Council for Professional Recognition
news@cdacouncil.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – For more than 30 years, the Council for Professional Recognition (the Council) has been working to improve the quality of early childhood education for children from birth to age five in the United States and worldwide. Now, with its new CDA® Gold Standard Training Certification, early childhood education students will be able to find the high-quality training and student services they need to prepare for the CDA exam and a career as an early childhood educator. On July 27, 2017, seven training organizations that passed the Council’s quality standards for training and services as part of a pilot program were awarded the CDA Gold Standard Training Certification.
As participants in the CDA Gold Standard pilot, these organizations successfully demonstrated their early childhood education training and student services are based on the Council’s three industry-leading principles:
CDA Gold Standard Training Certification Recipients are:
“We believe that our new CDA Gold Standard Training Certification adds value and integrity to the early childhood profession by verifying connections between the Council’s proven teacher competencies and the quality of training resources available to CDA students,” Valora Washington, chief executive officer, Council for Professional Recognition said. “We are also reinforcing the importance of strong collaboration with high-quality early childhood educators, administrators, colleges, universities and training organizations.”
In addition to offering high-quality training, CDA Gold Standard applicants must provide evidence that they serve the CDA student community with excellence, which includes professional development that prepares students for successful completion of their training program.
“It’s exciting to think about the many young children, families, and communities that will benefit from the high-quality education and training students will receive from CDA® Gold Standard Training Certified organizations,” Washington added.
The Council will conduct a second CDA Gold Standard pilot this year before opening applications to qualified CDA/early childhood education training organizations. The CDA Gold Standard Training Certification is valid for three years and can be renewed.
Learn more about the CDA® Gold Standard Training Certification at www.cdacouncil.org
ABOUT THE COUNCIL FOR PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
For more than 30 years, the Council for Professional Recognition has been the leader in promoting improved performance and recognition of professionals in the early childhood education of children ages zero to 5 years old. The Council recognizes and credentials professionals who work in all types of early care and education settings – Head Start, pre-k, infant-toddler, family child care, and home visitor programs. As a non-profit agency, the Council sets policies and procedures for assessment and credentialing, including the CDA® and the new CDA® Gold Standard Training Certification; publishes the industry leading training books and workbooks, including its CDA Competency Standards and Essentials textbook and workbook (2nd edition). Visit: www.cdacouncil.org
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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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