Karen Darby is the Director of Learning and Development at Southwestern Child Development Commission, Inc.  Karen oversees all professional development that occurs at SWCDC as well as creates, delivers and trains other trainers on continuing education learning events.  Karen also assists participants with registration, supports instructors with course creation and reviews courses for accuracy and alignment with policies.  

 

Karen currently serves as an elected member of the IACET (the International Association for Continuing Education and Training) Advisory Council and has been appointed as chairperson of the Early Care and Education Advisory Board for IACET.  Karen is an elected member of the NC Center for Afterschool Programs Board of Advisors and also serves as a peer reviewer for the EdMedia World Conference on Educational Media & Technology for AACE (Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education). 

 

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Karen holds a Bachelors in Elementary Education from West Virginia University, a Masters Degree in Liberal Arts from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a MicroMasters degree in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Maryland and is currently in the progress of obtaining her PhD in Philosophy.   

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She holds a Level 12 Early Educator Certificate in both the Early Care and School Age Fields with endorsements in Professional Development, Technical Assistance, and a Level III Administrator Endorsement. 

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Karen’s work history includes a variety of roles such as the Early Learning MultiMedia Manager at SWCDC and the Statewide School Age Education Specialist at SWCDC. Karen has also served as the Board President for the North Carolina Afterschool Coalition and worked as the Regional School Age Specialist for Region 7 providing technical assistance and training to afterschool professionals.  Karen has been employed with Southwestern Child Development Commission, Inc. since August of 2011. Karen’s rich work experience also includes: More at Four Teacher with Gaston County Schools, Technical Assistant with the Partnership for Children of Lincoln/Gaston Counties, Adjunct Instructor at Gaston College in Gaston County, Director at Caldwell Memorial Presbyterian Church Child Care Center, and lead teacher at Ashford Academy.