Nancy Cruz Senior Manager • San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools - Student Services Branch - State Preschool

Nancy Cruz, is the Senior Manager for State Preschool at San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools with the Student Services Branch. Nancy, began in education, working at a private daycare center and did that for about two years, She got her degree, and then I began working with the districts with CSPP. She came on with the SBCSS in 2001 she began as a state preschool teacher, then moved up as program supervisor, and her most recent role is now Senior Manager.

Early Education and Development webpage:
https://www.sbcss.k12.ca.us/index.php/en/ess-2019/early-education-and-development

Music by lemonmusicstudio from Pixabay - Where the Light Is

Transcript

EED Nancy Cruz 

SPEAKERS

Ana Garcia, Nancy Cruz, Nancy Sherod

Nancy Sherod  00:07

Hello and welcome back to the early education and development departments podcast. Tomorrow's readiness starts today, a time where we introduce you to someone who is playing an important role in the preschool to third grade initiatives. 

Ana Garcia  00:20

Today's guest has a lot to share with you about the work they are doing with children and families. With us is Nancy Cruz, the senior manager for state preschool at San Bernardino County, superintendent of schools. Welcome, Nancy. 

Nancy Cruz  00:31

Hello, welcome. Thank you for having me. 

Ana Garcia  00:34

So Nancy, we know you have been working in your role for quite some time now. Can you take a moment to introduce yourself and share a little bit about yourself and how you came into your current role. 

Nancy Cruz  00:43

Yes. Well, my name is Nancy Cruz. I work with San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools with the Student Services Branch with our state preschool department. And I actually began my career early on, when I was about 17 years old. Wow. I Yes, I started with ROP. I have to thank my mother for that. She also was an educator, and I think that's what inspired me early on, in the beginning. So I did ROP, and then I immediately went to college. I knew what I wanted to do, which was get into the child development field. Then I began my education, began working at a private daycare center, and did that for about two years, got my degree, and then I began working with the districts, with CSPP. I have only done CSPP that has been my niche. I've been very fortunate. I came on with the county in 2001 I began as a state preschool teacher, then I moved up as program supervisor, and then my recent role now is manager, and I've been doing that for about four years. 

Nancy Sherod  01:58

Oh, wow. So CSPP, is your thing?

Nancy Cruz  02:01

 It is, it is. I've been very grateful that where I have landed, I've had the opportunity to do CSPP. I do know other agencies, as far as Head Start, you know Montessori, there's all sorts of agencies under that childhood umbrella. But again, I just been fortunate to land with CSPP and for those who don't know, 

Ana Garcia  02:27

know, so so that's California state preschool program. For those of you who don't know.

Nancy Sherod  02:31

We always tell them another acronym for you, another acronym for you, because we are acronyms in early ed. Every education but early ed has even more perfect. So let's start with just an overview. Give us an overview of your program and the primary objectives of CSPP,

Nancy Cruz  02:46

 yes. So we are a part day stay preschool program within the county of San Bernardino. We do have 25 sites. Within those sites, we have 29 classrooms. We are all the way to 29 palms to Chino Hills, those are our corners and up to Fort Irwin. So we're all in between those areas. We have, in addition to that, have 12 subcontractors under San Bernardino County. So we subcontract with some agencies who may not have that operation Foundation, and then we provide those services for them. So we do like to partner up with our local districts, and within that, we service about 1500 families every school year. We do have a lot of fluctuation with children that are added to our program, children that move, transfer and so forth. So there is a lot of change throughout the school year. We operate in 17 districts, and the mission of San Bernardino County Superintendent schools is really to transform lives through education. That is our theme. That is honestly what we really just are very passionate about we are frequently informing, that, you know, to our staff, so they really understand the ultimate goal, that even though we are all spread out in different districts subcontractors, we are all there for the same intent, and really for our program is we really want to provide a service that is available to the families. I mean, I know it's a parent early childhood, what's very important to me, again, I have that education background, therefore I feel it's my right, my duty, that I need to spread that word, inform the parents of the services that are available for their for their children, and hopefully something that's local, that's within their community, that they feel entrusted in a place to take their children and trust in the staff that we're going to provide the best first experience for their preschool child, and not only for the child. We do emphasize a lot of. Of parent involvement. So we do like to provide the supports to the families, because, again, they may not know of any local resources. Because ultimately, the Ultimately, the goal is for them to provide them the foundation, the knowledge, so they can move on into what we consider more formal type of learning when they enter the TK, 12 world. So that's what we want to prepare them for.

Nancy Sherod  05:25

 I love that, and there's magic happening behind the doors. We've been to those sites. It's definitely a special place when we walk into any of your classrooms. 

Nancy Cruz  05:31

Yes, even for myself, even I know you know when you know when you enter that management level, you it's a different world. You're behind the scenes, but when I get out to the sites, it's just a reminder. It really is just a humble reminder of the work that we do, because when you see them in action, it's a whole other thing. Yeah, 

Nancy Sherod  05:55

it's magic, the things that are happening with our littlest people. I love it. 

Ana Garcia  05:59

So Nancy, how does csvp ensure the delivery of high quality preschool education to children from low income families?

Nancy Cruz  06:07

I would like to touch on of what I've already kind of said a little bit, because I think it really is, what is it? A system of supports for me, personally, I feel is establishing relationships. If we do not establish relationships with our staff, who are ultimately going to be their day in, day out, with the families, we really need to establish that with them, because if we don't, they're not going to entrust in us. They're not going to follow what we're guiding them to do, because they're not going to believe in us. So I feel we need to build the foundation with with our staff. Then, along with that, is providing the guidance monitoring the classrooms under me, I have two amazing program supervisors who assist with that. They are constantly going to the classrooms doing their site visits. Not only there to observe and watch, they're really there to communicate with the staff. What is it that they're seeing? You know? What do they need? As simple as you know, what we're going to hang out in the classroom if you need to go do a bathroom run just for the staff to have that, that comfort of a supervisor come in for me, it's very important. Yeah, it's again, we are all working as a team. Even though we're managers, administrators, teachers, we're all working as a team. We also are very big on providing trainings. We're actually right now in the middle of a three day training series that we're doing for the staff, because we don't want to just be dictating you need to do this. We need to do that because CDE is having us do that. No, they need to know the why, because they we need to get the buy in from them. If we don't get the buy in, how do we know that they're truly going to do it with fidelity? In addition to that, we make sure we provide the staff the tools that they need. Anything that I hear about an agency is doing, or if I'm attending a conference, and I hear this fabulous idea, I present it to my team. What do you guys think we presented to the staff? You know, is this something that you would want to take on? And my what I believe in is, no matter what, we have to do the job. So how are we going to do the job using an easier tool for at the end of the day, for the teachers to have more time to dedicate themselves to the students, there's a lot of back work, and for the teachers, where it's paperwork that they're dealing with or, you know, anything that's not related to students, but at least it gives them the freedom to really work with the students as much as they can. And in addition, you know, making sure we're participating with our qssb, with our PBIS supports, anything that we have to provide support to the teachers, and we make sure we have that so they can be successful. And we also like to involve our families. We do survey our families quite a bit. We provide parent trainings. We provide local community events, anything that's going to help them and again, really it? I see it as an overall, overall system. 

Nancy Sherod  09:28

Well, let's keep talking about that system, because I know there's been shifts and movement in making sure we have inclusive environments where we are bringing in students with disabilities our developmental delays. So how is CSPP tackling that new edge and that new direction and helping the teachers support in that arena?

Nancy Cruz  09:48

 You know, I hear you saying the word new, but really, truly, it's not new, especially because we are the children's first school experience. So if a parent you know is bringing in their child for school for the first time, when they're three years old, they're typically they're not going to be they don't know. The parent doesn't quite know what their developmental level is, not until they're put in this type of an environment. So our children vary in developmental ways, so they could possibly come in without not having any what is that? What's the word diagnose with any disabilities? So they may not necessarily come in with individualized educational plan, an IEP or an IFSP. So we are there to provide those supports. If the teacher sees any concerns and they collaborate with the parents. So we have always been an inclusive program. The only difference that I see now is a shift where where our program is actually being promoted to families that are already have an IEP, which is fabulous, because now the parents are hearing about our program and hearing like, oh, I had no idea I could also enroll in state preschool. So now that the parents have a choice, it kind of we fully embrace that we know if we have a student that comes in with an IEP, the teacher is familiar with what an IEP looks like. They can read the goals to see what needs need to be met for the child. If a student comes in and does not have an IEP, IEP, but possibly needs to be assessed, then we provide the parent the supports throughout that process. You know, we're very gentle with it, because sometimes it could be very scary for a parent to hear, Well, what do you mean? They're not developmentally at that level where they should be? It's okay, you know, it's okay. Every child learns differently, and at least you are learning now, because we don't want that support to be delayed once they go into elementary school. We want to do that now and get the child what they need now and then. We will provide them with district contacts, resources, whether it's SELPA or Inland Empire region, so they know where to go, and we adapt our curriculum as needed. Luckily, we are using teaching strategies, creative curriculum, and that curriculum is very adaptable for any type of student. We have students from three to five years old, different ranges, so it's very adaptable. And you know, we continue to educate the parent. When we complete the child's assessment, the teachers are meeting with the families and giving them the feedback that they need to hear about their child. And again, it's a continuous communication process with the parent, and then they parent works with as a with the team, with the teachers as a team. 

Ana Garcia  12:56

Nice So Nancy, are there any challenges that CSPP faces in providing high quality preschool. 

Nancy Cruz  13:02

In an ideal world, we would love to have floating staff. 

Nancy Sherod  13:08

Yes, you know, oh my goodness, yeah, 

Nancy Cruz  13:10

who wouldn't want an extra two people in the staff in the classroom to just really provide we in our classroom? I guess I should retract is in our classroom we a typical classroom consists of 24 children with about three staff. And in an ideal world, having four or five staff would be amazing, because the amount of interaction and engagement that the children are going to get from that it's it's priceless. But so we are limited with what we have. It works. If we can have more staff, that would be wonderful. And I'm going to say the other other challenge that we are facing right now, since covid is going to be a lack of substitute staff. You know when, when our staff is absent, it does put that strain on them. How are we going to continue running our day if we're short staffed or we have someone new coming in who knows nothing about the program? Again, we make it work. But ideally, we would love to get some more subs that are trained. 

Nancy Sherod  14:16

Love it. Okay? I want to take a moment. I want you to brag on something think through. Just when you think about joy, and you think about CSPP, and you're like, I want people to know that this happened within our program. This is something that I want to celebrate. This is something that I want to call your attention to, what what comes to mind that's completely off the cuff. I know more than I need to get more than

Nancy Cruz  14:39

I you know, I have to say since, since covid, you know, we were put in a situation where it was very unknown of how we were going to operate the program. And I think it was a great opportunity that I came in during that time. It was a challenge for me, but I saw it as. It's a fresh start. Okay, so now we're going through covid. So what are internal programmatic changes, that changes that we're going to do to keep up with, you know, providing quality services. So one of those is, we know, I feel it's very important that we because we're so spread out all of our teachers, we need to find a way to all meet and collaborate, have a training, whatever it is, so we can all have that uniformity within our program. So I think that's what been, been one key thing, many successes, especially with our footsteps to brilliance. Our teachers started footsteps to brilliance in 2017 I believe, and we've been very, very strong with that. I have to say, I'm very grateful for all of our partners. All of our partners are a tremendous support to us. I know I can count on them if we need anything. I know I can rely on them, and they are there, you know, the minute I need something actually this. This school year, we are transitioning from all paper enrollments to all electronics. 

Nancy Sherod  16:11

Wow. That is a huge change. That is huge. 

Nancy Cruz  16:16

It was huge. But I said, You know what? We have to do this. We have to make this process simpler because we're so county wide. How can we make this process simpler for parents, simpler for the for the staff? And so far, we are three months in, and it's been a learning curve, but we are seeing it. Yeah, we're getting through it. And, you know, again, the parents still need, you know, they still need, sometimes, to speak with someone. So at least we're there to take those calls, walk them through where we're having a problem uploading. Okay, no problem. We go ahead and send me a picture and we will upload it for you. You know. So again, we're there helping the families as much as we can with that process. We are hopefully going to have a new vendor soon with our ASQ process. Oh, wow, trying to make that an online platform as well. Again, I feel like it's time where we need to move away from all the paper part of it. It's just going to be a more uniform format that's going to be easier access to the families. 

Nancy Sherod  17:20

Fantastic. And it's great that you're taking the risks and jumping into that. Jumping into that. Yes, it really does make a difference, but it's helping families, and that the outcome will be worth the steps along the road, right? Well, let's talk a little bit about families, because CSPP, there's eligibility criteria can so can you share with us a little bit about what the criteria is for families to enroll? 

Nancy Cruz  17:39

Yes, we enroll depending on the age eligibility income guidelines that the state puts out every year. So every year, they will send us that information, and we abide by it depending on the birth dates. So we do enroll children that are three to five years old, we follow the income guidelines then ranges from about 7000 to about 14,000 depending on the family size, and then they also need to be income eligible. But I feel again, since covid, there has been a lot of room of flexibility for that, because if we do not fill up our classrooms, if we have a school site that's located in a free and reduced boundary area, we can enroll a family that's over income. We can enroll families that have an IEP and are over income. So I feel that now we do have a lot of room for flexibility to where we're not just limited to what they call low income. You know, low income varies. It's, it's, it's just a varying range that we do have, and we do enroll children of it that are three to five years old. 

Nancy Sherod  18:53

So if a family is interested and they want to find out if they qualify, if they have eligibility to enroll, where's the best place for them to go to get information, or who do they call? 

Nancy Cruz  19:02

We do have our own web page within the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. It's a bit long, but they can definitely call our office, which is 909-387-8517,

Nancy Sherod  19:16

and we will make sure that's in the notes. Yeah, put the web address in the notes. We will put the phone number in the phone number in the note. So don't panic if you didn't get that everybody

Ana Garcia  19:23

Nancy, what are your future goals and priorities for the program?

Nancy Cruz  19:27

Continue to adapt, you know, as times changes. You know, as we're you know, we're moving on with electronic systems, anything that will make our rogue program runs smoother, faster, efficiently. That would be an ultimate goal, even whether, and I'm speaking if it's in the classroom, in our office, whatever area that we're in, whatever is going to meet the needs of the program, making sure that we're continuing. With our community care licensing regulations, our CDE management bulletins, making sure that our staff know what it's about, how they need to meet that and that's what management is there for, to guide them and continue to monitor our enrollment and seeing how our you know, if we're meeting our goal numbers, seeing what needs are in certain communities. You know whether, if it's a community where we may not see a lot of families, okay, let's monitor the enrollment there. Do we maybe need to open up a classroom in a different area? So that's something that we're constantly doing. We're actually going to be opening up three classrooms in redlands for the upcoming school year. So again, we we like to base it off of need as well.

Nancy Sherod  20:50

So what are you excited about? Like, 20 everybody's planning for 24-25 right now, you guys are finishing three days of PD, what in 24-25 is something that brings you joy as you look towards for the next school year,

Nancy Cruz  21:03

what brings me joy is honestly, our classroom staff. I really, I know what they go through, day in and day out, and I feel if we support them in the change, constant changes that we're constantly doing within our program, there's not one year that we don't make a change. I do have to say that, and I know it could be exhausting for them, but I know, again, if they're being trained on the why I think they're giving the supports, they will definitely follow through with what we need for our program. And one of those again talking about the electronic enrollments providing them the support if they need to jump on a zoom with one of us to support them, if they need to jump in on a call with us, if they need us to go to the site and walk them through it, we'll do that. And again, it's about building the relationships with them. 

Ana Garcia  21:56

So thank you, Nancy, for taking the time to share your work with our early education community and to our listeners, check out our episode notes for links to get more information about sbcss, state preschool program. Thank

Nancy Cruz  22:07

you for having me.

Nancy Sherod  22:08

We loved having you. All right. Well, once again, we want to thank you all for tuning in to find out the latest and greatest on all things early ed. Join us next month when we sit down with another guest who will support us in our message that tomorrow's readiness starts today.