Jody Veit-Edrington
Coordinator of Early Childhood Programs
North Little Rock School District
North Little Rock, AR
Professional Mission Statement:
It is my intention to create an environment that challenges and inspires;
and within that environment, a community of life-long learners (children,
parents/caregivers, staff and other partners) who are not afraid to take
risks in pursuit of excellence.
Personal Mission Statement:
To imagine, to dream, to create, and to inspire others to do the same.
Professional Degrees
B.A. (1982) University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi
Major: Elementary Education
Emphasis: K-8
M.Ed. (1983) University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi
Major: Elementary Education
Emphasis: Early Childhood
Ed. Spec. (1998) University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little
Rock, Arkansas
Major: Elementary Education
Emphasis: Early Childhood; Reading; Administration
Professional experience
1982-1983 Lead Kindergarten Teacher / Graduate Assistant
at the University of Mississippi Laboratory Kindergarten School
of Education in University, Mississippi
1983 Substitute Teacher, Little Rock School District, Little Rock,
Arkansas
1984-1991 Kindergarten Teacher, Crestwood Elementary
School, North Little Rock School District North Little Rock,
Arkansas
1991-1997 Program Director / Lead Teacher, Central
Elementary Preschool Program, North Little Rock School
District, North Little Rock, Arkansas
1997-1999 Principal / HIPPY Program Administrator, Redwood
Early Childhood Center, North Little Rock School District, North
Little Rock, Arkansas
1999 to present Coordinator of Early Childhood Programs,
North Little Rock School District and Building Administrator for
the Early Childhood Center
2003 to present Coordinator of Yale School’s of the 21st
Century Program, North Little Rock School District
1994- 2001 Adjunct Instructor, College of Education,
Department of Early Childhood, University of Arkansas at Little
Rock, Little Rock, Arkansas
Professional activities
Recipient of Arkansas Reading Association Research Grant; Reading Is
Fundamental Family of Readers Grant; National Garden Association
Garden Grant to expand Redwood Early Childhood Center's School-wide
Garden Project; Two First Books Grant to provide children's books for every
child enrolled at Redwood Early Childhood Center; Yale Schools of the
21st Century Grant; Two National PTA Take Your Family to School Grants;
NAESP and Crayola Champion Creatively Alive Children Grant; High
Quality Preschool Program Grant
Arkansas Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) State
Advisory Board member, Co-Chairman; Arkansas Rice Depot's Food for
Kids Advisory Board member; Arkansas Children's Museum Education
Committee member; Arkansas Division of Child Care Transition Committee
member, Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) Core Components Task Force
member; ABC Evaluation Task Force member; School Readiness
Committee member; Head Start Policy Council-Community
Representative, Arkansas School of the 21st Century Leadership Council
Vice Chairperson; Arkansas Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems
Initiative Early Care and Education Committee member; Arkansas Early
Childhood Comprehensive Systems Initiative Partnership Council member;
Arkansas Early Learning and Developmental Standards Committee
member; Arkansas Early Childhood Commission Commissioner, Chairman
2015-16.
Honors and Professional Memberships
Cum Laude Graduate (undergraduate); Suma Cum Laude Graduate
(graduate): KappaDelta Pi, educational honorary, Chapter Secretary
1981-82; Phi Delta Kappa, educational honorary: Delta Kappa Gamma,
educational honorary, Membership Co-Chairman 1988, 2nd VicePresident 1989-1992, President 1990-1992, Parliamentarian 1992-1994;
Superintendent's Honor Roll
North American Reggio Emilia Association; National Association of
Educational Administrators, member; Arkansas Association of Educational
Administrators, member; National Education Association member;
Arkansas Education Association, member; Kids Count Coalition, Early
Childhood Sub-Committee member
Community Service
Riverfest Committee member, Co-Chairman of Special Attractions,
Festival Co-Chair, Festival Chairman; Summit Church Kidz Ministry Small
Group Leader; North Little Rock High School STARS Scholarship
Committee;
Professional Presentations
2004
National Association for the Education of Young Children
From Themes to Projects: Facilitating Challenging Complex
Curriculum Change
2008 Yale School for the 21st Century National Conference
Building Bridges in Our Community
2008 ASU Childhood Services Summer Conference
Implementing a Reggio-Inspired Approach to Teaching and
Learning
2009 Arkansas Comprehensive Literacy Conference
Teaching with Intentionality – Literacy Learning in a ReggioInspired Classroom
2012 North Little Rock Junior League Service Project
Early Literacy
2013 Arkansas School Boards Association
Using the Family Map to Engage with Families of Preschool
Children
2014 Association of Childhood International Conference
Reggio Emilia: What Can It Do For High Risk Children
Contact Information:
Personal:
#10 Burnttree Court
Little Rock, AR 72212
501-690-0804
Professional:
Until December 1, 2015
North Heights Early Childhood Center (temporary site)
4901 North Allen Street
North Little Rock, AR 72118
501-771-8180
After December 1, 2015
Pike View Early Childhood Program
441 McCain Blvd.
North Little Rock, AR 72116
501-771-8170