Infant-Toddler Technical Assistant Specialists Natalie Bumgarner and Lori Anderson speak about how COVID-19 has impacted the ITITA Model Pilot Project, if the tasks and time requirements of the project are still feasible in the pandemic, if their teachers and directors fully understood what TA was before they started working with them and what’s made the ITITA project successful.
What is ITITA?
The Infant Toddler Intensive Technical Assistance (ITITA) Model Pilot is a three-year project funded by the N.C. Department of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) from September 2018 through September 2021. The primary goals of the model pilot project are to train and support technical assistance (TA) specialists to become ‘Master TAs.’ In addition, the project will determine if intensive, long-term support, based on strong relationships can sustain change and growth in early childhood providers. TAs are focusing on improving teacher-child interactions and leadership skills in directors, which in turn will provide better outcomes for children and families. This project is currently being piloted at Randolph County Partnership for Children, The Children’s Council of Watauga County and Child Care Resource Center in Region 10. Learn more about ITITA here.
Meet the ITITA Specialists
Natalie Bumgarner is an Infant-Toddler Specialist with the Infant-Toddler T/A Model Pilot Project. She has served in this role for two years at Childcare Resource Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. Natalie has been involved in early childhood in a variety of roles for more than 30 years as a teacher, behavioral specialist, blog writer, learning material creator and more. Her TA experience began in Pennsylvania as part of their Infant Toddler Pilot program and she is now proud to be part of the North Carolina team. Natalie is passionate about fostering social and emotional health for infants and toddlers and all those around them.
Lori Anderson is an Infant Toddler specialist with Child Care Resource Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. She works with the Infant Toddler T/A Model Pilot Project. Lori has worked in the education field for more than 25 years earning her M.Ed in educational leadership and her BA in birth to kindergarten education. She is also a N.C. licensed teacher. Lori has spent the majority of her career in early childhood administration and has also owned two early child care centers. Lori enjoys working with teachers and directors and is passionate about natural learning environments and empowering teachers in project based learning.
