Where I live, one of the major issues being spoken about in childcare facilities is the pay raise of New York State. Many owners and bosses feel that they need to expand the qualifications of their teachers that they are hiring because the amount they have to pay their workers is increasing to fifteen dollars an hour. They do not want anyone coming into work for large sum of money that are not going to do their job. Many childcare facilities are making sure that teachers have degrees and even assistant teachers are in the process of trying to obtain a degree. I feel like it is a good conversation to be having but it shouldn't take up all of the time in a center. There are greater concerns such as keeping a facility up to date with toys, classrooms, and supplies.
I was given the opportunity this year for professional development and I accepted it greatly. I was given the chance to use my degree and my credentials to become the Infant/Toddler Educational Director. Since the childcare facility that I work in is a dual-program, we need an Educational Director, as well as an Infant/Toddler Educational Director. This was the first time working here in five years that I have been given an opportunity like this and have been able to move up in the company. Since the child care center where I work is a franchise, there is always room to move up in the corporate world (not so much in the classroom).
One of my professional goals is to complete the EDTPA (teacher certification) for New York State. By completing the EDTPA I can be a certified teacher in New York State for the Department of Education. This also opens the door for me to be a whole-center director, not just an Infant/Toddler Educational Director. This also can help me become a Universal Pre-Kindergarten teacher.
