The Maryland State Department of Education has partnered with the Council for Professional Recognition to encourage the state’s early childhood educators to earn or renew a Child Development Associate®, the premier credential in ECE. The Council is excited to leverage the CDA and expand ECE career development with funding for you!
The CDA can propel your career ahead and help you provide even better service to the children and communities you serve. It did for Crystal Barksdale and Nicole Bastfield, two Maryland early childhood teachers who’ve already taken advantage of the grant. Read their stories and why they think the CDA is a life changer in the early childhood field. These Maryland colleagues, as you will see, share the belief that you should find out more about the CDA and how to apply for state funding toward the credential.
Don’t delay since the funding is only available for a limited time. Afraid to embark on a new adventure in learning? Don’t worry. You’ll get a lot of peer support, as both our Maryland teachers point out. And it’s easy to get started, you’ll see when you read our blog. Mark this milestone in your career with help from the Maryland grant.
Funding is limited, so apply today!
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...
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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...
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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