Credential JourneysEach issue of the Inside Gateways newsletter shares highlights of the journey for early care and education, school-age, and youth development practitioners to achieve a Gateways to Opportunity credential—ECE, Illinois Director, or Infant Toddler. Below is a sampling of practitioners showcased in past newsletter issues. To see their full stories, click here. Winnie Howell The tremendous support from the CCR&R staff and my PDA motivated me to explore new opportunities. In addition to the Level 1 ECE Credential, I discovered new training opportunities to help me with my child care business, scholarships to pay for classes, and free materials to use in my program. I felt like Alice in Wonderland opening new doors of opportunity.
Vicky Foster
Marie Chandel Spurgeon
Neidra Travis
|
“Those who want to pursue early care and education after high school get an automatic bump up on the career lattice when they graduate with a Level 1 ECE Credential in hand. The recently approved provision that allows high school graduates to apply for a Gateways Scholarship is an added bonus.”
"Not only is [the Infant Toddler Credential] an asset to the agencies you work in, it will validate your own knowledge in the field. It also pushes you out of your comfort zone and may expose other talents."
"The ITC experience gives you a better understanding of infants and toddlers and their families. I understand the ITC may become a requirement for more teachers of infants and toddlers in our state. Professionals with the ITC will eventually be in high demand."
"[Earning my credentials] helped me set short- and long-term goals for my center program and also gave me the opportunity to reflect on my accomplishments."
"Receiving my ECE Credential is a professional achievement I've wanted to complete as a family child care provider—one that my program families have appreciated as well."
