STCC offers free classes for early childhood educators starting March 11
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield Technical Community College, in partnership with the union that represents early childhood educators, will offer free classes for family child care providers.
The classes provide an opportunity to earn college credits while making progress toward their next credential (teacher, lead teacher or director). The classes are open to family child care providers who serve children with state Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) child care vouchers.
Four courses will be offered at four locations throughout the metro Springfield-Holyoke-Chicopee area beginning March 11:
- Child Growth and Development (English)
- Child Growth and Development (Spanish)
- Curriculum for Early Childhood Education
- Administration of Early Childhood Education
Students can apply their college credits to the Child Development Associate (CDA) Plus Certificate of Completion, Early Childhood Education associate degree and bachelor’s degree work.
Each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship per course to offset living expenses including transportation, childcare, food and supplies pending completion. Technology support and training will be provided. Students will have access to Chromebook laptop computers and textbooks.
The free classes are supported by the STCC/Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Education and Support Fund community partnership under the Department of Early Education and Care Career Pathways Grant.
"SEIU is happy to engage in this unique partnership with STCC,” said Jynai McDonald, Family Child Care Coordinator for SEIU Local 509, the Massachusetts union for human service workers and educators. “Providing access to free college classes in both English and Spanish for family child care providers in the Greater Springfield area will not only help improve the quality of care, it will strengthen our region's workforce for families that rely on home-based early educators to get to work every day."
McDonald also is a member of the STCC Board of Trustees.
Aimee Dalenta, department chair, Early Childhood Education at STCC, called the program “a win-win for teachers as well as the children they serve every day.”
“This is a terrific opportunity for early childhood educators in the greater Springfield community to advance their professional qualifications while also earning college credits,” she said.
For more information, please contact Felix Martinez, (413) 364-0490, manuel3497@yahoo.com, or Jezenia Delgado, (413) 301-3003, jezeniad00@gmail.com.
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 offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC’s highly regarded transfer programs in business, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, liberal arts, and STEM fields continue to provide the most affordable options for students pursuing a four-year degree. With an annual enrollment of about 7,000 day, evening, weekend, and online students, STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.
For more information about STCC, visit www.stcc.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@S_T_C_C) and Instagram (@stccpics).
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu