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 A-B Tech's Early Childhood Education Department received a grant from Smart Start of Buncombe County for $59,000 to offer increased services and support to teachers in the early childhood field to help fill the need for qualified teachers.
A-B Tech student Rose Navidad gets hands-on training in an early childhood classroom. A-B Tech's Early Childhood Education program recently received a grant to offer increased services and support. "We are very grateful for the support Smart Start has given our College and look forward to continuing to partner with them as we pursue our commitment to improve the lives of teachers, children and families in our community," said Cathy Cody, Early Childhood Education chair at A-B Tech. The College was able to hire an outreach advisor to assist students with registration and to go to childcare centers to register employees for early childhood education programs. The advisor also works with centers that have three or fewer stars out of a possible five awarded by the state to help them increase their education and their star rating. Educated childcare professionals are in high demand in Buncombe County, according to Cody "We can't graduate students fast enough," she said. "Even in our current economy, there is a need for employees with education and classroom experience." Part of the problem is the misperception that child care employees are babysitters and can only get low-paying jobs, according to Cody. "The employees need to know child development. They are educators. People think they will only make $8 an hour, and that can be true when they do not have an education. Associate degree graduates usually make $13 to $17 an hour, with excellent benefits," she said. "The first three years of a child's life are the most important in brain development. If you put eight babies in a room with two adults who aren't prepared, everybody is going to suffer," Cody said. Pat Henke, program director for Early Head Start under Asheville City Schools Preschool, said all teachers in that program must have at least a Early Childhood Education associate degree to be in the classroom. "When we hire assistants, we give them the opportunity to earn their associate's degree. What better opportunity than A-B Tech. The College has a wonderful Early Childhood Education program and it is right close by that our personnel can access," Henke said. A-B Tech's Early Childhood Education program is one of 11 programs out of 58 in the state and one of only 51 in the nation accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Open registration for fall semester classes at A-B Tech begins July 27. Classes start Aug. 19. For more information on the Early Childhood Education program, call 254-1921, Ext. 373 or 476. For general registration questions, call Ext. 144, 145, 887 or after 4:30 p.m., call Ext. 210. For more information about programs at A-B Tech, call 254-1921, or visit the college�s website at www.abtech.edu. (Images provided by ASPCA.)
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