Shenitta M. Shephard

As an Early Childhood Specialist with ICF for Head Start Region VI, Mrs. Shephard has co facilitated a training on Challenging Behaviors at Reginal Head Start conference. Mrs. Shephard is a team player and enjoys collaborating with her colleagues to provide recipients with training and technical assistance. She has provided recipients with training both in-person and virtual, notified them of upcoming trainings within the Region VI and updated actions, information, policies, and procedures from the OHS. Mrs. Shephard is one the points of contact for the Pyramid Model renderings. She is also working on other teams such as Upbringing, Site Leadership, and CLASS TOT. Mrs. Shephard brings with her 26 years of experience in Head Start, a wealth of knowledge, ability, skills, and heart to the ECS TTA team and is eager, willing, and ready to serve and support recipients.

• Coaching teaching staff using CLASS data, performance appraisal data, and observation notes.
• Mentoring new teaching and family service staff providing onboarding, job shadowing, and guidance to policies and procedures.
• Collected and aggregated data for reporting purposes for alignment with federal funding and collaborated with the Quality Control Manager on summer recruitment practices and processing incoming applications to inform ERSEA decisions.
• Provided technical assistance and leadership training to all Policy Council Representatives, Board of Directors, and all Staff on Policy Council in both virtual and in person offerings.
• Conducted CLASS Observations as a part of the program-wide team and identified teachers that would receive coaching support.
• Ensure full implementation of all aspects of UAMS Head Start/Early learning system, policies/procedures, and tools, with the goal of supporting all children to achieve school readiness goals.
• Provided monthly meetings and presentations to a variety of audiences to include new employees for orientation training; center-based and home visiting teachers and staff with topics such as school readiness, Creative Curriculum, Teaching Strategies GOLD, Observations, Active Supervision, supporting children with IFSP’s, Inclusion of children with disabilities, and policies and procedures.
• Data Recording of child assessment data, school readiness goals, PIR tracking data of child physicals and well-child checks, IEP/IFSP referrals and services, inventory, and USDA records.
• CDA Preparation and Guidance for CDA candidates who needed support preparing for observation and testing.
• Created program policy for teaching staff to ensure adherence to code of conduct, professionalism in the classroom, positive teacher/child interactions, expectations for home visits, staff wellness and protocols for interacting with family service staff.
• Provided training and monitoring of Minimum Licensing procedures such as recall items, emergency protocols, and required documentation for staff and children.
• Provided support to families throughout the IEP/IFSP process, monitored lesson plans to ensure individualization for children with disabilities, staffed issues surrounding challenges to disability files and health issues.
• Managed staff 32 including conducted classroom observations, performance appraisals, disciplinary issues, and mentoring.
• Provided safe learning environments for 200+ children by monitoring classrooms for appropriate material changes, Active Supervision protocols, proper transitions in the classroom, and strong
• Monitor enrollment data on children and families to ensure selection criteria is met, provide reminders for well-child checks, and needs that can be addressed by community partners.
• Work with teachers to create Professional Development Plans and coordinate professional development opportunities for staff based on Professional Development plans.
• Build partnerships with community agencies by recruiting partners based on the needs of families.
• Provided parent training to parent committee members on group discussion topics of interest (Challenging Behaviors, IEP processes, Positive Parenting, Positive Guidance and Discipline, Child assessments and screenings).
• Provided guidance, oversight, and management services, training, and compliance monitoring for Head Start.
• Created reports for policy council meetings, provided training and support to teachers on curriculum, coaching, and positive teacher-child interactions.
• Conducted surveys on topics that teachers identified as areas of need.
• Created a Summary of Findings that identified needs, action steps, expected time to complete, ongoing implementation, and reflection based on the aggregated data and conducted follow up to ensure outcomes were being met.

• Managed 14 staff including teachers, family service, administrative assistant, and nutrition staff.
• Conducted virtual and in-person training sessions on a wide range of topics, including: PFCE, new employee orientation training in areas to include Creative Curriculum, Teaching Strategies GOLD, Observations, Active Supervision, supporting children with IFSP’s, Inclusion of children with disabilities, Policies and Procedures. Provides parent training to Parent Committees on topics of interest (Challenging Behaviors, Toileting, Positive Parenting, Physicals and Well-Child Checks, Positive Guidance and Discipline).
• Provide a safe learning environment for 50+ children
• Worked with parents to ensure a healthy lifestyle for the family.
• Worked alongside the management team in the aggregation of data to provide reports to the Office of Head Start.
• Developed school readiness goals, utilized child assessment data to develop individualization guidance for teachers to integrate school readiness in the classroom.
• Wrote monthly reports, reviewed lesson plans, and monitored the implementation of IFSPs in the classrooms.
• Supervised and supported teachers in Infant/Toddler classrooms, monitored curriculum fidelity, diapering protocols and positive caregiver/child interactions.
• Provided staff training and development including virtual and onsite.
• Engaged and provided positive caregiving to infants/toddlers in the classroom.
• Created reports for policy council meetings, provided training and support to teachers on curriculum, coaching, and positive teacher-child interactions.
• Conducted surveys on topics that teachers identified as areas of need.
• Created a Summary of Findings that identified needs, action steps, expected period to complete, ongoing implementation, and reflection based on the aggregated data and conducted follow up to ensure outcomes were being met.
• Conducted internal monitoring and created corrective action plans based off data from Self-Assessment, Child Assessments, and Parent Surveys.
• Conducted training for teachers, family service, and nutrition staff on topics to include Active Supervision, Inclusion, Positive Guidance and Discipline, and Authentic Observations.
• Work with teacher on their Professional Development Plans
• Provided monthly staff training and technical assistance to assure staff received professional development support in implementing school readiness goals in all areas aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework.
• Supported EHS children with disabilities, attended IFSP meetings, implemented goals in the classroom, and supporting teachers to effective support children 0-5 meet their goals, to include:
• Implementation of therapy materials in the classroom setting with children with disabilities to ensure their individual needs are met and supporting education staff in effective implementation.

• Assist families with enrollment
• Work with parents on setting goals to better themselves and the family
• Administer Family Maps
• Coordinated Parent Engagement and Parent Committee meetings, providing engagement on topics related to transitions, lesson plans, home/school connections, volunteer opportunities, healthy meal options, and decision-making in the program.
• Work collaboratively with the community
• Keep up files and record on children and families.
• Partnered with teachers to conduct monthly parent meetings and supported individual families and entered daily attendance.
• Provided training on Ready Rosie and sent weekly videos to increase knowledge on parenting topics and supported family goal setting.
• Planned and implemented parent engagement activities to promote and increase family engagement.
• Provided onboarding and technical assistance to all new Family Enrichment Specialists at both an Early Head Start and a Head Start site in the areas of Family Services and Child Plus
• Disabilities Screening and Implementing

• Provide a safe learning environment for children
• Supported HS children with disabilities, monitored goal implementation in the classroom, notifying parents of transition meetings, and therapy support requests.
• Parent/ Teacher Conferences and Home Visits
• Provide weekly lesson plans to enhance early childhood development
• Administer developmental assessments
• Participate in programs for multicultural parents and children

• Conducted Staff Training
• Supervised 4 to 8 employees during a shift
• Scheduling
• Supply purchasing

• Assist classroom teacher in ensuring and providing a safe environment for children
• Assisting with daily activities
• Working cooperatively with other staff and parents

• Excellent customer service
• Ensure customer satisfaction
• Cashier
• Dishwasher