Usma Mohamed
news@cdacouncil.org
WASHINGTON, DC — The Council for Professional Recognition, the nonprofit organization that supports early childhood education professionals and administers the Child Development Associate® (CDA) credential, congratulates Abena Ocran-Jackson, Vice President of Programs, on her appointment to the board of the Certification Network Group (CNG). The appointment will commence in December 2023 and extend for a term of three years.
The CNG is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the field of credentialing. Its mission as a force of excellence in the progressive development of credentialing professionals aligns with the Council’s commitment to operating a high-quality competency-based credentialing program in the early childhood sector.
Ocran-Jackson has over 25 years working in the early care and education sector. At the Council, she is responsible for managing all aspects of the CDA, including CDA Credentialing, Community Engagement and Learning, the Early Educators Leadership Conference, ECE Observation Systems and more. She has been named one of the Exceptional Leaders in Early Childhood by Childcare Exchange’s Leadership Initiative. She is also recognized as a credentialing specialist by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence and is a recent Equity Leaders Action Network (ELAN) fellow with the BUILD Initiative.
Ocran-Jackson says “I am honored by the opportunity to work with the CNG and its Board. I have long respected the work of the CNG and now will be able to help support the certification community. The work CNG does is important to certification professionals looking to learn, network and share best practices. I am excited to connect the ECE field and members to the world of credentialing.”
Dr. Calvin E. Moore, Jr., the Council for Professional Recognition CEO, says “We are proud that Abena Ocran-Jackson will be sharing her expertise to further Certification Network Group’s mission and goals. Abena brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in the area of credentialing and early childhood education. The Council for Professional Recognition believes that Abena’s appointment to the CNG board is not only a recognition of her exceptional skills but also a testament to the commitment and expertise of the Council. We are confident that her contributions will be invaluable in advancing the objectives of CNG and the wider credentialing community.”
For more information about the Council, visit www.cdacouncil.org.
ABOUT THE COUNCIL FOR PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
The Council for Professional Recognition promotes improved performance and recognition of professionals in the early childhood education of children ages birth to 5 years old. The Council recognizes and credentials professionals who work in all types of early care and education settings including Head Start, pre-k, infant-toddler, family childcare, and home visitor programs. As a nonprofit organization, the Council sets policies and procedures for assessment and credentialing. To date, over 1 million Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials have been issued around the world. For more information, 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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