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Interview with a Curriculum Specialist

Evelin Hicks
CUR/516
October 19, 2015
Dr. Gary Cotton

Interview by: Evelin Hicks


Person Interviewed: Tia Downer
Title: Curriculum Specialist, Pre-school
Date: Oct. 16, 2015
Time: 6:30pm

Because the Ms. Downer has not performed a needs assessment with her staff in the past, I
simply asked her to please develop a few questions, that she thought were relevant to their job
title and workplace, to pass out to her staff and have them anonymously answer them.

The

questions were:
1. What is your favorite part about your position?
2. What can management do to better support you?
3. What do you think that this preschool can do to improve its overall performance?
The majority of the answers were very similar. Most of the teachers and assistant teachers said
that their favorite part of their position was working with children, which is what they love to do.
They all agreed that management can show that they care more and that pay raises would be
highly appreciated. They all agreed, especially those that have been in their current position for
more than one year, that the turn over should decrease.
When I asked Ms. Downer what changes, if any, she would like to see happen as the curriculum
coordinator? She answered that she definitely agreed with the majority of the staff, the turnover
is a huge problem. She often trains new teachers that end up staying for a couple of months and
then shes forced to train new teachers. She also said that the morale in the preschool could use
some improvement, she says the current director often disregards the staffs needs and
subsequently (and unfortunately) end up leaving. I asked what curriculum and assessment tool

were being used. They use the preschools franchise curriculum, which she mentioned that the
children really enjoy. The assessment tool they adopted in the beginning of the year, is Teaching
Strategies Gold. Having personally used this tool myself, I think its a great one. She says the
problem she faces on a daily basis is that due to the turnover rate of the preschool, very few new
teachers even know what TS Gold is. So, she has to teach the newbies what she knows, which
she admits she still has a lot to learn. She says this process makes her job a lot more difficult
than it needs or should be. So, its agreed by most of the staff and Ms. Downer herself, that
turnover is the biggest problem in this particular preschool.
My recommendation towards the solution of this problem is to find out why it is that staff
decide to resign and figure out what needs to happen to make the necessary changes. Perhaps a
meeting with the preschool owners about offering pay raises once staff have been employed
there for a certain amount of time, or incentives to further their education. Also, incentives
towards staffs own children may be necessary, half or 75% tuition discount for employees. Ms.
Downer and I agreed that a meeting with the preschools owners about the director is also
necessary. Ms. Downer said that most of the teaching staff as well as her, do not feel supported
by the current director and it makes for a very frigid workplace where morale is at an all time
low. I believe that with the necessary attention that this particular preschool needs, things can
turn around and the outcome can very possibly be a positive one.

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