1st Grade Teacher/School Board Member Relies on Her CDA Training
July 26, 2018
Home > Newsletters > 1st Grade Teacher/School Board Member Relies on Her CDA Training
Published by CounciLINK on July 26, 2018
Leslie Love Smith always brings her Child Development Associate (CDA®) training and expertise with her – whether she’s teaching in her 1st-grade class at Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary-Middle or serving in her role as a school board member for the Southfield (MI) Public Schools.
“The CDA has been a valuable and essential asset throughout the trajectory of my career,” says Smith, who is also a CDA Professional Development Specialist, initially sought the credential while enrolled at both Eastern Michigan University and Washtenaw Community College where she was planning to earn a degree in special education, with a concentration on emotional impairment. “I saw the CDA as a pathway for gaining valuable experience and immediate skills for working with children and families while earning my bachelor’s degree.”
Earning a CDA also led her to a career focusing on young children. After her undergraduate degree, she earned a master’s degree in early childhood as well as a K-8 teaching certificate. The CDA’s focus on “child appropriate engagement and child development” has influenced her work with 1st graders. The credential, Smith says, has been an “anchor” throughout her career over the past ten years, leading to teaching and director positions in four counties.
As a school board member, Leslie’s CDA and PDS training and experience helps her to advocate for high-quality early childhood education programs and experiences for children as part of their learning pathway. She can also advocate for others in the early childhood education profession, whether they are working in schools or not. She remembers her first CDA instructor warning the class that people would try to treat them like “glorified babysitters,” but also assuring them that they were “trained early childhood educators” instead.
To our followers – We want to bring your attention to an important matter regarding communication from the Council for Professional Recognition. Recently, a Facebook account impersonating the Council for Professional Recognition responded to people...
SPONSORED BLOG Whether you’re embarking on professional development (PD) to meet state requirements, or you want to invest in your own growth, PD has a number of benefits. First, it helps ensure you’re keeping up...
In the world of early childhood education, there’s a remarkable achievement that more people should know about – earning a Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential™. The Council for Professional Recognition, a nonprofit that supports early...
SPONSORED BLOG Whether you’re just starting out in the early childhood field, or you’ve been teaching for years, chances are you’ve heard the term CDA at least a few times. The Child Development Associate® (CDA)...
SPONSORED BLOG Excitement. Jitters. Uncertainty. The new school year comes with a multitude of emotions and challenges — but thankfully there are things you can do ahead of time to prepare and ensure it’s the...
Language and literacy skills are fundamental building blocks for a child’s development, enabling effective communication, social interaction, and academic success throughout grade school and beyond. For young children with disabilities, however, traditional educational models may...
The Council for Professional Recognition’s Council Alumni Network (CAN) recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. This free community boasts 1200+ members. CAN is a diverse group of stakeholders in early childhood education (ECE) across the U.S....
A couple of years before becoming a mother, I saw the classic movie Terms of Endearment. Before the opening credits, the film portrayed Aurora, played by Shirley MacLaine, as a worried mom who checked on...
“Every child deserves a champion,” said longtime teacher Rita Pierson in a famous TED talk. She was talking about “an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and...
Andrew Davis serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Council. In this role, Andrew oversees the Programs Division, which includes the following operational functions: credentialing, growth and business development, marketing and communications, public policy and advocacy, research, innovation, and customer relations.
Andrew has over 20 years of experience in the early care and education field. Most recently, Andrew served as Senior Vice President of Partnership and Engagement with Acelero Learning and Shine Early Learning, where he led the expansion of state and community-based partnerships to produce more equitable systems of service delivery, improved programmatic quality, and greater outcomes for communities, children and families. Prior to that, he served as Director of Early Learning at Follett School Solutions.
Andrew earned his MBA from the University of Baltimore and Towson University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland – University College.
Janice Bigelow
Chief Financial Officer
Jan Bigelow serves as Chief Financial Officer at the Council and has been with the organization since February of 2022.
Jan has more than 30 years in accounting and finance experience, including public accounting, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. She has held management-level positions with BDO Seidman, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Pew Center for Global Climate Change, Communities In Schools, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization and American Humane. Since 2003, Jan has worked exclusively in the non-profit sector where she has been a passionate advocate in improving business operations in order to further the mission of her employers.
Jan holds a CPA from the State of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lycoming College. She resides in Alexandria VA with her husband and dog.
CounciLINK is Your Connection
Read our monthly e-newsletter and keep up to date on all Council programs and services, as well as the latest news in the world of early care and education. Subscribe today to stay connected with us. You’ll receive timely information on events, webinars, special promotions, and more.