Sixteen early childhood educators graduate from Childcare Resources program

Childcare Resources of Indian River recently welcomed more than one hundred supporters to celebrate the graduation of sixteen students of the Credentialing Program for Early Educators. The Credentialing Program allows an educator to earn a Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC) in sixteen weeks through a partnership with Indian River State College. Typically, the FCCPC may take an educator up to two years to earn.

Indian River State College Dean of Industrial Education Donna Rivett (center) with Childcare Resources of Indian River Program Committee members Carol Buhl (left) and Jen Vail (right).

Commencement speaker Donna Rivett, Indian River State College Dean of Industrial Education, congratulated the graduates on their accomplishment, noting that, for many of the educators, earning an FCCPC will mark the beginning of their journey as teachers, not the end. Graduate Megan Thomas, a local infant teacher, agreed, saying “I’m thankful for both this program and the opportunity to better myself as a teacher.”

Graduate Mirna Batres receives her certificate from Credentialing Program Facilitator Elizabeth Swann and Sara Whitacre, Indian River State College Assistant Professor of Industrial Education.

Childcare Resources’ Credentialing Program was established through an Impact 100 grant award in April 2017 that funded three semesters of the program. In those semesters, forty local early childhood educators earned an FCCPC and­­ graduated from the program.

“The Impact 100 grant and the Credentialing Program have provided these students the opportunity to grow personally and professionally,” noted Indian River State College Adjunct Instructor of Statewide Child Care Training Karen Cartwright, “The students actively participated in learning experiences with the instructors and also learned from the expertise of one another.” A fourth semester of the Credentialing Program is slated to begin in January 2019.