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.
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Chief Operations Officer
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.
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.
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