Barb Westerbaan

Experience

• 

  Azar Farms

  Jan 1983 - now

  Partner, administrator, staff trainer

  Established farm business including recruiting and evaluating staff, college and high school co-op skilled trades students, adapting workplace to accommodate low literacy/ specific functional ability.Compliance training and monitoring for food quality assurance and environmental regulation including responding to government inspections and changing regulations, documentation for organic certification.Arranged business capital funding including research on grant opportunities, applications and compliance filings. Responsible for formal business planning, project management.Solely responsible for computerized office administration, government filings, payroll, contracts and correspondence. Prepared documentation for government agricultural advisor (municipal and federal) on emerging industry issues such as source water protection and green energy. Show less

• 

  Humber College Day Care

  Jan 1985 - Jan 1986

  Preschool teacher

  Planned, implemented and evaluated preschool program in a collaborative team Integrated setting for exceptional childrenSupervised and evaluated Humber College ECE students in field placements

• 

  Aurora Co op Nursery School

  Jan 1987 - Jan 1988

  Supervisor

  Teaching supervisor of staff, parent volunteers and college studentsTotal enrollment of 108 Maintained all records and procedures in accordance with the Day Nurseries ActAssisted with staff performance reviewsImplemented first review which included employee self evaluation and goal setting

• 

  Durham Farm and Rural Family Resources

  Jan 2000 - Jan 2000

  Program Co ordinator

  Sole staff at family resource center serving children 0 -6 years of age including isolated and hard to serve families,Provided children's programming, parent education and community resource referrals

• 

  Food 4 Thought, YWCA Durham

  Jul 2000 - Aug 2003

  Early Childhood Educator

  ECE and parent educator at CPNP pre and post natal nutrition projectEstablished all procedures related to health and safety of children aged 0- through school ageWorked in a multidisciplinary team ( public health, social work, addictions counseling)Provided workshops on nutrition, early literacy, child development and parenting Assisted with healthy snack provision and liaison with food banks and other community resources for young and at risk families and their childrenPerformed home visits for individualized support when requested by partner agencies Show less

• 

  Everest College Canada

  Mar 2010 - Dec 2012

  Taught in every subject area of Early Childcare Assistant program, researched and supplemented curriculumTaught Psychology and Sociology to Addictions and Community Service Worker and Law Enforcement studentsLed workshops on teaching methodology to new Faculty Instructors (Certified Inspire Advisor)Evaluated faculty in formal classroom observationsTaught student success strategies and career readiness classes to new and graduating studentsProvided language upgrading classes across campus programs and as supplement to core curriculum for ESL and low literacy students Show less

  • Director of Education

    Jul 2012 - Dec 2012

  • Instructor

    Mar 2010 - Dec 2012
• 

  YMCA / Ontario Early Years

  Apr 2013 - Sept 2014

  Registered Early Childhood Educator

  Community Facilitator, RECE, for child and family programming (casual on call) including extended day and before and after school programming as well as preschool and toddler groups.

• 

  Durham College

  Aug 2013 - now

  Online Instructor

  ECE Field Placement Facilitator; Instructor for Guidance of the Young Child and Wellness for Children.Maintained required course outcomes with enhancements of current Canadian research on self regulation, trauma informed practice and inclusion in the context of Truth and Reconciliation and multiculturalism. Worked in face to face, blended and online delivery. Worked in multiple versions of course platforms including Moodle and D2L.

• 

  Family and Community Action Program

  Sept 2014 - now

  Community Facilitator

  Supporting families and children aged 0 - 6 years at risk of not reaching their potential due to mental health (child/parent), substance abuse, economic concerns, social and environmental reasons, recent immigrants and young parents. Researched and refreshed parent education curriculum, Wrote successful applications for agency involvement in research project, Peer mentored coworkers to provide relevant support to at risk families, Networked innovative partnerships with like minded social service agencies, school board staff and administrators. Provided parent workshop series, play to learn drop ins, interactive parent and child classes, food security and school readiness programs. Administered by the YMCA of Durham, a CAPC program of the Public Health Agency of Canada: Show less