Addressing Anxiety in Young Learners: A Teacherâ s Guide to Recognizing Needs and Resolving Behaviors

Dr. Sarah Taylor Vanover
Division of Child Care
Department of Community Based Services
Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Education
Doctorate of Education in Educational Policy and Leadership, Eastern Kentucky University, May 2016
• Dissertation Topic: Family Preferences for Childcare in Central Kentucky
• Kappa Delta Pi Education Honors Society

Masters of Science in Special Education, Emphasis on Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education, Eastern Kentucky University, May 2013
• Research Project: Parent Perception on Quality Infant/Toddler Programs

Bachelor of Science in Family Studies, Emphasis in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education, University of Kentucky, May 2002
• Minor in Music Performance, Emphasis in Voice
• Phi Omicron Upsilon – Honor Society for Family and Consumer Sciences
• College of Human Environmental Sciences Student Ambassador
• Graduation Speaker, May 2002, College of Human Environmental Sciences
• Member of Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity for Women; President 2001-2002

Credentials
Kentucky Teacher’s Certificate, Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education, Educational Professional Standards Board, 2003 to Present
Kentucky Early Care and Education Director’s Credential, #40775, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Kentucky Early Care and Education Trainer’s Credential, Level 5, #70761, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
AMS Early Childhood Montessori Certification, July 2004, Providence MontessoriTeacher Education Program
Orff Level 1 Music Teacher Certification, July 2006, University of Kentucky Fine ArtsProgram
Kodaly Music Teacher Training with Dr. John Feierabend, July 2009, Hartt Music School, Hartford, CT

Certifications
Certified Family Life Educator, National Council on Family Relations, Certification#1184232, August 2016 to August 2021
CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) Reliable, Certified by Teachstone, April 30, 2015 – April 30, 2017
Cradling Literacy Trainer, Certified by Zero to Three, August 2010
Trainer for “Orientation Training for Kentucky’s Early Care and Education Professionals”, Certified February 2011
Trainer for “Nurturing Parenting” Parent Education Program, Certified September 2011 by Dr. Stephen Bavolek

Publications
Finding Quality Early Childcare: A Step by Step Guide for Parents about What Matters Most, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers; Lanham, MD. October 2016
Sticky Situations: Case Studies in Early Childhood Program Management, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers; Lanham, MD. December 2016
The Beginning of School Readiness: Foundations of the Infant and Toddler Classrooms, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers; Lanham, MD. September 2017
Does My Child Have a Developmental Delay?: A Guide for Parents on Early Intervention,Rowman and Littlefield Publishers; Lanham, MD. November 2018
Building on Emergent Curriculum: The Power of Play for School Readiness, Gryphon House Publishers; Lewisville, NC. April 2020
S. Vanover (2020). "From circle time to small groups: Meeting children’s needs."Teaching Young Children, 13(4), 28-29.
America’s Child Care Crisis: Rethinking an Essential Business, Gryphon House Publishers; Lewisville, NC. TBA

Work Experience
Director, Division of Child Care, Department of Community Based Services, Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Frankfort, KY, October 2018 to Present
• State Administrator for Child Care and Development Block Grant Funding
• Develop and implement policy regarding enforcement of state/federal laws, rules, and regulations relative to child care.
• Responsible for budget management functions relative to state/federal administration funding for child care.
• Provide general guidance to other state divisions and agencies pertaining to child care policy and developments in the field.
• Confer and advise other divisions and agencies concerning legal questions and furnish written opinions or assign such requests to other staff.
• Represent the division on task forces, committees, or meetings regarding child care policies or regulations.
• Supervise a staff of 40+ employees that work throughout the division.

Director, Toyota Child Development Center, Bright Horizons, Georgetown, KY, August 2017 to September 2018
• Supervise and evaluate 45+ staff members
• Supervise curriculum and coach classroom teaching staff on best practice
• Coordinate facility management
• Implement center policies for staff and families
• Collaborate with teaching staff and families to increase child learning
• Collaborate with company partners (Toyota) to meet the needs of their staff
• Maintain ALL STARS accreditation and state licensing requirements
• Attend professional development opportunities to stay updated on best practice in the field of early childhood education

Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Child and Family Studies, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY, August 2016 to May 2017
• Teach child and family study coursework including:
• CDF 203 – The Philosophical and Historical Foundations of Early Childhood Education
• CDF 246 – Creative Activities for Young Children
• CDF 406 – Program Planning for Preschool Children
• Supervise clinical observation hours for IECE teacher candidates
• Supervise IECE student teachers
• QEP Implementation Committee
• Developed Curriculum for New Child Development Certificates
• Created Student Study Group on Developmental Math Skills to Assist IECE Students with Praxis Preparation

Early Head Start Partnership Coordinator, Community Action Council, Lexington, KY, February 2015 to August 2016
• Collect and aggregate required grant data
• Supervise and evaluate Early Head Start Specialists
• Monitor Early Head Start classrooms for Head Start Program Standard compliance
• Assess Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms with the ECERS (Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale) 3 and the ITERS (Infant Toddler Environmental Rating Scale
• Offer technical assistance to Early Head Start programs to achieve licensing,STARS, NAEYC, and Head Start program requirements
• Classroom coaching for Early Head Start teaching staff
• Train EHS Specialists and teachers on Brigance, Teaching Strategies Gold, Ages and Stages checklist, and Early Head Start Lesson Plans
• Initiate partnerships between Early Head Start and local childcare facilities
• Teach CDA coursework to Community Action Council teaching staff and parents
• Provide training to Early Head Start/Head Start classroom teachers as needed
• Remain CLASS Reliable and assess Head Start Classrooms
• Submit proposals and present trainings at regional and national conferences
• Participate in local Community Early Childhood Councils

Adjunct Professor, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY, January 2016 – May 2016
• Spring 2016 - Roles of the Special Educator, SED 805, College of Education
• Spring 2016 - Diversity Awareness for Professional Practice, CDF 424,Department of Child and Family Studies
• Summer 2017 – Curriculum Development for Teacher Leaders, ETL 803, College of Education

Executive Director, Child Development Center of the Bluegrass, Lexington, KY, December 2012 to December 2014
• Supervised and evaluated 80+ staff members
• Responsible for grant writing, fundraising events, marketing the program
• Coordinated facility management
• Create center policies for staff and families
• Responsible for maintaining NAEYC and All-STAR accreditation
• Supervise teaching staff and collaborate with families to increase child learning
• Participate in ARC/IEP Meetings for enrolled families and assist with transition to elementary school
• Serve as KTIP principal for Kentucky Teacher Internship Program candidates

Training Administrator, Division of Child Care, Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Frankfort, KY, Aug 2010 to December 2012
• Supervised the Kentucky Early Care and Education Trainer’s Credential
• Served on statewide professional development work groups
• Developed content for statewide training curriculum including the Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma training
• Trained Child Care Health Consultants and licensing surveyors on Kentucky childcare regulations
• Assisted with writing Kentucky childcare regulations

Professional Development Trainer, Child Care Council of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 2002 to 2015
• Develop trainings for local childcare providers on a variety of topics
• Offer professional development trainings in 2-hour to 6-hour workshops in Central Kentucky

Director of Child Care, Faith Lutheran Church Childcare, Lexington, KY, 2007 to 2010
• Supervise and evaluate fifteen staff members
• Select curriculum and policies for preschool classrooms for children age two to five years
• Collect tuition and create center budget
• Grant writing
• Teach music for preschool classrooms
• Communicate with parents and sponsor parent booster organization

Preschool Teacher, Seton Catholic School, Lexington, KY, 2006 to 2007
• Taught two half-day preschool classrooms
• Supervised and evaluated assistant teacher
• Planned curriculum and individual goals for 4-year-old students
• Conducted parent-teacher conferences twice per year

IECE Special Education Preschool Teacher, Shearer Elementary School, Clark County Public Schools, Winchester, KY, 2004 to 2006
• Supervised three and four-year-old students with and without disabilities
• Conducted developmental assessments on students enrolled in the classroom
• Attended IEP meetings and assisted in planning of developmental goals
• Planned and implemented weekly lesson plans
• Served on professional learning community with other early childhood educators

Children’s Minister (Part-Time), First Christian Church, Winchester, KY, 2003 to 2006
• Selected and implemented Sunday school curriculum for children’s ministries
• Implemented Young Children and Worship Montessori-based worship curriculum
• Recruited and supervised church volunteers to lead children’s programs
• Planned special events and fundraisers for children’s ministry programs

Montessori Preschool Teacher, Providence Montessori School, Lexington, KY, 2002 to 2004
• Received AMS Montessori certification for children ages three to six years old
• One of three teachers in a multi-age Montessori classroom with 27 children
• Followed structured Montessori lesson plans for math, language, and sensorial activities
• Created practical life, science, social studies, music, and art materials for the classroom
• Conducted assessments and parent-teacher conferences for three-year-old students
• Assisted with Parent Education Nights and enrollment interviews

Professional Organizations
National Early Childhood Solutions Consortium, The Hunt Institute, June 2020 to present
Member of the Kentucky Early Childhood Advisory Council (appointed by the Governor), October 2018 to Present
Co-Chair of the Kentucky Child Care Advisory Council (appointed by the Governor), October 2018 to Present
Fayette County Community Early Childhood Council, Member 2009 to 2018
• Voting Member 2009 to 2018
• Secretary, 2016-2018
Member of the Advisory Council for the Department of Consumer and Family Sciences at Eastern Kentucky University, Member 2012
Member of the Professional Development Sub-Committee for the Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council of Kentucky, 2012
Member of the Early Childhood Mental Health Advisory Board for Kentucky, Member 2009 to 2012
Bluegrass Chapter of the Kentucky Association of Early Childhood Education, President from 2005 to 2009
Kentucky Association of Early Childhood Education
• Vice President of Membership, 2009 to 2011
• Recording Secretary, 2005 to 2009
• Hospitality Chair, 2002 to 2005
Southern Early Childhood Association, Member since 2000
• Children’s Book Reviewer for SECA Journal, Dimensions
National Association of Education for Young Children, Member since 2000
Council for Exceptional Children, Member since 2005
Division of Early Childhood, Council for Exceptional Children, Member since 2005
• Conference Proposal Reviewer for Annual Conference, 2016 to present

State, Regional & National Conference Presentations
National Association for the Education of Young Children, Annual Conference, Virtual, November 2020
• “When Childhood Anxiety Leads to Negative Behaviors: Strategies to Work with Anxious Children in the Preschool Classroom”
National Association for the Education of Young Children, Professional Learning Institute, Virtual Institute, June 2020
• “We Can’t Go Back”: A Panel Discussion on the Changes to Early Childhood Education Post-Coronavirus
National Association for the Education of Young Children, Annual Conference, Nashville, TN, Nov 2019
• “Working with Millennials and Generation Z in the Early Childhood Workforce”
National Association for the Education of Young Children, Annual Conference, Washington D.C., Nov 2018
• “Mentoring and Motivating Experienced Child Care Staff”
Kentucky Early Childhood Institute, Louisville, KY, June 2018
• “The Beginning of School Readiness: The Foundations of the Infant and Toddler Classroom”
• “Mentoring and Motivating Experienced Childcare Staff”
National Association for the Education of Young Children, Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, November 2017
• “The Essential Need for Practical Life: Using Montessori Skills in the Play-based Classroom”
Kentucky Early Childhood Institute, Louisville, KY, June 2017
• “Mentoring Young Teachers”
• “Abandoning Circle Time”
Zero to Three National Conference, New Orleans, LA, December 2016
• Poster Presentation “Family Preferences for Childcare in Central Kentucky”
National Association for the Education of Young Children, Annual Conference, Los Angeles, November 2016
• “Family Preferences for Childcare”
Community Action Council, Lexington, KY
• Infant/Toddler CDA Coursework (Beginning October 2016 to present)
Ready Kids Conference by the Kentucky Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Education, Louisville, KY, July 2016.
• “Creating Conversations and Questions in the Preschool Classroom”
• “Creating Language Skills with Infants”
Kentucky Head Start Association, Louisville, Kentucky, May 2016.
• “Developing Language Interactions with Preschoolers”
• “Seizures and Epilepsy in Young Children”
• “Abandoning Circle Time”
Kentucky Head Start Association, Lexington, Kentucky, April 2015.
• “Preschool Handwriting”
• “Coaching First Year Teachers in the Classroom”
Ready Kids Conference by the Kentucky Governor’s Office of Early Childhood, Louisville, KY, June 2014.
• “Working with Multiple Generations in the Early Childhood Classroom”
• “Toilet Training Young Children”.
Kentucky’s Infant-Toddler Institute, Lexington, KY, July 2013.
• “Developmental Milestones for Infants and Toddlers”
• “Curriculum Development for Infants and Toddlers”.
Kentucky’s Infant-Toddler Institute, Lexington, KY, July 2012.
• “Top Ten Chronic Illnesses in Young Children”.
Kentucky’s Infant-Toddler Institute, Lexington, KY, August 2011.
• “Multiple Generations in the Early Childhood Classroom”.
Southern Early Childhood Association, Annual Conference, Savannah, Georgia, January 2011.
• “Multiple Generations Working in the Early Childhood Classroom”
• “Professionalism in Early Childhood Education”.
Southern Early Childhood Association, Annual Conference, Little Rock, Arkansas, January 2010.
• “A Year of Preschool Music Curriculum”
• “Epilepsy and Seizures in Young Children”.
National Association of Education for Young Children, Annual Conference, Dallas, Texas, November 2008.
• “Montessori Math Concepts for the Preschool Classroom”.
National Association of Education for Young Children, Annual Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, November 2006.
• “Spiritual Development in Young Children: Making the Concrete Abstract”.
American Montessori Society, Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois, April 2005.
• “Using Technically Correct Music Vocabulary in the Preschool Classroom”.
American Montessori Society, Annual Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio, May 2003.
• “Music in the Preschool Classroom”.