Interview Questions:

1. Can you share a meaningful or impactful moment working as a director and with children
that has shaped who you are today?
At the end of the year, our preschoolers graduate into kindergarten. We celebrate
that moment with a preschool graduation. Some of the most meaningful moments are
when the preschoolers hug me and take their little diploma. I know at that moment in the
time I helped plant a seed inside their minds and hearts of who they will become one
day! Every year those moments create memories and encourage me to continue what I
do.
2. What values or life lessons do you wish you will continuously pass onto your students?
It is important to teach our precious preschoolers to be kind, to love each other
and continue to make good choices.
3. What are some of the principles or values you have learned from being a preschool
director that you hold dear?
I value all of my students and their families. I have created endless bonds with
families from years ago. It’s when my students and families continue to come by to say
hi to me after they graduate preschool, makes my job feel even more rewarding,
knowing I made a big impact in their world.
4. How has your career changed your outlook on life?
My career choice has brought me a large amount of joy into my world. It reminds
me daily that I can make a difference in little ones' lives that might not have that extra
support at home. I am constantly reminded that I am a tiny part of helping each child be
our future generation. I am constantly reminded to be kind, patient and loving. Our
students give back by the drawings they draw, their hugs, their words of love and smiles.
5. What are some of the things that bring you joy and make you feel fulfilled working with
children?
I always say, my career is not a job. The hugs, smiles and the students telling me
how much they love me, fills my heart and I am so lucky to be able to do what I do.
6. How do you create a nurturing and inclusive environment for young children?
I am a very nurturing person. Being a director, it takes patience and a big heart. I
hire staff that are of the same mind and love to be around children. At my preschool, I
am proud and blessed to have a team of teachers that help provide an educational and
nurturing environment for each and every student that comes into our doors.
7. Can you describe an instance where you’ve helped children build confidence and
develop their unique strengths?
Helping children find strength and feel positive about themselves is something we
provide daily. It could be a child that doesn’t feel like his painting was good, or if a child
doesn’t feel like they can kick a soccer ball well. With positive words and reminding them
that they can do and be anything they want to do is something I encourage. Allowing
them to try again, or see the good choices they made can make a huge impact on how
they are feeling.
8. What are some expectations you have coming into work everyday? What expectations
for impacting the students?
 Being in a preschool facility, you expect a range of emotions that change daily for
each child. I know I am going to teach love and kindness. I know there will be some
naughty behavior, I know I will help redirect them at times, I know there could be
illnesses, or ouchies. I expect these normal situations daily, I just don't know exactly
when or what will happen.
9. Do you wish to make a positive impact on every student you have? How so?
Every family that enrolls in our facility, I want the parents to feel confident in
trusting me with their child. I want each child to feel safe and confident while at preschool
and feel loved.
10. Being a director, what are some responsibilities you have?
My role as a director is: Following licensing requirements within the whole facility
(Title 22), Keeping a safe and nurturing environment for the staff and children, billing
families and take payments for monthly tuition, communicating with families in all areas,
hire fully qualified teachers and staff (as well as letting an employee go if needed),
creating teachers and staff schedules, creating grocery orders and always stocking
refrigerators and pantries, creating menus for lunch and snacks for students, create
monthly reports and roastwers for board meetings and maintaining children’s records
and make sure they are updated as needed.
11. What is your favorite thing about your current role? Least favorite?
My favorite part of being a director is creating lifelong bonds with our students
and families. My least favorite is when I have to tell a family their child needs a different
environment (possibly due to behavior issues etc.).
12. Describe your leadership style and how you develop effective and positive impacts on
families within as well as outside Trinity.
I believe my leadership style is not as common as it should be. I do not
micromanage my staff. I allow the teachers to create their own personal “touch” to their
classrooms. I am patient and understanding. If teachers are out, I will step in for them. I
am flexible and my door is always open. I follow rules, I am patient and positiveI love
what I do and again I do not look at what I do as a job! It is my passion and goal to
create bonds and friendships within and outside of Trinity Preschool. A few examples
outside of Trinity would be… I was asked to be a former student's God mom. Another
family and my family are extremely close and have been in my own children’s life. I have
former students who are in college now that reach out to me and want me to mentor
them.
13. How do you continue to make children, parents and guardians feel valued?
I strive to keep communication between myself and each family who enrolls. If a
child gets hurt, I make sure to call them right away. I send pictures to the families to
allow them to see a peek into what their child is going through. If their child is having a
rough moment or not feeling good, I will call the families. I send emails, text and post
updates about current events on social media. I create relationships with each student
and I soon to be a household name allowing families to feel comfortable sending their
kids to preschool. I create conversations with families when they come into the faculty.
This is not just a preschool, I want families to think of it as their home away from home…
a happy place!
 14. What inspired you to pursue a career in young childhood education?
When growing up, I wanted to be a teacher. When becoming a mom, I fell in love
with being a mommy and I loved the young ages. My cousin was in the preschool field
and continuously told me how much she loved doing what she did. She encouraged me
to get my degree. I started teaching in the classroom and worked my way up to being a
director.
15. What do you think are the most important qualities for success as a preschool director?
Patience, loving children, nurturing personality, and being kind are some of what
makes me a great director. Creating a great work environment for my staff allows them
to do what they love to do. As a team, we create the best preschool around.

Images/Analysis:

Jennifer Coburn (my mother) playing Red Light Green Light with some of her students at Trinity
preschool. All children are running as fast as they can to Jennifer before she calls Red Light! All
of the smiles, participation, and emotions show how much of a change she is currently making
in these children’s lives- even if they don’t know it themselves.
Harper Christensen, one of my cousins, who goes to Trinity preschool with my mom. Every
Monday, Wednesday and Friday she spends her time at Trinity, playing with her new friends,
laughing, sharing, and growing up into the little girl she is. Her smile says it all… she LOVES her
preschool.

Resources:
➔ What/who is a preschool director and makes them who they are/ what they do
➔ How positive role models create change in young children’s lives.

Angle:
1. What is the most memorable thing about my subject?
a. The most memorable thing about my subject is that Jennifer Coburn (my subject)
is my mother. She is my best friend, my role-model, and my person.
2. What most interests you about the change your subject is creating?
a. The one thing that I would say most interests me the most about the change my
subject (my mother) is creating is about the younger generation and shaping
them into better versions of themselves. She is a preschool director who has a
goal to teach young children kindness, to show them love, to direct them into
growing up, and being a role model to these children- a friend, a person who
these children can go to for support, care and love if they don’t get that at home.
The reason why this interests me so much and is truly important to me is that I
myself want to become a teacher. Ever since seeing my mother teach and care
for younger children and seeing the look on their faces when she walks in the
room… I want to be that person. I want to be able to teach the future generation,
become a role-model and a friend who they know they can always go to.
3. What do you want your audience to do, think, or feel about your subject and the change
being created?
 a. I want my audience to understand the importance of being a support and teacher
to children and the benefits that come with it. Most people don’t understand the
hardships and importance that comes with being a teacher and having teachers
in our lives every single day.

Observation: Description
1. Introducing subject and angle, providing any necessary background information
2. Presents details that create some dominant impression of your subject
a. Sensory details, examples, dialogue, anecdotes, etc
3. State your overall impression, offering a final anecdote or quote or finishing a description
begun earlier