanced children's independence and confidence in learning activities.
- Aided in the preparation of instructional materials, ensuring resources were readily available for each lesson.
- Served as a positive role model for students, demonstrating professionalism, empathy, and enthusiasm in all interactions.
- Supported lead teacher in conducting assessments to measure student progress and identify areas requiring additional focus.
- Maintained a clean, safe, and organized classroom space conducive to learning and creativity.
- Took take of 23 kids.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Early Childhood Education
Ashworth College
Norcross, GA05.2027
Associate of Science - Early Childhood Education
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA05.2015
High School Diploma -
Homeschool
Lima05.2009
Skills
- Parent communication
- Employee training
- Child development expertise
- Child safety protocols
- Staff management
- Curriculum planning
- Classroom management
- CPR certified
- First aid certification
- Public speaking
- Crisis management
- Professional demeanor
- Emotional intelligence
Certification
- Certified in First Aid and CPR
- Certified Adult Ed Instructor in Ohio
- Certified in Child Abuse Recognition and Prevention
- Certified in Communicable Disease Awareness
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
American Sign Language
Limited Working
Timeline
Early Childhood Education Instructor
Apollo Career Center
08.2025 - Current
Daycare Director
Tiny Tech University
08.2020 - Current
PreK Teacher
Tiny Tech University
01.2017 - Current
Head of Receiving Department
Gifts of Joy
07.2013 - 01.2017
Retail Sales Associate
Gifts of Joy
07.2013 - 01.2017
Assistant Preschool Teacher
Shawnee Weekday Early Learning Center
10.2009 - 07.2013
Bachelor of Science - Early Childhood Education
Ashworth College
Associate of Science - Early Childhood Education
Liberty University
High School Diploma -
Homeschool