Central Georgia Technical College recently announced the selection of Linda Smith, as the new director of Child Development Centers. She brings to her appointment over 30 years of childcare experience and a commitment to fostering strong relationships.

“Truthfully, building relationships with children, family and the staff excites me most about this position,” Smith said. “I am committed to helping parents and children have a successful beginning to education and solidifying trust with my staff by learning about them, how they teach, how they interact with students, their cultures, and implementing it all into our school family.”

Smith owned a childcare center in Fort Valley for over 30 years. She has been a pre-k teacher, kindergarten teacher, and, most recently, the Early Childhood Care and Education internship coordinator and instructor for Academic Affairs at CGTC.

Smith sees immense value in being open and available to parents and staff. She will be splitting time between both centers on the Macon and Warner Robins campus, to support their needs and maintain a high-quality of service to the community.  She said she wants to see centers where, “everybody is contributing, and everyone is gaining.”

Her previous role as internship coordinator, allowed her to develop strong relationships with many of the current teachers at each center. She traveled to observe them as interns or in practicum throughout the 11-county service area of the College. Nearly, 75 percent of the teachers are former students she observed.

Smith believes mentorship is an area where she can be most useful to her staff.

“I am, and will continue to be very involved with my teachers, in support of their needs by having an open door, offering advice, working and leading them to meet the needs of individual students and families,” she said.

Smith said staff at both the Early Childhood Learning Center on the Macon campus, and the Larry O’Neal Child Development Center on the Warner Robins campus are excited for the upcoming year with students.

Smith has a Bachelor and Master Degree in Early Childcare Education. She is married to Tiger Smith and they have three adult children, two children-in-law, two granddaughters and another granddaughter is expected to arrive in November.