Her Story
About Gabrielle
I've been in education for over 15 years, and I've been a director for almost 3 years now. My journey in education has taken me through teaching preschool, kindergarten, first, and third grade, and I was also a dance teacher (Fun fact: I've studied Ballroom and Latin dance for over 20 years, among many other genres!). My main area of expertise is early childhood education. Every day is different for me - I oversee and coach my staff, foster positive relationships with parents, and manage community outreach and partnerships. I work for a non-profit childcare center, so I'm also involved in seeking out grant and fundraising opportunities. One of the things I'm most proud of is that we work with homeless shelters in the area to provide childcare for families in need at no cost to them. Some of the shelters we work with are women's shelters and just making sure that their children are safe here and they don't have to worry about the day-to-day is incredibly meaningful. When I became a director, I saw the impact that I was making and knew that I could reach more people in administration than just teaching. I sometimes just go into the classrooms to hang out with the kids, though, because I don't want to lose touch with that and it brings me back to my roots of why I started this journey in the first place.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Gabrielle
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my determination. In not-so-professional terms, I don't care what anybody else thinks - I'm going to do what I know is right. That determination has been key to everything I've accomplished. It's about staying true to what I believe is right and not letting others' opinions get in the way of doing what's best for the children and families I serve.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is something I kind of thought of myself, and other people solidified it for me: if you're not happy, it's okay to leave, even to be without a job. Your happiness is your biggest priority, and it also makes what you do 10 times more effective. If I wasn't happy in my job, it would be a poor reflection on the center I work for and the children. In order for everybody to get the quality that they deserve, I have to be happy and proactive in my job.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is that it's going to be hard. But you kind of just have to have a heart-to-heart with yourself and keep remembering your "why." Don't let anyone get in the way of helping your children - of you helping your children. That's what it's all about, and you have to stay focused on that purpose no matter what challenges come your way.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge I've faced is that the public education system is a mess. The politics of it make it so that, at the end of the day, only the children suffer. That has always been a bone of contention for me. As for opportunities, it sounds cheesy, but there's always an opportunity to help in the community in the smallest way and to actually see that impact firsthand. I'm not making big, impactful changes in the state of New Jersey, but I'm supporting local families and seeing the benefit and payoff right before my eyes. Working with families, especially those from women's shelters, and making sure their children are safe and they don't have to worry - that's where the real impact is.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are responsibility and accountability. I'm very big on me and my staff taking accountability for our actions. It's okay to make mistakes, but you need to own up to it and learn from it. These values guide everything I do.
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