Samantha Deal
I am a passionate advocate for children, families and educators using relationship based professional development and coaching to;
support educational teams that value a strong image of the child
strengthen/develop/ensure strong collaborative relationships, and
create/nurture a caring and supportive community and a diverse and inclusive school setting
During my 10 years at the University of Tennessee Early Learning Center (ELC) for Research and Practice I worked alongside members of an educational team that inspired and challenged me every day. During my time at the ELC I was provided opportunities to explore and develop mentor strategies that would allow me to individualize my coaching to meet teachers’ needs, build a strong classroom community for the children and families I worked alongside, and engage in continual professional development supporting my growth as an educator and mentor.
In my current work as a Pedagogical Coach I focus on;
supporting educators working with children aged 3 months-4 years
collaborating with school leadership teams, and
working with families to support children’s developmental needs at home and at school
Our work together can take different forms, including planning and facilitating professional development, developing and facilitating workshops for teachers or families (in-person or virtual), setting goals or community specific support. I provide customized content and support that are unique to each program and group of educators. My offerings and services include:
Group and one-on-one coaching
In person or virtual
Leadership support
Professional Development: planning and facilitating inservices or other professional development initiatives
Access to relevant resources for educators and leaders
Workshops for staff and families
I look forward to the opportunity to meet with you to consider future work on which we can collaborate.
Sample topics we can explore together:
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Curriculum:
Infant, Toddler and Preschool Curriculum Development
Responsive Caregiving
Play-Based
Nature-Based Learning
Respectful Infant Educarers’ Approach (RIE Approach)
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Development:
Age-Appropriate Lesson Planning and Learning Opportunities
Behavioral Support for Young Children
Emotional Intelligence
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Community Building
Developing and Maintaining Strong Relationships
Mentoring and Coaching
Developing Strong Communication
In the classroom
With staff
With families
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Reggio Emilia Approach
Observing and Documenting Practices
Environmental Design
Engaging and Communicating with Families
Creating Learning Spaces for Teachers and Staff Development
Project Work
Workshops
Responsive Caregiving
Transitioning to School
Toilet Learning
Toddler Conflict
Child-centered Play
Theory to Practice
Documentation as a tool for Observations and Assessment
Emergent Curriculum
Reggio Emilia Inspired Practices
RIE- the principles and how it looks in a child care setting
