Published by CounciLINK on December 20, 2018
It’s probably an understatement to say that Amy Torres shows real passion and dedication to the field of early childhood education and to the children who benefit from it.
Need proof? Torres, 45, went back to school – graduate school, if you please – to get her master’s degree so she’d be in a position to lead Child Development Associate (CDA) credential cohorts across Indiana and actually teach the first Spanish-language cohort in central Indiana.
The graduating cohort of 26 women – 31 started out – earned CDA credentials earlier this year and a second group started the course in September. For Torres, the whole process has been like a dream. In fact, she says that’s how it all started for her.
“It started with just a dream from nearly 10 years ago,” said Torres, who is Hispanic Provider Support manager for Early Learning Indiana in Indianapolis. “My colleagues and I discovered there was a need. It took almost eight years for everything to align. You know, funding, school locations to hold classes. … I specifically went back to grad school in order to be able to teach this class. I didn’t want there to be another obstacle about why we couldn’t have the class. They were and continue to be my motivation.”
After getting her master’s degree, Torres said she went looking for funding. Alongside other projects, Early Learning Indiana earmarked funds for the project from the Lilly Endowment Inc., a philanthropic organization in Indianapolis that supports the causes of religion, education and community development. There was enough extra money in the first cohort to hire an assistant for each of the classes.
Torres attributes the success of building a solid CDA class to the additional assistance.
“It was extremely beneficial for the students to have the additional person to turn to for help. … It allowed us to share the teaching responsibilities,” she said.
“Even though they may be familiar with Facebook or social media, many do not know how to access Word,” she added. “A lot of these folks had been out of school for some time … they had little to no formal education past high school … and they’d forgotten a lot in regards to writing educational documents. When it came time to start putting a professional portfolio together, there were a lot of worried students.”
Torres said she and her assistant provided additional help with basic writing and computer skills to help students through the process.
She said the language barrier also really came into play, even though some members of the classes could speak and read a little English – but not enough. She said she was able to have some resources translated into Spanish, which was invaluable.
Torres said students had a lot of “ah-ha” moments in the class, in particular one involving a potato. She said she came up with an exercise in which students were given a potato and a card on which to write descriptive comments about the potato. The lesson: Just like with children, people can make wrong observations; pay attention to what you see, not what you assume.
The former preschool classroom teacher said she would encourage anyone – English speaking or not – to strive to get a CDA.
“I would say set a goal, and make a plan! It’s definitely achievable and not just in Spanish … but other languages as well,” she said.
Un trabajo bien hecho, Amy!! (A job well done!)
My mom called me up some years ago to praise a movie about a pig. As she began to mimic the pig’s squeaky little voice, I started to wonder what this meant and worried my...
It takes a village to raise a child, the old proverb tells us. But we need to expand our perspective, according to pediatric surgeon, social scientist and mom Dana Suskind. In her heartfelt work, Parent...
Dr. Calvin Moore shared that when he first arrived at the Council and took on the CEO role, he was focused on assessing the early childhood education (ECE) landscape, the reach of the organization and...
We have probably all seen the commercials this time of year when you can hear the popular holiday song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, playing in the background as parents dance joyously...
Did you know early childhood educators in Maryland have a special benefit that can help them and the children they serve? The Maryland State Department of Education has awarded a $1 million grant to the...
For the first time in three years, the Education Writers Association (EWA) gathered in person for their National Seminar in Orlando last month. The event drew journalists from across the country to hear from leaders...
In April 2022, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) issued new guidance and an Information Memoranda (IM) announcing the long-awaited, family-friendly policy of permitting families and guardians to use proof of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program...
Dasani wakes up before dawn each day at a homeless shelter in Brooklyn, New York. After slipping out from under the covers, she goes to the window. On a clear day, she can see all...
The CDA Advisory Committee was created to provide insights, perspectives, and best practices to the CDA community and other early childhood professionals. Established during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the members’ first-hand experiences...
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.
