Katie Bracken
Whitwell
Summary
Compassionate and dedicated Human Services student pursuing a Child Life concentration at East Tennessee State University with experience supporting children and families in preschool, elementary, childcare, and hospital-adjacent settings. Passionate about child development, therapeutic play, and family-centered care. Skilled in communication, collaboration, and creating supportive environments where children feel safe, understood, and empowered. Seeking opportunities to further develop clinical skills through Child Life practicums and internships.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Private Family Babysitter
Multiple Families
Whitwell, TN
03.2021 - Current
- Supervised children's activities to ensure safety and engagement.
- Developed daily schedules for playtime, meals, and educational activities.
- Communicated effectively with parents regarding children's needs and progress.
- Adapted caregiving approaches based on individual child behavior and preferences.
- Cultivated positive relationships with families, enhancing trust and satisfaction in services provided.
- Played games, worked on puzzles, and read books to young children.
- Communicated positively with children and guardians.
- Organized and cleaned home after activities by picking up toys and straightening up play room.
- Served as a positive role model for young children by modeling appropriate language usage, manners, and conflict resolution methods.
Volunteer at Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
01.2026 - 05.2026
- Provided compassionate care and support to families during challenging times.
- Used strong interpersonal communication skills to convey information to others.
- Represented organization positively and professionally while providing community with much-needed services.
- Welcomed and assisted families of hospitalized children, creating a warm and supportive first impression.
- Provided compassionate customer service while responding to questions and directing families to appropriate resources.
- Answered phone calls and communicated professionally with families, volunteers, staff, and donations.
- Maintained confidentiality and professionalism while interacting with families experiencing medical challenges.
- Assisted with front desk operations, including visitor check-in, administrative tasks, and maintaining an organized reception area.
- Helped create a safe, welcoming, and family-centered environment for guests during stressful circumstances.
- Collaborated with staff and fellow volunteers to ensure smooth daily operations.
- Demonstrated empathy, active listening, and adaptability while supporting families with diverse needs.
- Fostered a welcoming and supportive environment for families navigating a child's hospitalization.
- Built positive relationships with families through compassionate communication and attentive service.
- Demonstrated empathy and professionalism while supporting families experiencing stressful medical situations.
Pre-K Classroom Assistant
Whitwell Elementary School
Whitwell, TN
01.2026 - 04.2026
- Monitored student behavior and provided guidance to promote a positive learning environment.
- Supervised lunch periods and recess times, maintaining an orderly environment during breaks from academic workloads.
- Established positive relationships with students, fostering a supportive and inclusive classroom community.
- Assisted teachers in managing class behavior, resulting in a more focused learning environment.
- Organized and maintained instructional materials, contributing to a well-structured learning space.
- Documented student behaviors, interventions, and outcomes to enable lead teacher to address pertinent issues.
- Counted children when lined up for various activities.
- Helped teacher prepare instructional material and displays.
- Enforced rules and instructions to maintain discipline.
Pre-K Developmental Observation
Whitwell Elementary School
Whitwell, TN
01.2026 - 04.2026
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness, and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
- Paid attention to detail while completing assignments.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions, and make decisions.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated strong organizational and time management skills while managing multiple projects.
Third Grade Classroom Assistant
Whitwell Elementary School
Whitwell, TN
01.2025 - 05.2025
- Monitored student progress and behavior, reporting observations to facilitate targeted interventions.
- Aided students individually or in small groups, reinforcing material taught by the teacher.
- Set up visual aids, equipment, and classroom displays to support teacher's lesson delivery.
- Collated and stapled packets of worksheets and other materials.
- Promoted a safe and nurturing atmosphere within the classroom, fostering emotional well-being among students.
- Aided teachers in evaluating assignments objectively through grading papers and providing constructive criticism on students'' work.
- Facilitated small group discussions to encourage critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving skills.
- Maintained accurate and detailed records of student progress and attendance to monitor educational growth.
- Assisted in integration of technology into curriculum, enhancing learning experiences.
- Assisted students in developing deeper understanding of course concepts by providing one-on-one support.
- Graded and provided feedback on assignments.
- Cleaned, organized and restocked classrooms for upcoming classes.
- Utilized answer sheets and electronic marking devices to grade homework and tests, accurately computing and recording results.
- Organized and maintained instructional materials, contributing to a well-structured learning space.
- Helped teacher prepare instructional material and displays.
- Enforced rules and instructions to maintain discipline.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Human Services
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN05-2028
Skills
- Time management
- Problem-solving
- Following directions
- Critical thinking
- Reliability
- Dependability
- Cleaning and organizing
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Microsoft Office Proficient
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Child Development
Timeline
Volunteer at Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga
01.2026 - 05.2026
Pre-K Classroom Assistant
Whitwell Elementary School
01.2026 - 04.2026
Pre-K Developmental Observation
Whitwell Elementary School
01.2026 - 04.2026
Third Grade Classroom Assistant
Whitwell Elementary School
01.2025 - 05.2025
Private Family Babysitter
Multiple Families
03.2021 - Current
Bachelor of Science - Human Services
East Tennessee State University