Ashley Robinson
What is your role with The Center and what are you most excited about?
My role with The Center is an Early Childhood Specialist. I am most excited about the opportunity to help our early childhood teachers achieve their Ancillary Certification, along with coaching best practices in the early childhood sector.
What is your background?
I received my Bachelor of Arts Degree from Dillard University in Education. I began my teaching career in 2007 teaching middle school. After years of teaching elementary and middle school levels in Jefferson Parish, I decided to take my role in preschool in 2012. In Orleans Parish, I was a PreK teacher and LA4 Coordinator. The following year the program expanded based on our performance into 3 PreK classrooms. Therefore, I became the Instructional Coach for the PreK team, along with my previous roles. After seeing the challenges in early childhood within the school system, I decided to take my career to the next level and help multiple PreK teachers within the school systems and child care programs across parishes. Therefore, I began working with the leading agency network in Orleans Parish. In this role, I became an Instructional Early Childhood Coach.
I am Teachstone CLASS certified in infant, toddler, and pre-K. I am a PD Specialist for CDA Council. Also, I hold a certificate from North Carolina State University in Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments.
What is your favorite childhood book or literacy memory?
My favorite childhood book memory was the Berenstain Bears collection. Every time I received a new book, I was so happy to drive in and begin reading. As I got older, my mom began to purchase the Baby Sitters Club collection. I fell in love with those too and even became a babysitter for my neighbor.
Flashback to when you were 10 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was 10 years old, I would stack all my stuffed animals and dolls in a roll. I would give each one a piece of paper and I would begin teaching them content I learn from school. As I think back on my childhood and where I am today, I always knew and wanted to be an educator.