Five Reasons to Earn Your CDA
SPONSORED BLOG Whether you’re just starting out in the early childhood field, or you’ve been teaching for years, chances are you’ve heard the term CDA at least a few times. The Child Development Associate® (CDA)...
Each December, people take stock of the year and think of what is to come in the new year. I am no exception.
Working for an organization like the Council for Professional Recognition has been my most rewarding professional experience to date. This year, and for the past two years, we have seen an unbelievable light being shined on early childhood educators. The public’s awareness has also raised appreciation of the challenges we face.
We know the value early educators bring to our country’s overall economy, yet we continue to offer them wages that hardly match their importance. I have been heartened to see the federal Build Back Better Plan includes billions of dollars for states to grow pre-K programs and create the need for at least 40,000 new teachers, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University.
We have seen the shortage of educators grow, and the Council supports efforts to bring more professionals into the field. We are encouraged to see higher education institutions considering creating affordable degree programs in the field. The National Association for the Education of Young Children’s recent report uncovered some of the barriers for those looking to become educators—the number one barrier is financial.
The Council is proud to share that we have a promising pipeline of early educators looking to join the early education field or better their skill set by earning a Child Development Associate® (CDA) credential. During the pandemic, we saw a steady rate of those looking to earn and renew their CDA.
We see again and again the scientific research supporting the long-term benefits of high-quality early education. Yet, we do not provide a realistic, economically sound pathway for people to make a career in early childhood education.
The CDA provides an accessible pathway for early educators and can help fill a growing need. Aaron “Buddy” Rhodes, a member of the Council’s CDA Advisory Committee, comes from a family of educators. He first realized that teaching was a passion while in high school. As Buddy became older, he knew he was interested in the science of childhood development, but he wasn’t sure what he should do with this interest. Buddy credits the CDA for helping provide a foundational understanding of how he could best work with children.
I am optimistic for the future and believe that 2022 will prove to be an amazing year like no other. The Council looks forward to supporting our network of educators. We will push for more efforts to be focused on those who have dedicated their lives to educating our children.
SPONSORED BLOG Whether you’re just starting out in the early childhood field, or you’ve been teaching for years, chances are you’ve heard the term CDA at least a few times. The Child Development Associate® (CDA)...
SPONSORED BLOG Excitement. Jitters. Uncertainty. The new school year comes with a multitude of emotions and challenges — but thankfully there are things you can do ahead of time to prepare and ensure it’s the...
Language and literacy skills are fundamental building blocks for a child’s development, enabling effective communication, social interaction, and academic success throughout grade school and beyond. For young children with disabilities, however, traditional educational models may...
The Council for Professional Recognition’s Council Alumni Network (CAN) recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. This free community boasts 1200+ members. CAN is a diverse group of stakeholders in early childhood education (ECE) across the U.S....
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...
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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