STCC names Aimee Dalenta, Nancy Ward to early education positions
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield Technical Community College announces the appointment of Aimee Dalenta, of East Longmeadow, as chair of the Early Childhood Education Department, and Nancy Ward, of Northampton, as STCC’s Early Education and Care Pathways Grant and Activity Director.
Nancy Ward, left, and Aimee Dalenta
Dalenta, a professional in the field of education for 14 years, has held roles as a classroom teacher. She has owned and operated her own preschool and served as an educational consultant. She has worked at the college level for six years, training future teachers to succeed in the classroom.
One of her roles is to oversee STCC’s new Child Development Associate Plus Certificate of Completion program, which is designed for early childhood educators and school paraprofessionals who want to get their CDA credential and earn college credit at the same time.
“I believe that this CDA certificate has the potential to be a game changer for Early Childhood professionals in the greater Springfield area,” Dalenta said. “We will be offering seasoned professionals in the field, along with those entering the profession, the opportunity to elevate their credentials in a zero or low-cost way. The program is a win-win for all involved.”
She will earn a doctorate in education from American International College in August. Dalenta received her bachelor’s in education from Springfield College and master’s in education from Western New England University.
In her new role, Ward will help launch STCC’s Child Development Associate Plus Certificate program.
Ward has worked in the field of early education and care since 1987, when she began working as a resource developer at New England Farm Workers’ Council’s voucher child care program. She became the director of the program in 1989 and continued in that role for 14 years.
Ward also worked in the Early Childhood Department at the Collaborative for Educational Services for 15 years, in a variety of positions supporting the professional development of early educators. Ward holds a master’s of education in curriculum and instruction with a specialization in literacy from Lesley University in Cambridge.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.
About Springfield Technical Community College
Founded in 1967 and located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, STCC is a major resource for the economic vitality of Western Massachusetts. As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC, a designated Hispanic Serving Institution, offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC’s highly regarded transfer programs in business, engineering, liberal arts, science and technology continue to provide the most economical options for students pursuing a four-year degree. With an annual enrollment of 5,000 day, evening, weekend and online students, STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu