Samantha Brave
Cicero
Summary
Reliable and punctual employee with experience as a Lead Teacher's Assistant. Thrives in fast-paced work environments, excelling in tasks such as cash handling, drawer balancing, daily reporting, complex problem-solving, and schedule coordination. Strong communication and comprehension abilities contribute to success in supporting the team. Skilled in relationship building and possess knowledge for effective interaction with individuals and small groups.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Preschool Teacher's Assistant
Grand Ave Preschool And Day Care
Burr Ridge, IL
08.2023 - Current
- Interacted with children one-on-one and in small groups to enhance and support learning activities.
- Communicated with parents to inform about child's progress and classroom behavior.
- Maintained classrooms by disinfecting and sterilizing surfaces and toys.
- Prepared for lessons by gathering educational materials and setting up equipment.
- Assisted teacher by developing lesson plans to meet educational goals for each child.
- Collaborated with instructors to develop engaging lesson plans.
- Took part in professional development workshops to boost skills.
- Assisted students in developing deeper understanding of course concepts by providing one-on-one support.
- Developed strong relationships with parents and caregivers, providing regular updates on their child''s progress and addressing any concerns proactively.
Lead Teacher's Assistant
Creative World Montessori School
La Grange, IL
08.2022 - 02.2023
- Observed and evaluated children's performance, behavior, social development and physical health
- Prepared materials and classrooms for class activities
- Provided diverse materials and resources for children to explore new concepts and learn problem-solving
- Kept accurate student records detailing attendance, progress and challenges
- Established and enforced rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order
- Modeled behavioral and social skills to help students learn, respect and enforce proper boundaries
- Attended professional meetings, educational conferences and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence
- Diversified teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests
- Served meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines
- Promoted student curiosity and skills development with games and activities related to class concepts
- Monitored student behavior to maintain order during meal periods and class transitions
Sales Associate/ Cashier
Build A Bear
Oak Brook, IL
05.2022 - 10.2022
- Kept signage and merchandise displays organized and up-to-date, promoting visual presentation standards
- Drove sales through customer relationship building and suggestive selling techniques
- Cross-trained with other store departments and areas, supporting overall retail operations
- Performed cleaning tasks, keeping store neat and organized
- Engaged with guests to understand and anticipate customer service needs
- Operated cash register and POS to process sales transactions and handle payments
- Greeted and escorted customers to product racks and shelves to assist with finding merchandise
Cashier
Berwyn Pav YMCA
Berwyn, IL
01.2018 - 08.2022
- Provided product information to customers and aligned products with customer needs to boost satisfaction
- Used knowledge of company products and services to recommend solutions to customers
- Represented brand during special events, customer interactions and sales
- Greeted and informed customers of products, fostering positive store experiences
- Delivered service excellence through all points of contact
- Processed cash, check and credit cards for customer purchases
- Counted cash drawers at beginning of shifts to verify correct amounts
Family Nanny
Nanny
Oak Park, IL
01.2018 - 08.2022
- Offered age-based development activities to foster child enrichment
- Created safe and secure environment for children to play and learn
- Transported children to and from school, doctor appointments and extracurricular activities
- Helped children with homework and school assignments, fostering education and development
- Cultivated positive relationships with parents by working alongside to care for children
- Took on variety of roles, working flexible hours to meet fluctuating needs of family
- Prepared and served nutritionally balanced meals and snacks for children
- Helped developed and monitored family schedule
- Supervised and assisted with homework
- Incorporated music and art activities to encourage creativity and expression
- Identified signs of emotional and developmental problems in children to report concerns to parents
Daycare Teacher
Berwyn Pav YMCA
Berwyn, IL
06.2015 - 12.2018
- Encouraged self-esteem, independence, and respect through positive reinforcement
- Coordinated interactive activities to meet children's physical, emotional, intellectual, and social needs
- Developed emergency response plans and posted all necessary safety and evacuation information
- Cultivated welcoming learning environments rooted in exploring new concepts and building developmentally appropriate skills
- Monitored children's progress and challenges and discussed with parents and caregiver to foster open communication
- Assisted children with task and activity completion, while allowing them to navigate challenges independently first
- Supervised children during all activities to maintain safety and wellbeing
- Established clear expectations for behavior and redirected problematic actions with positive reinforcement or established discipline protocols
- Taught children how to take care of personal needs such as managing outerwear and handwashing
- Helped children explore new ideas and concepts through hands-on learning
Education
Triton College
River Grove, ILSkills
- Work Task Prioritization
- Customer Relations
- Cooperative Attitude
- Cashier Abilities
- Organizational and Planning Skills
- Collaborative and Team-Oriented
- Critical thinking
- Relationship building
Timeline
Preschool Teacher's Assistant
Grand Ave Preschool And Day Care
08.2023 - Current
Lead Teacher's Assistant
Creative World Montessori School
08.2022 - 02.2023
Sales Associate/ Cashier
Build A Bear
05.2022 - 10.2022
Cashier
Berwyn Pav YMCA
01.2018 - 08.2022
Family Nanny
Nanny
01.2018 - 08.2022
Daycare Teacher
Berwyn Pav YMCA
06.2015 - 12.2018
Triton College