A Change of Focus Linda Benoit
Regional TTA Coordinator
Linda Benoit Shares Her Passion for Early Childhood, and Photography
L
inda Benoit entered her professional career through Early Childhood Special Education. She taught infants, toddlers, and preschool aged special needs children for several years, in both home and center-based settings. Linda then moved to Wyoming and worked for the Wyoming Department of Education Special Education Unit and the Department of Health and Human Services. She served as the Early Childhood Special Education Consultant in both departments, worked with the State Child Care Licensing Board, and was active in developing state legislation for Welfare Reform. During her time in Wyoming, Linda worked with Special Education Preschools and with Head Start programs to ensure that children with special needs received the services they needed. Linda was part of a group that developed a statewide parent advocacy and education program through a large grant. Linda also worked at the New Mexico Department of Education as the Early Childhood Special Education
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Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Summer 2016
Consultant. While there, she also worked with the Department of Health and Human Services, again focusing on infants, toddlers and preschool aged children with special needs. Linda moved back to Kansas and became the Head Start Director for Barton, Pawnee and Rice Counties. As Director, she worked with multiple school districts, special education cooperatives, county health departments, etc. to increase the capacity of services to young children and their families. She served as Director for close to 10 years before moving into the Head Start Training and Technical Assistance System. Linda entered the TTA System as the Disabilities Content Specialist before moving into various other positions within the system. Linda has been with the Regional TTA System for the past 13 years, the last 7 serving as the Regional TTA Coordinator.