Melissa M.     Age 37      Female      Killeen  - Bryce Drive   Member ID: 4673  Seeking work as a : Nanny or Nanny/Housekeeper or Tutor or Mother's Helper  Position Type: Live-In or Live-Out, Full Time      Join now for access this candidate's contact details       About Me   I am a single parent to a three-year-old boy. I currenty live in Texas, as this allowed me to be close to my family while I completed my degree and went through the early years of raising my son. For the past three years, I have helped care for my older brother's four children- now ages 7, 6, 5, and 4, his two dogs, and maintained the home while he and his wife worked full-time. The first year I provided full-time care so that I could be there full-time for my own son, but the last two years I have been working as a special education aid at a school- enrolling my son in daycare- and helping my brother only part time. Now that I have completed my Bachelor of Science in Fish and Wildlife Management and Environmental Education, I would like to relocate to Minnesota. I spent the majority of my younger years in Virginia and Brainerd, MN and attended the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities for my first three years of college studies. Minnesota is where I want to be, so I am looking for work throughout the state- either utilizing my degree or as a child/animal care provider. My number one preference is the Duluth area. Ideally, I would like to find something that starts this summer, since I work at a school and my term of employment will be ending in June. This would make it easiest to handle the move, but I am also willing to put in a two-week notice and relocate right away if I find something promising. I love working with children and am a dedicated teacher. I believe that we are constantly teaching our children, and all those around us, through our every action and speech. They learn from our examples, and I strive always to set an excellent example and offer kind, encouraging, positive reinforcement. I teach the nursery children at my church, completed an internship as an environmental educator at an outdoor retreat for children with special needs, spent a semester as a tour guide/instructor for the Bell Museum, and have secured my education with the purpose in mind that it would be utilized to help teach and prepare a younger generation for their future.      Valid Driver's License: Yes  Has a Vehicle: Yes  Can Swim Well: Yes  Smoking Status: Non-Smoker  Comfortable with pets: Yes  Languages spoken: English, English, Spanish, German, Japanese    My Nationality: American  Background Check: Willing to obtain  Eligible to work in the U.S.: Yes  Civil Status: Single  Religion/Spiritual Practice: Latter-Day Saints        Work Experience & Education Background   10 years experience, 5 references At present, I am a special education aid working at a middle school. I also provide part-time help and care for my brother's four children ages 7, 6, 5, and 4. My own 3 year-old son is enrolled in a day-care center so that I can provide an income, but he is only there when I must be at work, and I spend every moment I have outside of work caring for him. When he was an infant, I was not working, so that I would be able to provide him with full-time care. I completed an internship at Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children as an environmental educator for children with special needs- particularly those with autism. It was a wonderful experience, and was what helped me secure my current position as a special education aid. I have provided tutoring services for children in my area that are homeschooled in subjects their parents struggle to cover, particularly science, and I am a nursery leader at my church- caring for approximately 12 children ages 18 months to three years every Sunday. At the age of 12, I was babysitting, first-aid, and cpr certified through the American Red Cross and provided part time babysitting service to a great number of people and children of all ages. I always made it a point to be actively engaged with the children and leave the home cleaner than it was when I arrived. I strive to make sure children follow and maintain the rules set by their own parents, in order to be supportive of their efforts and keep a level of consistency. I follow what I like to call the "Super Nanny" system, relying on visible rules and schedules, time-outs, and positive reinforcement. I consider every moment a teaching moment and strive to help children learn from their mistakes, by allowing them to experiment and grow and suffer the consequences for their actions. I am a "Love and Logic" parent, as well as an advocate for the Montessori method of teaching. I believe it is important to make educational materials readily available and visible for all ages, to engage children in their interests, and to support them in all their dreams and endeavors.      Childcare experience within the following age groups: Newborn - 3 months, 3 - 12 months, 1 - 2 years, 2 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, over 10 years of age, special needs children   Education/Training: High School, Graduated High School or Equivalent, College, Bachelor's Degree, CPR Training, First Aid Training, College Child Education Courses  I attended the University of Minnesota for my first three years of study, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Education and a minor in Fish and Wildlife Management. Family circumstances required my relocation before I could complete my studies, and I transferred to American Military University in order to complete my degree through online courses- requiring a change in my degree plan to a BS in Fish and Wildlife Management. Though I went to school to learn about animals, my ultimate goal was in learning how to teach and engage others in a desire to learn. I love working with children and sought out opportunities to do so while completeing my studies. Several of my courses included understanding the use of educational tools and childhood development and psychology- in order to better engage different age groups in learning opportunities.      Job Preferences   Seeking work as a : Nanny or Nanny/Housekeeper or Tutor or Mother's Helper  Position Type: Live-In or Live-Out, Full Time  Work Hours: 40 - 50 hours/week  Position Duration:    3 - 12 months      1 - 2 years      greater than 2 years      As Long as Needed      Summer Position   Childcare Duties:    Cooking      Light Housekeeping      Running errands      Preparing meals      Transporting children      Children's Laundry      Limited/light housekeeping      Occasional supervision of childrens friends/guests      Ironing children's clothing as needed      Children's baths and dressing      Help with homework      Adhere to special dietary rules (vegetarian, kosher, lactose intolerant, etc.)      Packing Children's lunches      Mending Children's clothing as required      Planning activities for the children     Desired Start Date: June 11, 2012  Desired Salary: $12/Hour or Negotiable salary  Will work with up to: Four or more  Will travel with the family: Yes  Will care  Special Needs Children: Yes  Housekeeping Duties:    Keep a grocery list      Initial preparation of family's dinner as directed      Full meal preparation and service      Keep the kitchen tidy during work hours      Greeting/serving household guests      Feed pets during work day as directed      Walk dog and/or pet care      Plant care (indoor)      Family laundry      Family sheets/towels and other linens      Grocery shopping regularly as directed      Dust/Vacuum entire house, minumum weekly frequency      Sweep kitchen floor daily      Mop Kitchen floor weekly, minumum weekly frequency      Run/Empty dishwasher daily      Empty kitchen trash as required      Errands, including dry cleaning, as directed      Supervise contractors and tradespersons      Supervise other household staff       Additional Experiences/Qualifications/Preferences: My only expectation, as far as salary is concerned, is that it be enough for me to be able to provide for myself and my son. As a single parent, I am the only provider, and if I have a full-time position it will need to pay enough for me to cover minimal bills and other necessities. It doesn't need to be much. I currently have a very modest budget, and just expect to be able to provide a secure home for my own child. I would also prefer a live-out position, in order to provide a more professional separation from my work, but am willing to be accomodating with a live-in situation if I am comfortable enough with the family to do so.        References   Jonathan Collins  This is my older brother, for whom I have provided regular child-care, pet-care, and house-cleaning service for the past three years.      Brandon Bringhurst  This is my current employer and the principal of Liberty Hill Middle School.