July 2007
www.cdacouncil.org
Dr. Josué Cruz, Jr., Joins Council Administration
Chairman J. D. Andrews and the Governing Board of the Council for Professional Recognition are pleased to announce the appointment of Josué Cruz, Jr., Ph.D., as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President for the Council. He joins the current team in administering all aspects of the Council’s work.

The mission of the Council, located in Washington, DC, is to promote improved performance and recognition of early childhood professionals—the people who work with children from birth through five years of age in early childhood centers, family child care homes, and as home visitors. The cornerstone of the Council’s work is managing the Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program, supplemented by other professional improvement activities that contribute to the field of early childhood education.

Cruz’s expansive professional career has been dedicated to the improvement of educational and social services for children and their families and spans direct service as a teacher of young children to teaching and administrative positions in colleges of higher education. His most recent position has been as Dean of Education and Human Development at Bowling Green State University. Other higher education institutions where Dr. Cruz has held major administrative and faculty positions include: University of South Florida; Ohio State University; and the University of Virginia.

Service on boards and committees of professional associations constitute another important aspect of the experience Cruz brings to the Council CEO position. He served a five-year term on the Council Governing Board in the mid-1990s and returned to the Board in 2003 to become President of the Council Board. Josué Cruz has also served as Secretary, Vice President, and President of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Long-term service in a variety of positions for the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) adds to his broad perspective on issues related to teacher preparation and credentialing. 

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Cruz received his B.A. in sociology from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, M.Ed. from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, and Ph.D. in education from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
  

Coming Soon! 
Online CDA Assessment

To keep pace with the accelerated demand for teacher qualifications, the Council will launch a new Online CDA Assessment option that will facilitate Candidates’ assessments. This option will mirror the existing CDA Assessment System and allow Candidates to submit applications and complete assessments by utilizing personal computers. 

To access this option, Candidates must meet all eligibility and documentation collection requirements as outlined in the CDA Assessment System and Competency Standards book that is specific for the credential. Center-based and family child care Candidates, including bilingual (English/Spanish) and monolingual Spanish Candidates, will gain access to the online application screen via the Council’s website, www.cdacouncil.org. Upon approval, Candidates will complete the Early Childhood Studies Review and CDA Situational Assessment. The Council will then review the results to issue credentialing decisions based on competence in meeting the CDA Competency Goals and Functional Areas.

The CDA Credential continues to serve as a “stepping stone” for many early childhood professionals. This streamlined process will offer an alternative to the existing paper-based assessment system. Stay tuned for more to come about this new exciting option!