Early Childhood Support Staff
In order to help our youngest scholars successfully attain their greatest potential, the Department of Early Childhood works in collaboration with more than 30 contracted childcare providers. We provide for the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of all of our children. We accomplish these goals by providing support staff and services.
These include:
Supervisors
Supervisors ensure the coordination of all of the elements of a high-quality preschool program within the school district, including all private providers and local Head Start agencies.
| MARIANA BEJERANO | GHADA ABDEL-HALIM | MICHELLE THOMAS |
Community & Parent Involvement Specialist
Community & Parent Involvement Specialist helps develop partnerships between families, schools, and the community assists with needs assessments, staffs the Early Childhood Advisory Council, organizes and oversees family-involvement plans and activities, and coordinates work with other agencies.
| HALA ABOULHOSN, MS CCC-SLP. |
Early Childhood Nurses
Early Childhood Nurses facilitate and strengthen our children’s ability to learn by helping to improve and protect the health of students, staff, and families. They conduct screenings for immunizations and for vision and hearing problems. The nurses provide physical and emotional support when there are illnesses or injuries, which are a normal part of growing up. They also provide daily support to children with chronic health needs, and advice on healthy eating and safety.::.
| JANE AMATO, | TANYA BROWN | YOLANDA CABRERA |
| ARLENE M. EGAN | MONICA FOGARTY | BIBI MANGAR |
| AMY QUINONES | MICHELLE REYES | ANINDER SEQUEIRA |
| ARTURO TOLENTINO |
Preschool Intervention & Referral Specialists
Preschool Intervention & Referral Specialists are a team of specialists working within a consultation model to help maximize the general education preschool teacher’s ability to support all students who exhibit challenging behaviors, learning difficulties, or other social difficulties and to decrease the number of referrals to special education.
| LELA ANDERSEN | VALERIE BOSTORY | DIANA BOWDEN |
| NANCY DEAN | CARL LEWIS | JACQUELINE LOUISON |
| LESLIE MCINTOSH | EILEEN MILLAN | LAFERNE WILLIAMS-MAYNARD |
Lead Teachers
Lead Teachers model, coach, observe and provide feedback to teaching staff in preschool programs.
Program Social Workers
Program Social Workers assist children, teachers, and families with social and emotional development issues from a family-centered perspective and help develop an appropriate plan to address a child's needs, both in the classroom and at home. PSWs also make referrals to appropriate community agencies and counsel parents on a variety of issues to help improve their current situation. Housing issues, lack of basic necessities (food/clothing), health issues, challenging behaviors at home, other family issues (i.e. abuse), and attendance are other areas PSWs provide support. PSWs also work in collaboration with the CPIS to support all of the Family Workers in the district- contracted childcare centers.
| JAMES ROKEACH MSW, LCSW | CHERE GLOVER | KAMILAH BREWINGTON |
Clerical Staff
| SELENA BENJAMIN | THAIS BURROUGHS | JESSE CESTARO |
Fiscal Management
Fiscal Management Unit manages the financial aspects of the school district’s contractual obligations with contracted private providers and local Head Start agencies.
| WILLIAM MCKOY | RABIA CHAUNDRY |
To learn more about our Early Childhood Preschool Support Services,
please contact the Early Childhood Department at 201-915-6045.