Usma Mohamed
news@cdacouncil.org
WASHINGTON — The Council for Professional Recognition, the nonprofit organization that supports early childhood education professionals and administers the Child Development Associate® (CDA), is pleased to announce major support for one of its initiatives.
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has provided $300,000 to advance the Reimagining the Child Development Associate Credentialing Process initiative through the design and implementation of an improved equitable CDA credentialing process.
The Council engaged over 5,000 individuals, including CDA recipients and applicants, community members, and stakeholders through surveys, focus groups, and interviews around the CDA process. This initiative does not change the actual CDA credential. The Council ensures that candidates who earn the CDA credential are well prepared to foster the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth of young children.
Dr. Calvin E. Moore, Jr., the Council’s CEO, says, “We thank the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for its trust and commitment to early childhood education professionals and to the Council for Professional Recognition. The Council stands firm on its history of being an example of promoting equity in the ECE community, most prominent among which is the racial and linguistic diversity of the individuals that the CDA credentialing program produces. This support will allow us to build on this important legacy.”
In the past decades, the Council has grown the CDA program in vast numbers and positioned it to serve as a major pipeline for racially and linguistically diverse people to enter careers in early childhood education, having awarded over 800,000 credentials in its history.
Dr. Sakinah P. Harrison, program officer for education and learning at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, says, “The need to support children, their families and educators in the early care and education space has never been greater, and the Council and the CDA play essential roles in the success of our nation’s early childhood education system. Reimagining the CDA Credential Process initiative will be critical to ensuring equity across the early child care workforce and redesigning the credentialing process, so every candidate has an equitable experience from recruitment to job quality to career advancement and more.”
The CDA is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education and is a crucial steppingstone toward career advancement in early childhood education.
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, close to one million Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials have been issued around the world. For more information, visit www.cdacouncil.org.
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...
As Women’s History Month comes to a close, I wanted to share how it is important for us all to reflect on women’s progress in the business world and the importance of supporting and empowering...
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...
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.
