Garon Stradley Smith
2536 Fernwood Drive * Greensboro, North Carolina 27408 * (336) 334-5307
gssmith@uncg.edu
Education_________________________________________________________________
Birth-Kindergarten
M.Ed., University of North Carolina at Greensboro -1996
Design (Fibers concentration), Minor in Psychology
BFA, University of North Carolina at Greensboro - 1992
Professional Employment________________________________________________________
August 2006- Present Academic Professional, Human Development and Family Studies
Birth-Kindergarten, Coordinator of Student Teaching Placement and Supervision
 Coordinate placements for BK licensure student teachers (HDF 460) and Early Care and
Education internship (HDF 450). Duties include placing student in appropriate classroom
and supervising students, leading the professional weekly seminar attached to each
course.
Birth-Kindergarten, Licensure-Only Coordinator
 Coordinate the licensure-only program for the HDF department. Duties include
evaluating new licensure-only students transcripts and writing each student’s plan of
study, working with the teachers academy to admitted each student; advising each student
accepted into the licensure only program on their individual plan of study
Work Experience Outside of Academia_________________________________________
Child Care Education Program, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
February 1998 – July 2006 Preschool Teacher.
Work in an inclusive preschool classroom with children ages three to five years; provided
supervision to university practicum students and student teachers
February 1996 - February 1998 Preschool Teacher.
Worked in a collaborative classroom with Governor Morehead North Carolina State School for
the Blind. Children ages two through five were served in this classroom. Provided supervision to
university practicum students and students teachers.
Early Childhood Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
August 1995 - February 1996 Team leader of Infant/Toddler Team.
Communicated needs of team to administration, assist teachers when issues arise in classrooms,
and assist in coordinating teacher’s schedules.
October 1992 - February 1996 Teacher in the Toddler and Two year old classrooms.
Learned to incorporate Developmentally Appropriate Planning and Grassroots Planning into the
classroom.
Triad Childcare Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
May 1992 - October 1992 Teacher in Toddler and Infant II classrooms.
Ruggles Street Learning Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
November 1988 - May 1992 Teacher’s Assistant and Teacher.
Gained experience working with children from infants to school.
Gentle Caress Daycare, Morganton, North Carolina
May 1988 - August 1988 Teacher’s Assistant.
Academic Service_______________________________________________________________
HDF Committees
 Birth-Kindergarten Committee (2006-Present)
 Birth-Kindergarten Interdisciplinary Committee (2006-Present)
 BK Advisory Board (2006-Present)
 Birth-Kindergarten Revisioning Committee (2008-2009)
 Diversity Committee (2009-Present)
 Cooperating Teacher Supervisory Committee (2012-2013)
 Care Student Organization Committee (2012-2013)
UNCG Committees
 Council of Program Coordinators (2007-Present)
 CPC Field Placement Committee (2007-2008)
 Service Learning Advisory Board (2009-2012)
Student Organization Faculty Sponsor – 2007 - 2012
Co-sponsor of with Dr. Catherine Scott-Little of the C.A.R.E (Child, Advocacy, Research, and
Education) student organization. Responsibilities include organizing meeting, surveying student’s
interest and providing speakers and/or resources on these topics.
Courses Taught
HDF 460 Supervised Student Teaching
HDF 450 Professional Experiences in Early Childhood
HDF 470 Leadership in Early Care and Education
Additional Teaching Opportunities
Department Representative (April 2011) University Studies- 101
 Provide information about concentration option in HDFS
Department Representative (October 2011) University Studies- 101
 Provide information about concentration option in HDFS
Department Representative (April 2010) University Studies- 101
 Provide information about concentration option in HDFS
Panel Discussion (November 2005) Human Development and Family Studies 350 & 360
 Student Teaching Experience
Panel Discussion (November 2005) Human Development and Family Studies 435
 Student Teaching Experience
Panel Discussion (November 2004) Human Development and Family Studies 435
 Student Teaching Experience
Guest Lecturer (September 2002) UNC-Greensboro Human Development and Family
Studies 435
 Observation Based Planning
Guest Lecturer (March 2002) UNC-Greensboro Human Development and Family
Studies 435
 Making All Times of the Day Developmentally Appropriate
Guest Lecturer (March 2002) UNC-Greensboro Human Development and Family
Studies 435
 Observation Based Planning
Guest Lecturer (September 2001) UNC-Greensboro Human Development and Family
Studies 435
 Observation Based Planning
Guest Lecturer (September 2001) Meredith College, Raleigh, NC
 Observation Based Planning
Presentations
__________________________________
Smith, G.S. (November 2012) Linking Assessment to Curriculum: Utilizing Formal and Informal
Assessment Methods in Portfolios Presented at the Early Childhood Centre, Greensboro,
NC
Smith, G.S., (May 1997) Outside Time for Preschoolers: What Are They Learning? and Outside
Time for Infants and Toddlers: What Are They Learning? Presented at the North Carolina
Day Care Association Conference, Greensboro, NC
Smith, G.S., Panel Discussion (April 1995) Biting in the Early Childhood Classroom. Presented
at United Child Development Services, Greensboro, NC
Smith, G.S., (April 1995) The ADHD Child in the Preschool Classroom. Presented at Early
Childhood Center, Greensboro, NC
Smith, G.S., Panel Discussion (September, 2008) Option for Pursuing Birth-Kindergarten
Licensure. Hosted by the North Carolina Office of School Readiness, Presented at United
Childcare Development Services, Greensboro, NC
Professional Development______________________________________________________
DIVAS- Distinguished, Intellectual, Virtuous, Academic, Sistas Conference Building Community
Connections: Diversity in Various Academic Spaces (October 2012)
Annual Professional Development Luncheon Regional Child care Resource and Referral (October
2009)
Passing the Torch: Teacher Mentoring Institute (June 2009)
HDF 527 UNCG, Making Room in the Circle February (Jan 2007 – April 2007)
National Association for the Education of Young Children’s North Carolina Conference
(September 2006)
North Carolina Preschool Standards Dialogue (November 2005)
Anti-Racism Workshop (November 2002)
HDF 583 UNCG, Leadership and Mentoring in the Education of Children (August, 2000 December 2000
National Association for the Education of Young Children National Conference (November
2000)
North Carolina State Playground Safety Training (July 2000)
Project Approach Training (March 2000)
Day for Day Care Conference (February 2000)
Professional Organizations
__________________________________________________
 National Association for the Education of Young Children (1998-Present)
Professional Service_ __ ________________________________________________________
 Our Children’s Community School (2007- Present) Board Member