Ivana Thomas
Raleigh
Summary
I’m early education teacher with a CDA Child Development Certificate specializing in infants and toddlers. I also have training and experience as a special needs paraprofessional. I am passionate about helping young children develop their emotional, socio-emotional, and cognitive skills. I enjoy creating learning curriculums that support that are individualized to each child’s development goals and needs. It is important to me to view the learner holistically, focusing on their emotional learning, cultural learning, social and interpersonal learning. I have also worked as a psychology teaching and research assistant on a college campus, a nutritional aide at healthcare facilities in addition to being an early education lead teacher and paraprofessional.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Toddler Teacher
KinderCare Learning Centers
New York
10.2022 - 09.2024
- Created a safe and nurturing classroom environment for young children.
- Talked daily with parents to immediately address any of the children's needs and to share the children’s daily progress.
- Trained and mentored new teachers on best practices in early childhood education.
- Organized parent-teacher conferences and lead committees to plan seasonal events at the center events.
- Helped nonverbal one and two-year olds become verbal by their date to transition to the 3K/ preschool program.
- Created quarterly newsletters and shared reports on student progress (for toddlers in my classroom and other classrooms at the center).
- Cleaned and sanitized learning environment daily and supplies were toddler-safe.
Paraprofessional Tutor
Kokua Education
New York
08.2021 - 01.2022
- Lesson planning for students with specialized education plans, working with colleagues to measure student progress.
- Ensured students fully comprehended the lesson and provided extra guidance to students that needed it.
- Assisted students with take-home work and understanding of course material.
- Facilitated small group activities to enhance social learning experiences.
Nutrition Aide
Village Care Rehabilitation Facility
New York
02.2019 - 05.2019
- Logged all daily reports and documented needed assistance as appropriate
- Responded promptly to the needs of patients that needed assistance or help with meals.
- Interacted with nursing staff to ensure individual patients received special diets as needed and to make sure that the patients in our care had their optimal food preferences met by the center.
Child Development Clinic Teaching Assistant
Hampton University Department of Psychology
Hampton
04.2014 - 05.2016
- Helped keep track of learner progress of children enrolled in preschool
- Read to children and helped with daily literacy activities
- Assisted teachers in preparing learning materials for children in the early childhood center located on campus.
Board Member
Hampton University Advisory Board
Hampton
04.2014 - 05.2016
- Along with fellow professors and students, acted as a liaison to administration
- Led conversations on solving student issues, bettering the educational environment, and responding to feedback.
Statistics Teaching Assistant
Hampton University Department of Psychology
Hampton
04.2014 - 05.2015
- Held peer-led tutoring sessions for statistics for the psychology, education, and liberal arts students.
- Trained other students with solving math and graphing problems for their senior research projects.
Education
Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential - CDA National Credentialing Program
Waldorf University
Minneapolis, MN 11.2023 - 03.2024
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Hampton University
Hampton, Virginia 08.2012 - 05/2016
Skills
- Special education training
- Administering developmental testing
- Motor skills development
- Play-based interventions
- Behavior management techniques
- Social skills development
- Positive reinforcement
References
- Dr. Leona Johnson, 850-412-5417 JohnsonLeonaM@aol.com
- Mr. Arshad Ali, Arshadali8888@gmail.com
- Ms. Symia McKeller, 702-412-7140
Timeline
Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential - CDA National Credentialing Program
Waldorf University
11.2023 - 03.2024
Lead Toddler Teacher
KinderCare Learning Centers
10.2022 - 09.2024
Paraprofessional Tutor
Kokua Education
08.2021 - 01.2022
Nutrition Aide
Village Care Rehabilitation Facility
02.2019 - 05.2019
Statistics Teaching Assistant
Hampton University Department of Psychology
04.2014 - 05.2015
Child Development Clinic Teaching Assistant
Hampton University Department of Psychology
04.2014 - 05.2016
Board Member
Hampton University Advisory Board
04.2014 - 05.2016
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Hampton University
08.2012 - 05/2016