Meet AFC’s Step Up To Quality Team!
03/12/26
AFC’s current Step Up To Quality team has a combined 140.5 years of experience in the ECE field, and 34.5 years of experience as Action for Children coaches, and a whole lot of personality. Get to know the people behind our team!
Marie Miller, Step Up To Quality Coordinator
I bring more than 20 years of experience in the Early Childhood Education field, with a career grounded in my passion for high‑quality learning experiences for young children. I began my journey as an infant teacher, later growing into preschool roles and administrative leadership, gaining a deep, hands‑on understanding of classroom practice and program operations.
I hold both a Bachelors and a Masters degree in Education, which support my commitment to elevating educational standards and empowering educators. I first joined AFC in 2014, contributing to program quality and staff development before stepping away to care for my children. In 2022, I returned as an SUTQ Coach, contributing to program quality and staff development.
In 2024, I was promoted to SUTQ Coordinator, where I now lead the coordination of SUTQ initiatives, support coaching efforts, and partner with programs to achieve and maintain high-quality ratings. My dedication, experience, and educator-first approach continue to shape meaningful outcomes for children, teachers, and families!
What question do you get asked the most?
“What type of coaching does AFC provide to help me understand a curriculum?”
We can help with curriculum and can provide hands on lesson planning guidance along with classroom environment guidance! You will receive a coach designated to your program to help guide you through the steps of implementing a state-approved curriculum. Through one-to-one coaching for administrators and teachers, you will start to feel more confident in using the curriculum you have chosen for your program. We also provide Open Curriculum hours at Action for Children every fourth Thursday of the month! You can come get guidance for admins and/or teachers and explore different state approved curriculums you may want to use in your program.
Elizabeth Shelton, FCC Quality Coach TA Specialist
I began my career working in afterschool programs and eventually became a site director for the YMCA. When I had my own children, I started working in early childhood. I kept building on my skills as I tutored, volunteered in my children’s classrooms, taught preschool at centers and my home.
When my family and I moved to Ohio, I had the opportunity to be the lead teacher at a start-up preschool and eventually became the Preschool Director. Between learning the business side of operating and growing a start-up preschool and teaching varies ages, these skills have helped me with my current position at AFC as a Step Up to Quality Coach for Family Child Care. I have been blessed to be able to work with amazing Family Child Care professionals for the past four years at AFC.
What question do you get asked the most?
“How do I complete and score the FCCERS?“
Set aside a block of three hours for the observation. Take notes on what occurred during that observation period. The questions are true/false questions. Read the questions going across the page. Each question builds one another. If an item did not occur during the observation, mark it no. Take notes on the scoresheet during the observation. Reflect on areas that you may want to improve on and how you would improve them. Use these notes to write your goals for the continuous improvement plan. SUTQ specialist will check to see if all parts of the scoresheet are completed – the score sheet and the profile sheet. If help is needed to complete, reach out to your TA specialist and we would be more than happy to assist!
Edie Warner, Quality Coach TA Specialist
Even though I began working with children as a teenager through babysitting and helping young children at summer camps as a Girl Scout, I officially began my career as a substitute teacher at a faith-based child care program. As a result, I changed my major after graduating from Columbus State Community College with an Associate Degree in Business Management, and pursued my Bachelor of Science degree in Human Ecology at The Ohio State University.
I left my position at a hospital after graduating to work at KinderCare as a Program Specialist, splitting my time as a Pre-K teacher. I moved on to Head Start working as an Education Specialist, Center Director and Infant-Toddler Specialist, gaining many opportunities for professional growth before landing at Action for Children as an Infant/Toddler Specialist.
I have been working with AFC since June 2015, assisting and coaching program administrators and staff in providing quality early learning experiences. In addition, as a nationally certified Zero to Three instructor, I enjoy guiding infant and toddler teachers through the critical competencies that will help them excel in teaching our youngest children!
What question do you get asked the most?
“How do I hire and retain quality staff that want to be here for the right reasons?“
Even though there are never any guarantees, it’s helpful to ask the right questions during the interview, and to search in places where people are investing in the field. One good method is to contact career counseling offices at local universities that offer degrees in the Early Childhood Education (Development) field.
Christine Hardy, Quality Coach TA Specialist
I began my career working at Christ the King as a Latch Key teacher at the age of 18. Through working at Christ the King, I learned about Early Childhood Education by working at their Children’s Center. This helped me decide what I wanted to do in furthering my Education Degree at Ohio Dominican University.
After I graduated with my Bachelors Degree in Education, I taught 1st grade. I moved back and forth from child care centers and school districts from the age of 23 through my early 40’s before graduating with my Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction.
When I stepped out of the classroom, I became a Director at 2 different child care centers. I have been with Action for Children since April 2019 as part of the SUTQ team!
What question do you get asked the most?
“How do I complete lesson plans?“
Even though there are never any guarantees, it’s helpful to ask the right questions during the interview, and to search in places where people are investing in the field. One good method is to contact career counseling offices at local universities that offer degrees in the Early Childhood Education (Development) field.
Rene Orozco, Quality Coach TA Specialist
I began in Early Childhood in College, working for the YMCA as a Latchkey Teacher at the age of 19. During my time at the YMCA, I also became a site director, worked with the teen camp, and taught Pre-k for 5 years. It was while I was teaching Pre-K that I earned my degree in Early Childhood Development.
After leaving the YMCA I briefly worked as an Assistant Director for KinderCare. From there, I began working at The Compass School and that is where I stayed for 12 ½ years. During that time, I worked as a full-time teacher for all age groups except infants, spending most my time in Pre-K. I also stepped in for an admin during her maternity leave, was a wing coordinator, and the music teacher.
When it was time to leave The Compass School, I was lucky enough to find Action For Children. I have been with AFC since July of 2023 as part of the SUTQ team. I have also helped with CDA coaching!
What question do you get asked the most?
“How do I retain (qualified) people who want to be in this field?”
Remember the things that help you love your job! Show appreciation for your staff. Send thank you notes. Celebrate achievements and good news. These things do not have to be expensive. We all known how important even a kind word is! Invest in your staff’s growth. Meet with staff to discuss their growth and learning goals and plan together to achieve them. Make sure your policies and procedures are clear and well communicated, and that staff has ample time for training.
Finally, remember that you are not alone. This can be a hard field, and this is an issue every child care program has experience with at one time or another. Continued advocacy for the field and our educators is always needed. Sign up for events through AFC or Groundwork Ohio to stay involved!
Janee Ruffin-Owens, Quality Coach TA Specialist
I have been involved with child care programs since my own childhood, assisting my mother in her own child care programs. As a teen, I traveled to various early childhood programs to read to the children and prepare materials for weekly lessons each summer. However, I officially became a preschool teacher after completing college, where I remained a lead Pre-K teacher for 5 years. I became a managing lead and assistant director of curriculum and lesson planning for an additional year.
I went on to teach 1st grade for an additional 4 ½ years, becoming a grade-level chair where I trained first-year teachers. I then became a School Librarian and Instructional Assistant for Pre-K – 5th grade students for Columbus City Schools for 2 years before my role as a SUTQ TA Coach for Action for Children.
What question do you get asked the most?
“What is the best way to introduce a curriculum to staff who have never worked with one before?”
Open the materials! Read through the foundations and getting started materials, and get a feel for the uses of each item in the materials. After that, practice using the materials to teach the children and ask for curriculum coaching from your SUTQ coach!
Whytnie Strain, Quality Coach TA Specialist
I’ve been working with children for 24 years in various positions such as a preschool teacher, a Ready to Read Program Specialist and Homework Help Specialist with the library, and an Adaptive Behavior Specialist with St. Vincent Family Center. I was also lucky enough to land positions with school districts as a Student Aide and eventually became a 1st and 2nd grade teacher.
I have always been interested in education and even remember playing school as a kid with my brothers where I was always the teacher! So it was no surprise when I went on to earn an Associates Degree, a Bachelors Degree in Education and Human Ecology, and later, a Masters of Education degree at The Ohio State University in 2023.
After starting a family in 2024, I decided to leave the classroom, but still wanted to do something in the field of education. I came across the Step Up to Quality TA Coach position with Action for Children and have been here (and loving it) for a year and seven months now!
What question do you get asked the most?
“How do I use Creative Curriculum in my classroom?”
I usually start by asking which curriculum the program is using, then walk them through identifying parts of the curriculum such as the Mighty Minutes, Intentional Teaching Cards, and Studies that come with the Creative Curriculum. Then I show teachers and administrators how to put all the pieces of the curriculum together to form a cohesive lesson plan.