My name is Tanaisha White and I am the Acting Supervisor for the Office of Early Childhood. For the past 30 years, I have been blessed to work in the Early Childhood field; placing an emphasis on urban education and equitable learning experiences for all children. I have taught preschool, kindergarten, first and second grade and have also worked as a Plainfield Public Schools Instructional Coach for over a decade. I was also the proud owner of Tiny Tot Academy Infant and Toddler facility for 20 years. I am currently in the final months of completing the NJ Excel Educational Leadership Program and am in the process of obtaining my Principal License. In addition, I am a second-year doctoral student, where I have chosen to expand my pedagogical knowledge and focus on secondary education.
Lumishka Trumbull, MSW Community and Parent Involvement Specialist (CPIS) Nathan McBean, Fiscal Specialist; Joy Davis, Custodian
The Community and Parent Involvement Specialist (CPIS) oversees the district’s family services. The CPIS supports the Family Workers at our preschool centers so that they are equipped to support our families, provide access to a wealth of local community resources and strengthen the home-school connection. She also organizes district-wide family involvement events, assists with staffing, and facilitates the Early Childhood Education Advisory Council (P.I.E.C.E.S.).
Preschool Intervention and Referral Specialists (PIRS)
The PIRS team supports classroom teachers by providing them with strategies to address challenges that our children may face in various areas of their development. Requests for Assistance (RFA) are made to the PIRS team through a screening process for all new entrants, as well ongoing observations made by teachers and/or the students’ caregivers. Based on the individual needs of each child, the PIRS team develops intervention plans and provides coaching to classroom teachers that promote the social-emotional development of their students.
Early Childhood Nurses
The Early Childhood Nurses collaborate with the Child Care Centers to ensure that our students can thrive in an academic environment. They provide screenings, maintain health records, and ensure that our students are receiving proper health care. Through student and parent education, they work to improve the well-being and quality of health for our children and their families.
Preschool Instructional Coaches
The Preschool Instructional Coaches (formerly known as Master Teachers) work to improve the instructional component of our preschool program. Through ongoing assessment, targeted professional development and a reflective coaching practice; our coaches support the preschool teachers so that they are ready and able to provide our students with the high-quality preschool program that will prepare them for Kindergarten and beyond.
OEC Secretaries
The secretaries of OEC happily greet incoming families and assist them as they navigate the enrollment process. Their primary responsibility is to ensure that our students can attend our program through the creation and management of a well-organized intake and registration process. Additionally, our team supports the Director and Supervisor with all administrative needs such as credentialing of teachers, ordering and maintaining supplies, and helping with organization of the entire office.