About this Webinar
Early childhood centers must create nurturing, welcoming spaces while maintaining strong safety practices behind the scenes.
Join us for a moderated discussion with Jennifer Beck (Fordham Early Learning Academy) and Linda Spencer (Fordham Early Learning Academy). Together they’ll share insights on building parent trust, creating a culture of safety, and bridging safety gaps between K-12 environments and early learning centers.
Key Takeaways
- Understand the most common safety and risk issues facing preschools and early childhood centers today.
- Learn practical strategies for balancing warmth, trust, and risk mitigation in early learning environments.
- Identify which K-12 safety practices translate well to early childhood and where adaptations are needed.
- Discover how to align district-level policies with early childhood classrooms.
Our Presenters
- Jennifer Beck, Vice Chair, Early Learning Coalition of Marion County & Principal, Fordham Early Learning Academy, Jennifer Beck is the Director of Early Learning for Marion County Public Schools and the Principal at Fordham Early Learning Academy. She received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Florida and her master’s degree in educational leadership from Saint Leo University. In her over 30 years in education, she has held various positions within the Marion County School System, including teacher, Student Services Manager, Assistant Principal, Principal, and Director. She is passionate about supporting young children as they become successful readers, writers, and mathematicians. She also strongly advocates for families, as she believes raising a child takes an active village. Jennifer is the 2023-2024 recipient of the Coalition’s Children’s Champion Award. She is also the proud mother to two amazing children, and she and her husband enjoy calling Marion County their home.
- Linda Spencer, Secretary, Fordham Early Learning Academy, Linda Spencer, is the Secretary for Early Learning Department for Marion County Public Schools and Fordham Early Learning Academy. She began her career in Early Childhood in 1986 as a Early Childhood teacher then to a VPK teacher later advancing over to the roles of an Assistant Director and then Director of a local childcare before moving to the Marion County Public School System to become the Secretary for the Elementary Education Department. She is deeply passionate about early childhood education and dedicated to supporting the Early Learning community in Marion County.
- Sean Kroll, Inside Sales Manager, at Raptor Technologies leads efforts to help YMCAs and other youth-serving organizations elevate safety and compliance across their branches. With 13+ years of experience in EdTech and public safety solutions, Sean works closely with association leaders to modernize member screening, emergency management, and communication practices that protect their people and strengthen trust within the community.
