Usma Mohamed
news@cdacouncil.org
WASHINGTON, DC — The Council for Professional Recognition congratulates Xavier Becerra on his confirmation by the U.S. Senate to serve as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The Council’s CEO, Dr. Calvin Moore, Jr., says, “On behalf of the nearly 1 million early childhood educators who’ve earned a Child Development Associate credential, we look forward to working and partnering with Secretary Becerra and the entire Biden-Harris administration to further improve early learning. The pandemic has bought many challenges, especially in the education sector, but we know with the secretary’s background and knowledge about the value of early learning, we can make great strides.”
Becerra’s agency includes the Administration for Children and Families, which oversees Head Start, the national comprehensive early childhood program. Early Head Start centers have a minimum of a Child Development Associate® (CDA) credential or comparable credential and have been trained or have equivalent coursework in early childhood development with a focus on infant and toddler development.
While serving as a congressman, Becerra voted for the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 and continually supported increased funding for the early childhood education programs.
Earlier this year the Council also congratulated Dr. Miguel Cardona upon his confirmation to lead the U.S. Department of Education.
The CDA® is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education and is a key stepping stone on the path of career advancement. The CDA is based on a core set of competency standards, which guide early care professionals as they work toward becoming qualified teachers of young children. The Council works to ensure that the nationally-transferable CDA is a credible and valid credential, recognized by the profession as a vital part of professional development.
CDAs have knowledge of how to put the CDA Competency Standards into practice and understanding of why those standards help children move with success from one developmental stage to another. Put simply, CDAs know how to nurture the emotional, physical, intellectual, and social development of children.
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 800,000 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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