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Find out more about our early educator coaching program. Early Educator Coaching A coach is an empathetic, encouraging, and experienced educator who can help you with curriculum and classroom recommendations, program structure, interacting with parents and staff, and more! First, you’ll identify goals for your classroom or teaching style. Together, you and the coach will discuss strategies to help you reach those goals. After implementing the new strategies, you’ll meet with the coach again for feedback. Early education coaches also facilitate Communities of Practice , where educators come together to support one another and learn as a group. All Childcare Resources coaching staff is certified through the University of Florida Lastinger Center. Sign up for coaching View Flyer More from the coaches June 1, 2026 Educator Spotlight: Celebrating Mauricia Flynn Read More May 1, 2026 Joy is not about removing challenges. It goes not make the work we do easier or faster. Joy gives us direction. Read More April 1, 2026 Practicing Joy Read More More Newsletters

Educator Spotlight: Celebrating Mauricia Flynn Coach's Column Amanda Gooch June 1, 2026 In early childhood education, confidence begins to blossom and bright futures take flight. This month, we are proud to shine our Educator Spotlight on Mauricia Flynn and celebrate the many accomplishments she has achieved throughout the past year. Mauricia, the 2024-2025 Early Childhood Educator of the Year nominee from Bridges Early Learning Center, is dedicated to creating a classroom environment where every child feels seen, encouraged, and inspired to grow. Her passion for teaching and commitment to nurturing young learners make a lasting impact on the children and families she serves each day. Mauricia recently achieved an exciting milestone by earning her Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC). Our outreach team is proud to celebrate her commitment to professional growth and her passion for early childhood education. Mauricia's dedication to learning and leadership continues to inspire those around her. This fall, she plans to take the next step in her journey by pursuing her Director's Credential , and we look forward to supporting her continued success along the way. Educators like Mauricia shape the future of one child, one smile, and one breakthrough moment at a time. Her dedication and passion are a true reflection of the incredible work happening in early childhood education every day. This fall, we look forward to celebrating more outstanding educators like Mauricia at our August 29th workshop , where we will honor the 2025-2026 Early Childhood Educators of the Year. We are also excited to welcome Conscious Discipline instructor Abbi Kruse. Abbi is the founder and the Executive Director of The Playing Field , an early childhood program serving children experiencing homelessness right alongside those from far more advantaged families. Prior to this role, Abbi served in a variety of ECE setting including the University of Wisconsin Preschool Lab, Head Start, and community based programs. Wishing you all the best, Amanda, Todd, and Jensen Back to Coaching Back to Newsletters

Explore previous newsletters from our early educator coaches. Coaching Newsletters Recent Newsletters June 1, 2026 Educator Spotlight: Celebrating Mauricia Flynn Read More May 1, 2026 Joy is not about removing challenges. It goes not make the work we do easier or faster. Joy gives us direction. Read More April 1, 2026 Practicing Joy Read More February 1, 2026 Celebrating Making Friends Read More January 1, 2026 Why Does Play Matter? Read More December 1, 2025 Play supports children's cognitive development Read More November 1, 2025 The Science of Reading Read More October 1, 2025 Literacy in early childhood classrooms Read More September 1, 2025 Our training focused on teaching what we practice, how Conscious Discipline starts with us. Read More Back to Coaching

Childcare Resources of Indian River provides and promotes high-quality early education throughout Indian River County. Childcare Resources. For Families. For Educators. For the Future. Latest News Florida Early Learning Chancellor Explores Childcare Resources Programs Childcare Resources Students Explore Sea Turtle Conservation Through Coastal Connections Visit Childcare Resources Named Recipient of Record Gift from Orchid Island Family 5K Walk & Run View More "The first five years have so much to do with how the next eighty turn out." - Bill Gates Now Hiring Apply Today!

Executive Director Childcare Resources School Wellness & Early Intervention Outreach & Philanthropic Services Outreach Team Fundraising & Grants Finance & Human Resources Meet the Team Executive Director Childcare Resources School Wellness & Early Intervention Outreach & Philanthropic Services Outreach Team Fundraising & Grants Finance & Human Resources Executive Director Executive Director Shannon McGuire Bowman, MA, MEd, CFRE Team member since 2012 Contact: Shannon@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-567-3202 ext. 102 Childcare Resources School Director, Childcare Resources School Tara Beard, M Ed Team member since 2013 Contact: Tara@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-778-8884 ext. 131 Assistant Director, Childcare Resources School Sadie Collet, M Ed Team member since 2019 Contact: Sadie@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-778-8884 ext. 131 Administrative Assistant, Childcare Resources School Kimberly Martinez Team member since 2021 Contact: Kim@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-778-8884 ext. 120 Wellness & Early Intervention Director, Wellness & Early Intervention Tracey Griffis, RN, BSN Team member since 2017 Contact: Tracey@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-567-3202 ext. 112 Wellness Coordinator & Enrollment Management Andrea Donghia, M Ed Team member since 2021 Contact: Andrea@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-567-3202 ext. 145 Family Support Specialist Diana Pena Stein Team member since 2021 Contact: Diana@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-567-3202 Mental & Behavioral Health Coach Jessica Halpin, MS, BCBS Team member since 2023 Contact: JessicaH@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-567-3202 ext. 113 Outreach & Philanthropic Services Director, Outreach and Philanthropic Services Monica Cheslak, MA Team member since 2014 Contact: Monica@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-567-3202 ext. 104 Coordinator, Development & Outreach Annika Sweetland, MNA Team member since 2024 Contact: Annika@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-567-3202 ext. 101 Outreach Team Coordinator, Higher Education Program Stephanie Harmody, M Ed Team member since 2021 Contact: Stephanie@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-567-3202 ext. 114 Higher Education Program Recruitment Specialist Lisa Gonzalez Team member since 2019 Contact: Lisa@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-567-3202 ext. 115 Early Childhood Education Coach Amanda Gooch, MAT Team member since 2022 Contact: Amanda@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-567-3202 ext. 114 Early Childhood Education Coach Todd Morrow, MS Ed, Ed. S Team member since 2023 Contact: Todd@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-567-3202 ext. 114 Early Childhood Education Coach Jensen McCord Team member since 2025 Contact: Jensen@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-567-3202 ext. 114 Fundraising & Grants Director of Philanthropy Ashley Marshall, MS, CFRM Team member since 2026 Contact: Ashley.Marshall@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-567-3202 ext. 108 Development Manager, Executive Assistant Tiffani Atteo Team member since 2023 Contact: Tiffani@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-567-3202 ext. 102 Manager, Database & Creative Services Kate Saska Team member since 2016 Contact: Kate@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-567-3202 ext. 105 Grants Specialist Sophia Olsinski, MA Team member since 2022 Contact: Sophia@ChildcareResourcesIR.org Finance and Human Resources Director, Finance and Human Resources Michele Harr Team member since 2014 Contact: Michele@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-567-3202 ext. 103 Manager, Finance and Human Resources Allison Sullivan Team member since 2024 Contact: Allison@ChildcareResourcesIR.org 772-567-3202 ext. 144

Learn about our high-quality childcare program, including how to qualify and how to apply. About the Program Childcare Resources works to provide high-quality childcare at an affordable cost to working families in Indian River County, providing full-time care for more than 150 children between six weeks and five years of age. Care is provided at the Childcare Resources School and at privately-owned contracting centers. All centers are accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) . In addition to childcare, Childcare Resources provides wellness services including mental health referrals and on-site therapies. Educational programming is provided for parents on a regular basis. To qualify for the Childcare Resources program, all adults in the household must meet three requirements: Live in Indian River County Be employed or attending school full-time Work full-time (at least 30 hours per week) Attend school full-time (12 credit hours or more) Or a combination of work and school that adds up to a full time position. Meet the income eligibility requirements below: Number in Household Household Income 2 $32,460 - $45,444 3 $40,980 - $57,372 4 $49,500 - $69,300 5 $58,020 - $81,228 6 $66,540 - $93,156 7 $75,060 - $105,084 8 $83,580 - $117,012 Meet all three requirements? Complete the preliminary application! Frequently asked questions The Childcare Resources School The Childcare Resources Program Opportunities to Give Outreach for Early Educators What are the school's hours? The Childcare Resources School is open Monday through Friday, from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. What is the school's license number? The Childcare Resources School's license number is #C19IR0002 What qualifications do teachers need? In addition to background screening, all of our teachers are required to obtain an FCCPC or CDA staff credential within one year of being hired. Does the school have classroom volunteers? Yes! Childcare Resources has a dedicated group of volunteers that are a valuable part of our school family. Our volunteers do everything from playground cleanup to serving lunch to providing one-on-one attention in classrooms. Childcare Resources policy is that a staff member is always present when a volunteer is working with a child. All volunteers are screened in the same manner as school staff. Is there a parent handbook? Yes, you can view the parent handbook here.

Learn more about our wellness services for program students and families. Wellness Childcare Resources offers a spectrum of wellness services for program families. Our Wellness Program features Parent Cafes and other parent engagement opportunities in an effort to bolster the success of those in our program. We partner with a variety of local therapy providers. Our on-site therapy rooms enable students to participate in therapy with the least disruption to their school day. Childcare Resources maintains collaborative relationships with several local organizations, including the Mental Health Association and Tykes & Teens , to provide mental health referrals and services for our program families, as needed. We strive to ensure that the children in our program have the opportunity for Early Intervention services and that those needs are met to allow them to achieve the optimal level of learning and success. View Brochure (PDF)

Foundations of Child Development | Dr. Peg Oliveira | Gesell Institute at Yale Foundations of Child Development October 2019 Handout (PDF) Back Dr. Peg Oliveira Gesell Institute at Yale

Why Does Play Matter? Coach's Column Amanda Gooch January 1, 2026 An essential question we need to ask ourselves to enhance our practice is: Why does play matter? Children learn through play and play to learn. Children learn about themselves, their bodies and their feelings. They learn and connect with others around them. They learn about their environment and "things" in their environment, like toys and nature. Through active hand-on play; children will develop their motor and movement skills, problem solving and cognitive skills, language and social skills. An additional essential question we need to ask ourselves to enhance our practice is: What is the importance of play-based learning? Play-based learning at its finest utilizes the environment as a third teacher, in conjunction with the students and classroom facilitator. A place where every activity and object placed in the space has a purpose, adds to the learning, and helps scaffold information across the learning domains. In children's brains, when they are playing, they are doing the deepest learning. Children learn best when at least one of these four pillars are present in the classroom: The child is able to take an active role in the learning environment The child is engaged The information presented is meaningful The child is able to learn and interact in a social context As educators we are creating learning environments that support frequent and long periods of sophisticated engagement. We are also balancing intentional interactions that are attuned and aligned with genuine child interests and passions. By observing, reflecting and being prepared to interact flexibly, we are in essence following the child's lead. With the information collected we are able to show engaged support of learning. We are spending most of our time in active facilitation by being involved with our students, providing intentional opportunities and guidance for learning and development. We are also furthering our student's emotional and behavioral support by emphasizing children's interests, motivations, and points of view. "Children can learn in different ways, like building cities, recognizing patterns and counting by numbers. These are just a few activities we do with our unifix cubes in class every day." We are so thankful for educators like Juanita Ayora from Kid City USA , who continue to show evidence of implementation from our recent technical assistance following our workshop. We thank you for your dedication and willingness to pir into the next generation through education as we elevate and promote the highest quality early childhood development and education in Indian River County. Amanda, Todd, and Jensen Back to Coaching Back to Newsletters

I'll Bring the Joy | Dr. Nefertiti Poyner | Mighty Works Education Group I'll Bring the Joy March 14, 2026 Handout (PDF) Back Dr. Nefertiti Poyner Mighty Works Education Group Join us Saturday, March 14 for I'll Bring the Joy: Finding Purpose, Passion, and Peace in Early Childhood Education with Dr. Nefertiti Poyner. Connect personal experiences and core values to your purpose in early childhood education. Identify workplace misalignments and examine how internal and external noise disrupts your purpose, passion,peace, and moments of joy. Develop a simple Listen for Joy practice to quiet the noise and realign with your purpose. Workshop will be held at Vero Beach Museum of Art

Caring is a product of a community that deems all of its members important Coach's Column Amanda Gooch September 1, 2023 Our recent training with Kristen Balhoff focused on supporting neurodiversity in the classroom. Together we explored the role of adults during children’s significant “brain building” years. We discovered the positive impact of shifting our perceptions from unconscious reflexes and emotional reactions to conscious, wise responses. We also reviewed practical strategies to nurture a felt sense of safety. One of my favorite parts of the training was when we dove in deep on the significance of creating a Conscious Discipline School Family within our classrooms. When we create a School Family we are building connections through a culture of compassion. We create a positive school climate by eliminating reward and punishment in favor of the safety, connection and problem-solving. The Conscious Discipline School Family creates caring communities. Caring is a product of a community that deems all of its members important, believes everyone has something to contribute, and acknowledges that everyone counts. How do we achieve this connection for Creating a School Family? Face to face interactions I love you rituals Greetings or goodbyes Wish you well rituals Friends and Family Board As your Early Childhood Education Coach, I am here to help you start each and every day strong with Active Calming. One of the many benefits of Active Calming is that it helps to clarify how we think, feel and act. Reminding ourselves that how we think dictates how we feel which dictates how we act. We are in charge of our own internal state, feelings and behavior. As adults when we are in our higher brain of executive functioning, we are able to problem solve instead of react. Here are some examples of breathing techniques for Active Calming: STAR, Drain, Balloon & Pretzel To learn more about Active Calming and Conscious Discipline breathing techniques, click on the link below: Visit Website Wishing you well, Amanda Back to Coaching Back to Newsletters

Literacy and the arts go hand in hand. How do they work together so our little ones can learn pre-literacy skills... Coach's Column Susan Roberts May 1, 2020 Literacy and the arts go hand in hand. How do they work together so our little ones can learn pre-literacy skills which include expanding vocabulary, sharpening visual perception and critical thinking? Interacting with fine art to increase pre-literacy skills is something teachers do all of the time. But it is usually done with books. Let’s look at enhancing pre-literacy skills with fine art: Here are two pictures with a starry night theme. As educators you can have your children describe each picture; talk about the elements of the picture, the colors and shading, count the stars, and notice similarities and differences, etc. With these pictures you can choose to talk about movement, and the strokes of the painter’s brush. How do you know it’s nighttime? How does the picture make you feel? Can your children tell a story about the starry night or about when they experienced a starry night? You may have your children try to make a starry night picture of their own with paints, or paper scraps, star stickers or stencils: It really doesn’t matter if one picture is by Eric Carle and the other by Vincent Van Gogh. With the second picture you are exposing children to a painting they will see many times throughout their lives. You are giving them knowledge they can build upon in the future. Taking children to an art museum introduces them to a wonderful learning experience. Due to transportation issues and supervision many teachers cannot arrange such a trip. You can bring fine artwork to your children by sharing prints and reproductions. You will be helping them develop an awareness and appreciation for art, as well as increasing important pre-literacy skills. Back to Coaching Back to Newsletters