Early Childhood Teacher Prepares Students to Enter the Field
September 27, 2019
Home > Newsletters > Early Childhood Teacher Prepares Students to Enter the Field
Published by CounciLINK on September 27, 2019
Fifteen years in early childhood education have showed Tifani Herbert “the importance of having skilled staff working with our little ones.” She knows all the steps it takes to become a qualified educator, and she has laid them out in a comprehensive program that enables high school juniors and seniors to try out a career pathway in early childhood education.
Herbert’s input has transformed the program at Lewis & Clark Career Center in St. Charles, MO, since she began work there about two years ago. In the first year of the early education program at Lewis & Clark, students take 120 hours of instruction focused on the eight Child Development Associate (CDA®) standards. Then they take the knowledge they’ve gained and put it to work in local child care centers and preschools.
The students spend five days each week in these real-life settings during their second year while also putting together a portfolio that illustrates their professional skills. In addition, Herbert’s second-year students become CPR/AED certified while earning their CDA.
Meanwhile, Herbert prepares her students for the future because she believes her role “is more than just teaching my students in high school.” Besides preparing them for the workplace, she also focuses on note-taking strategies and study habits that will help those who plan to earn a coll
Professional development is absolutely critical to your success, as well as the success of all the children in your care. Not to mention in most states, you’re required to complete a minimum number of training...
This month marks my second year at the Council for Professional Recognition. When I first arrived at the Council, I was no stranger to the organization or its mission, as I had been involved with...
Schools are microcosms of the world beyond their walls. Factors like race, culture, class and gender set the stage for what takes place in our schools as learners from different groups interact. The conflicts that...
There is no denying the academic and emotional impact of the pandemic on children. News websites and TV newscasts are full of stories about the unknown long-term effects of the past two years on kids....
Finding informative and trusted early childhood educator resources online can be a challenge. That’s why the CDA® Advisory Committee met virtually to learn more about the nonprofit, The Source for Learning (SFL) and its ECE...
Each year I update my professional bio and pause at the part where it says, “Rachel Robertson has worked in the field for over X years”. Not because I can’t believe it or can’t remember,...
Teachers aren’t keen to bring up the topic of COVID, according to their Facebook posts. “I don’t think we are allowed to,” one teacher wrote. “There’s no way I’m going near that subject since it’s...
CDA®. These three little letters can change the entire trajectory of your career. The Child Development Associate® (CDA) credential is the most widely known and valued credential in early childhood education. By earning your CDA,...
Each December, people take stock of the year and think of what is to come in the new year. I am no exception. Working for an organization like the Council for Professional Recognition has been...
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.