鈥淒ianna was always so kind and understanding. She went the extra mile to help me and ensure I was going to be able to complete my work and obtain my certification,鈥� Warren said. 鈥淚 had聽to overcome a lot of adversity at that point in my life and I honestly believe if I鈥檇 had a different instructor, I wouldn鈥檛 have been able to complete the course.鈥�

Earning a CDA certification is required of all teachers who work in federal grant programs like Early Head Start for children from birth to age three, and Head Start for 3-and-4-year-olds. These programs provide full-day services for struggling and homeless families.

The Ohio Valley 成人直播 Cooperative pays for teaching assistants working in their Louisville and surrounding county Head Start classrooms to earn a CDA degree through a program at UofL鈥檚 College of 成人直播 & Human Development. This is the fifth year for the partnership between OVEC and UofL.

鈥淢any of those who attend our classes have had huge challenges in their lives and still do.聽This is the first rung on the ladder to success in the field of early childhood,鈥� Zink said.

Originally, all courses were in-person only, but in 2020 online classes taught by Erika Nygard were added to the CDA course offerings. The curriculum is focused on several key areas: Safe and Healthy Learning Environment; Physical & Intellectual Development; Social Emotional Development; Working with Families; Effective Program Management; Professionalism; and Principles of Child Development.聽

In addition to obtaining a minimum of 10 hours in each area of study, students are required to put together a portfolio, send out parent questionnaires, undergo classroom observation and prepare for a national written exam.聽A CDA Council then decides if a student has qualified to receive the CDA certification.

Zink says she has helped more than 200 students through the certification process.

鈥淚 may have a student that begins with me one year only to stop because of life challenges, but then continues the following year or when they are able to do so.聽The beauty of our program is that students can pick up where they left off,鈥� she said.

That was the case for Warren who went on maternity leave after completing the class work. This pushed back her classroom observation date. Then COVID-19 caused even more delay when her center had to close. She then gave birth to her second child. This year, Warren completed her CDA credential. She is now assistant director at Developing Young聽Minds and is continuing to further her education.

鈥淢y entire approach to facilitate learning with children has changed because of the information I learned in my coursework,鈥� Warren said. 鈥淒ianna really helped to ignite the passion in myself that has driven me to be the best early childhood educator I can possibly be.鈥�