ECE Professional Development Workgroup
Workgroup Focus:
It is essential to continue ongoing professional development during practice for early childhood educators to ensure consistent, high-quality environments that support young children’s needs and development. In North Carolina, many agencies provide Technical Assistance (TA) and Professional Development (PD) to early childhood educators (ex., Smart Start Partnerships, Child Care Resource & Referrals, etc.). The Professional Development Workgroup has worked to help with policy recommendations for North Carolina’s state professional development requirements establishing recommendations that benefit the field, the educators, and the children and families they serve. In addition to training sessions and workshops, the Professional Development Workgroup works to promote Continuing Education Units (CEUs), mentoring, and coaching to enhance the professional development opportunities for the early childhood education workforce.
Workgroup Co-Chairs:
Katura Jackson, Child Care Resource Center/ Institute Board Member
Victoria Vample, Guilford Child Development Center/ Institute Board Member
Workgroup Members:
| Member | Affiliation |
| Lori Jones | Southwestern Child Development Commission |
| Alison Kiesler | NC Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) |
| Jenny Vial | Child Care Resources-Buncombe Partnership for Children/ Institute Board Member |
| Okeyma Wright | Child Care Networks (Regional) |
| DeDee Ephraim | Child Care Resources, Inc. |
| Sharon Spigner | NC PreK-Early Educator Support (EES) |
| Wendy Price | Child Care Services Association (CCSA) |
| Carroll Worrell Barnes | Beaufort Hyde Partnership for Children |
| Kim Shaw | Director/Provider |
| Lanier Degrella | Infant/Toddler Expert-Retired |
| Jacquie Simmons | NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center |
Workgroup Highlights and Related Work:
Along with the Institute Board of Directors, the Professional Development workgroup oversees the policies and implementation of the NC Early Educator Certification’s (EEC) Technical Assistance Endorsement (TAE) and Professional Development Endorsement (PDE). More information on EEC Endorsements can be found here.
In 2018-2020, the Institute’s Professional Development Workgroup led the efforts in establishing recommendations to NC DCDEE and the NC Child Care Commission regarding counting intensive technical assistance as professional development hours required in licensing rules. This effort led to child care rule revisions (Child Care Center rule) (FCCH rule) allowing individuals who have earned at least 18 semester hours in early childhood education, and who serve a 3-5 star rated license program, being able to include countable technical assistance towards on-going and professional development requirements; so long as copies of the supporting documentation are on file and current (rule). To assist in tracking this professional development option, the workgroup assisted in the creation of the Countable Technical Assistance Checklist.
Additional Resources related to Early Childhood Professional Development and Technical Assistance can be found here.
