Paulette Clemons, EdD was born in Orange, TX and moved to Chicago, IL at the age of 8. Dr. Clemons is a wife, mother of three, and grandmother to six, ages 8-21 years old. She holds a Doctorate of Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership and Management and a Master of Sciences in Education with a specialization in Early Childhood Education from Capella University. Dr. Clemons earned her BA in the Board of Governors from Northeastern Illinois University. She is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Program Specialist, and the American Montessori Society.
Dr. Clemons possesses 39+ years of experience as an education professional, with special focus on program development implementation in Day Care, Child Care, Early Head Start, Head Start, and School-Age Programs. This experience gave Dr. Clemons an opportunity to provide a safe learning environment that offered quality services to families and an effective working relationship with the community in which she served.
Throughout her career in childcare, she traveled to Washington, D.C. and Springfield, IL. on several occasions to advocate for quality childcare and funding. Dr. Clemons consistently demonstrated high moral, ethical, and professional standards of performance, personal integrity, that would promote innovativeness, creative expression, and motivation.
Prior to re-entering the workforce as a childcare Director in 2023, Dr. Clemons served as a Child Care Regulation Inspector. In this role, she ensured that a safe and healthy environment for children, staff, and families was implemented according to the Texas Minimum Standard Regulations Laws and Policies. Her work involved conducting facility inspections, conducting investigations, monitoring over 300 licensed and registered childcare facilities, documenting compliance or noncompliance with standards using agency forms, and notifying providers of required corrective or adverse actions being taken. Dr. Clemons investigated complaints, serious incidents and reports of minimum standards violations in licensed childcare facilities and homes and provided technical assistance to childcare providers on issues related to minimum standards. Dr. Clemons is excited to bring this same level of commitment, energy, and enthusiasm to the First English Lutheran Child Development Center.
Prior to working with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and before retiring and moving to Austin, TX in 2018, Dr. Clemons held several promoted positions in Chicago, IL.: from 1988 to 2018 such as an Afterschool Group Worker, Summer Camp Director, Youth Director, Teacher, Network Coordinator Early Head Start Enhanced Family Child Care Homes Network, Infant and Toddler Specialist, a Head Start, and Early Head Start Director. She maintained monthly attendance at 85%-95%, billings, client folders, and staff folders in strict confidentiality. She maintained personnel payroll, time sheets and documentation, Provided referrals to parents and children with special needs. She also promoted and supported school readiness, and maintained standards of the Illinois Department of Children Family Services Licensing and Regulations and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Accreditation. She supervised students from Roosevelt University who provided literacy development skills for the children at the center and held weekly team meetings/workshops to support and ensure early learning were being implemented. She held monthly parent meetings/workshops, facilitated ongoing recruitment of families into the program and maintained a clean and safe learning environment. Dr. Clemons’ Head Start program was in the top 30 out of 400 Head Start Programs in the City of Chicago.
Dr. Paulette engages FEL council and board members, families, and staff members as shareholders to build on daily communication and collaboration. She leads by example to inspire in building a safe and healthy climate for infants, toddlers, preschool, program staff, families, and the community in which we serve.