Tania Garcia Cartagena

Assistant Director – Tarawa Terrace II Child Development Center | Deputy Fire Marshal
As the Assistant Director of Tarawa Terrace II Child Development Center, I play a key leadership role in overseeing the operations of a large, high-quality early childhood education program that meets Department of Defense (DoD) standards. I support a staff of over 100 employees, ensuring they are well-trained, effectively scheduled, and consistently aligned with our mission to provide a safe, inclusive, and enriching environment that prepares children for school and lifelong learning.

I lead efforts in staff scheduling, training coordination, and operational planning to ensure full compliance with DoD, USDA, and NAEYC standards. I manage the center’s budget, monitor expenditures, and oversee all purchasing activities to ensure financial responsibility while meeting program needs.

Our center offers a variety of age-appropriate activities that include guided play, computer use, creative arts, and literacy-based learning experiences. I also ensure the facility and programming accommodate all children, including those with allergies or special needs, through collaboration with the CYP Inclusion Action Team and individualized care planning.

Key Responsibilities and Accomplishments:

Supervise and support a team of over 100 employees, ensuring quality care, compliance, and ongoing professional development.

Develop and implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum promoting children's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth.

Create and manage staff schedules to ensure proper classroom coverage and operational efficiency.

Coordinate and track completion of all mandatory DoD annual training and agency requirements.

Manage the center’s operating budget, oversee purchasing, and ensure fiscal accountability.

Provide program oversight in accordance with DoD, USMC, and local policies, ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants.

Conduct needs assessments and use data to adapt programming and operating hours to meet the needs of families and command personnel.

Maintain accurate statistical and compliance data for higher headquarters reporting and program planning.

Participate in CYP Inclusion Action Team meetings; ensure accommodations and documentation for children with allergies, disabilities, or special needs.

Conduct daily safety inspections; as Deputy Fire Marshal, follow up on deficiencies and enforce safety compliance.

I am committed to operational excellence, staff leadership, and delivering a high-quality early childhood education experience for children and families at Tarawa Terrace II.

• Lead teams supporting full-service Child Development Centers (CDC's) are located at Midway Park, Tarawa Terrace, and Courthouse Bay on Camp Lejeune.
• On-the job mentor, guide, and support to newly hired Program Leads and how to maneuver their new protocols, roles, and responsibilities in their classrooms.
• Implement, create lesson plans based in each child utilizing Early Learning Matters Curriculum.
• Remain flexible, rotating throughout three CDC's to provide care, safety, and education to toddlers and preschoolers.
• Encourage positive development of social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth.
• Develop and revise programmatic CDC concepts and standards through planning, coordinating, and executing activities and events for children in accordance with philosophies and principals of the program and the Marine Corps Order 1710.30.
• Intermittently serve as the Director when members of leadership are unavailable, adhering to HQMC and NAYEC policies necessary to maintain national accreditation. Assist with program management, while providing children care as directed by the principles of early childhood development.
• Anticipate, coordinate, and welcome family-based activities and social events, such as the annual Fall Festival, including activities (arts, crafts, etc.) Through activities and family connection activities, encourage socialization between families and children to creatively develop and refine children's social and creative skills outside the classrooms.
• Consider critical information (parental instructions, social needs, medical restrictions, family dynamic/deployments, etc.) in plan development to implement regulatory guidance and support families.
• Encourage diversity by inviting parents and families to share cultural traditions during the festival, ensuring traditions are respected and celebrated.
• Develop and implement curriculums to meet the requirements of children with special needs, including Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and with various degrees of Autism.
• Adapt as needed for special circumstances to provide proper treatment, modifying my approach as needed for each child. Ex: Schedule arrivals/departures with parents of ADHD children to provides consistent routines and minimize related emotional outbursts.
• Utilize Conscious Discipline Training to assist the parents and children with special needs. EX: An Autistic child loved trains. Trains were incorporated into the curriculum based on recognition of social cues to encourage the child to meet developmental milestones, practice self-regulation, and improve focus and attentiveness. Similar tailored methods are developed for children on a base-by-case basis to enable children to learn and excel beyond their perceived limitations, using kindness and empathy as the foundation of emotional, social, and academic development.
• Facilitate liaison between management and staff members regarding programmatic changes with CDC employees, school representatives, and command personnel located at the installation.
• Mentor and develop less experienced employees upon joining various centers. Ensure personnel follow mandated child guidelines, developmental techniques, or go above and beyond to provide the best experience possible for everyone involved.
• Foster a positive and welcoming environment for the staff, children, and families.
• Embrace the ethos that teamwork among the staff is a priority. As a leader, a supervisor, it is imperative that I build up and develop those around me by leading with integrity, honesty, equity, and fairness.

• Created course presentations with audio and video.
• Selected and revised course curriculum to meet current program operations and expand their cognitive grow.
• Educated Military and DoD personnel about foreign cultures through immersive activities.
• Tutored school age students requiring additional assistance and exam preparation.

• Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
• Prepare material and classrooms for class activities. (Add program use to create the materials )
• Adapt teaching methods and instructional material to meet the diverse needs and interests of many students.
• Communicate with parents regarding the many aspects of their child's daily activities, behavior, and development.
• Develop and conducted activities based in the philosophy/ principals for the program that is balanced with instruction, demonstration, and hands-on time which will provide students with many learning opportunities like cognitive grow where they are able to observe, question, and investigate.
• Redirect disruptive patterns experienced by, both, students and staff with positive behavior; actions are consistently commended by parents/co-workers for possessing the ability to.
• Create course presentations with audio and video.

• Assisted, planned, and conducted activities for a program that is balanced with instruction, demonstration, and hands-on time which will provide students with cognitive grow and many other learning opportunities where they are able to observe, question, and investigate.
• Educated Military and DoD personnel students about foreign cultures through immersive activities.
• Tutored school age students requiring additional assistance and exam preparation.

• Conducted training for new successful personnel.
• Ensured adherence to standard operating procedures.
• Identified risks associated with safety.
• Ensured adherence to standard operating of the philosophy of the program and the Marine Corps Order.
• Mandatory reporting to Family Advocacy and Child Protective Services.

• Conducted training for new successful personnel.
• Ensured adherence to standard operating procedures of the philosophy of the program and the Marine Corps Order.
• Identified any risks associated with safety.
• Mandatory reporting to Family Advocacy and Child Protective Services.

• Served as a Shift Supervisor
• Directly supervised four staff members.
• Financial Management of the products ordered, receiving, and shipments.
• Conducted training of new personnel.
• Maintained inventory accuracy by counting stock-on-hand and reconciling discrepancies.
• Supported sales management initiatives to optimize business development.