Submitted by tara.hurlebaus on
(Newark, Del.) New Castle County Head Start, Inc. announces a partnership with Delaware Technical Community College to provide an associate degree course for Head Start staff at the Absalom Jones Head Start center in the Cedar Heights area of New Castle County beginning in August 2013. This is the first course offered by Delaware Tech’s Education Department at a partner location. The course is ECE111 Childhood Nutrition/Safety, a required course for an associate degree in Early Childhood Education.
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. provides continuing education assistance to all full-time staff. The agency values and encourages higher education among staff. Currently, 82% of Head Start teacher assistants have a CDA (national accreditation). The other 18% have an associate degree or higher. The agency is working toward a goal of 100% of teacher assistants having an associate degree or higher. All New Castle County Head Start, Inc. teachers have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
“We are excited about expanding our partnership with Delaware Tech,” comments New Castle County Head Start, Inc. Executive Director Jeffrey Benatti. “We hope this class will evolve into a cohort program for our teacher assistants to work closely together in their pursuit of an associate degree in Early Childhood Education.”
Delaware Tech’s Education Department Chair Kimberly Krzanowski says, “The Education Department has had a long-standing partnership with New Castle County Head Start, Inc. and we believe this offsite initiative will only strengthen the relationship. Early childhood educators are at the forefront of a child’s learning experience and our goal is to ensure students are trained and educated to succeed in the field.”
Delaware Tech’s Early Childhood Education degree provides training in curriculum development and implementation, communication skills and classroom management strategies. Graduates of the program will be ready to play an important role in the delivery of quality children’s programs in a variety of settings including home and childcare centers. The degree will also establish professional credentials and a foundation for moving into a management position in the growing early childhood field.
About New Castle County Head Start, Inc.
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization devoted to promoting the school readiness of preschool children, ages 3 to 5, from low-income families in New Castle County, Delaware. The agency provides excellence in early childhood education and supportive services to help families achieve self-sufficiency. Head Start embraces diversity and welcomes children and families of all backgrounds and abilities including those with special needs. Since 1977, New Castle County Head Start, Inc. has offered comprehensive services to eligible children and families at no cost. The program is funded through grants from the Federal Department of Health and Human Services and the Delaware Department of Education.
About Delaware Technical Community College
Delaware Technical Community College is a statewide multi-campus community college committed to providing open admission, post-secondary education at the associate degree level. The College offers comprehensive educational opportunities that support economic development and are relevant and responsive to the needs of the community including career, general, developmental, and transfer education; workforce training; professional development; and lifelong learning. The College believes in the practical value of higher education as a means of economic and personal advancement. The College respects its students as individuals and as members of diverse groups and is committed to fostering student success.