Shelbi Neely Email & Phone Number

I am a driven and passionate woman about the field of early childhood education. I believe that all young children are capable children that are always learning and curiously exploring the world around them. Young children are to be respected and allotted the opportunity to freely explore and play within safety of their environment. I am licensed to teach children up to age 5 with and without disabilities in the state of TN. Formerly, I taught three-year-olds with Metro Nashville Public Schools in Nashville in a blended setting. In my latter years with the district, I served as an assessment specialist. I got the amazing opportunity to partner with an assessment team inclusive of a speech language pathologist, school psychologist, and occupational therapist to help young children navigate the process of eligibility testing with their families. I enjoyed walking through the eligibility and IEP process with families while providing support. Alongside my role as an assessment specialist, I also co-taught with a speech language pathologist to work with a small group of children on specific skills in multiple sessions weekly. It was during this time that I grew a passion and admiration for families with young children with disabilities. My desire to help them learn how to advocate for themselves and their children grew deeper. Families have a right to know and understand their rights as parents of young children with disabilities navigating the public school system. Upon leaving the classroom, I began to work as a director of an early learning program of a nonprofit based in Nashville. Our focus was two-generational programming so we were able to provide unique programming like Family Preschool and parenting classes. I entered the consulting track of Public Consulting Group in fall of 2021. I find this experience valuable and unique to consult and advise public governmental agencies in the early childhood sector. I also have a growing interest in young children’s brain development as it relates to trauma exposure and how that trauma exposure effects the central nervous system in relation to their environment and relationships around them.

Listed skills include Customer Service, Public Speaking, Social Media, Leadership, and 12 others.