Published by CounciLINK on June 27, 2019
ABILENE, TX – Shea Roberson once worked as a children’s minister at her church, a job that’s often misunderstood.
Many people think children’s ministers are just babysitters who change diapers and hand out toys. They also believe that young children can’t learn Bible stories or much of anything else and that all they do is cry.
They say the same things about early childhood educators, but people like Roberson are helping to set them straight. During 20 years in the ECE field, she’s worked to change the public mindset and show that young children can learn, especially in the pliant years from 0 to 5.
She began spreading the word about the value of ECE at a child resource and referral agency in Florida, where she started her career. She continued her mission as director of a Head Start site, where she also taught courses leading to the Child Development Associate (CDA®) credential.
Then developments in her own life led her down a different path for a few years. When her children were small, she worked as director of a part-time child care center at her church. And it was during this time that she also worked as a minister for children.
Roberson’s small flock grew bigger last year after her youngest began school. She started teaching ECE at Abilene High School in Texas, and her students should count their blessings that she did.
When she arrived at Abilene High, she realized the program wouldn’t let students graduate with a CDA unless they put in extra time during summers or after school to earn the 480 experience hours required for the credential. So she set up partnerships with a local Head Start and a private child care center that allow students to get the experience they need before getting their diploma.
She plans to become a CDA Professional Development Specialist and assess the educators of tomorrow.
“I would love to learn more about how to support students in acquiring their CDA,” Roberson said.
She knows it’s the gospel when it comes to ECE.
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...
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.
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.
