SIUE Workforce Development’s CDA Course Now Underway
A love for children, a need for educational credentials and a desire to reach a career dream is the reason one young woman enrolled in the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center (ESLC) Workforce Development program’s child development associate (CDA) course.
SIUE, in partnership with St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants, Connections to Success and Lewis & Clark Community College at the East St. Louis Higher Education Center, is providing the 2019-20 CDA seven-week class. Nine students are enrolled in the course.
The CDA apprenticeship coursework consists of a two-week professional development course and a five-week CDA certificate course that earns credit towards an associate’s degree. The course began Monday, Oct. 7 and will conclude on Friday, Nov. 22. A graduation ceremony will be held on a time and date yet to be determined.
Once students complete the course, they will be interviewed to be placed in a two-year apprenticeship program with SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start, according to Tracye Donovan, Talent Pipeline (Workforce Development) coordinator.
“While in the apprenticeship program, the students will serve as child care assistants (CCA’s) and will receive a pay raise every six months,” added Donovan. “After working as a CCA for a determined number of hours, the apprentice can start their professional portfolio and take the CDA examination. If they successfully complete their portfolio and pass the exam, they will receive their CDA certification.”
“I want to work with children, I don’t care what the ages,” said Alexus Warren, of Alorton, “I also want to operate my own daycare one day.” Warren has two children: two-year-old Caden and 10-month-old Kylie. Caden is a student at the SIUE Belleville Head Start Center.
“I’m glad that you all are here,” said ESLC Director Timothy Staples, EdD, during the class orientation. “SIUE is here to help you in all your endeavors. We are also proud to be partnering with St. Clair County, Connections to Success and Lewis & Clark Community College.”
“I need to learn better ways to deal with children, other than the knowledge that other people have given me,” said Warren. “It was required for one of my early childhood classes (through Southwestern Illinois College), that I work half a semester at a school. I was at Whiteside Elementary (in Belleville), and I was afraid about my reactions on how to correct the children.”
“In addition to educating children, I want to learn the best way to correct them,” she continued.
Finally, Warren noted a CDA certificate would let people know that despite her age, she is qualified to instruct preschoolers.
“I feel like I’m not taken seriously because of my age,” said the 21-year-old. “I don’t want people to discredit my abilities. I want to learn about early childhood education and have the credentials to back it up.”
Photos:
Alexus Warren, of Alorton, signed up for the child development associate course with hopes of one day owning her own daycare center.
(L-R): Vival Lopez, Connections to Success lead instructor; Tracye Donovan, Talent Pipeline coordinator; Dr. Timothy Staples, ESLC director; and Tiffany Caguitla, ESLC assistant director.
