Dr. Cynthia Small

Dr. Cynthia Jackson Small offers educational seminars for teachers, parents, and school administrators. She is a master registered trainer for the Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System and is a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE). Dr. Small has previously served as the director of Early Childhood Programs with the ChildCareGroup in Dallas, Texas. She has also worked in the Dallas Independent School District as an early childhood teacher, campus instructional leader, teacher adviser and coordinator for the district-wide parent involvement program.

Additionally, Cynthia has served as a child development adjunct professor at Brookhaven College to prepare students to enter the early childhood profession. Dr. Small has been invited to share keynotes and interactive presentations at national conferences including the National Head Start Conference, National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the National Young Child Expo.

She has published educational articles and books with a focus on professionalism, family engagement in schools, and powerful presentation skills. Cynthia has written educational articles for Dallas Child Magazine, National Association for Elementary School Principals, and has been a guest panelist on the Channel 8 Family First Project in north Texas. Dr. Small loves to read, travel and spend time with her family. She is a servant leader in the Children’s Ministry and Vacation Bible School in her local church. Her primary mission is to offer high-quality workshops and consultations that will impact the lives of children and families around the world.

Dr. Small's Conference Trainings

• The ABCs of Professionalism

  This interactive workshop is designed to introduce strategies for promoting professional behaviors and skills in an early childhood environment. Discussions will focus on the NAEYC Code of Ethical conduct and three building blocks for professionalism which include: positive communication, ethical decision-making skills and quality professional development plans. Attendees will participate in goal-setting activities to encourage professional growth and renew their commitment to the early childhood profession. The session will end with a special presentation of “Meet the Teacher with Class” which highlights specific hats and qualities of early childhood teachers who are true champions for young children.
  2 hours

• Families & Schools: Teaming for Student Success in Early Childhood

  This interactive session provides an overview of research highlighting 5 keys to family involvement in early childhood. Participants will discover a variety of tools and best practices for building meaningful home-school partnerships and promoting a positive school climate for all families. Early childhood professionals will receive a wealth of strategies and innovative ideas for actively engaging families in the teaching and learning process. Attendees will also explore creative ways to strengthen relationships with families and open pathways to student success in the early years.
  1 hour

• Pointers for Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences

  One of the greatest strategies for engaging families in their child’s education is through two-way communication between the home and school. Active participants in this session will discover 3 components of successful parent-teacher conferences and creative ideas to maximize this important meeting. Participants will learn to apply active listening skills, the compliment sandwich and other communication tips to promote successful conferences with young learners in mind.
  1 hour

• Ready, Set, Breathe

  Early childhood professionals have an awesome responsibility taking care of young children and often find it challenging to take care of themselves. In this session, participants will explore 4 dimensions of personal renewal and wellness. Successful learners will identify a variety of stress management techniques and will develop self-renewal plans to promote productivity in the classroom. The takeaways from this session include healthy nutrition tips, physical exercises and mindfulness moments that will encourage professionals to breathe while caring for young children.
  1 hour

• Families & School Leaders: Creating Partnerships for Student Success

  This interactive webinar provides a discussion of five keys for strengthening family engagement in an early childhood setting. Directors will explore best practices for building a positive school climate while bridging home-school partnerships in teaching and learning. Participants will receive tools and resources for maintaining open, two-way communication with families during the school year. By the end of the session, directors will initiate action plans to boost family partnerships and impact successful outcomes for young children.
  1 hour

• Communicating with Families in the Digital Age

  If you are looking for ideas and best practices for communicating with families in the age of technology, this session is designed just for you! As an early childhood professional, you will discover digital tools for strengthening family engagement with a focus on teaching and learning. Attendees will explore virtual platforms for providing effective parent-teacher conferences, sharing text messages, emails, digital newsletters and more. Join this session to open virtual doors that will bridge home-school partnerships and impact successful outcomes for young children.