Campbell students Jackie Dixon, LaTonya Moore and Kim Pate are the recipients of three $2,000 grants from the T.E.A.C.H Early Childhood Scholars Program. T.E.A.C.H. is an affiliate of the North Carolina Child Care Coalition, which works to improve the quality and affordability of early childhood services in North Carolina. The students are enrolled in Campbell University’s Birth to Kindergarten licensure program, offered through the School of Education’s Family and Consumer Sciences curriculum. The program provides a Bachelor of Science degree in Family Studies and certification in Birth to Kindergarten education. Dixon, Moore and Pate said they chose early childhood education because of the critical importance of these developmental years in a child’s life. “For a long time, there has not been much attention paid to this age group,” said Pate, the mother of three children from Coats. “Their care was considered just babysitting.” Now we know that this age has far greater capabilities than we ever realized. The more we know, the more we can help them learn.” According to program coordinator, Dr. Connie Chester, it is designed for students who want to work with birth to Kindergarten-age children with or without special needs. “The B-K program is a response to the demands of state funded programs like Early Intervention, Head Start and More at Four,” said Chester. “There is a tremendous need for people who are certified to teach this age group.” Junior LaTonya Moore, of Zebulon, will be one of the first students to graduate from the program, launched in 2005. “I enjoy working with four-year-olds,” said Moore who has worked with the Kid Zone before and after school programs. “They are eager to learn and they learn very quickly,” she said. “I was very excited to receive this financial help.” Selected recipients of the T.E.A.C.H. grants can receive an award of $2,000 each semester for up to five semesters. Upon graduation, each scholar will be required to complete a period of employment of six months for each stipend in a More at Four or Smart Start classroom. Scholars receiving the award for one year will have up to two years to complete the employment requirement. The additional classroom requirement is fine with senior Jackie Dixon, of Erwin, who has already operated a day-care facility in her home. Dixon would like to one day open a facility exclusively for children with special needs, and she is grateful for the opportunity to work with programs like More at Four. “More at Four will really broaden my horizons,” said Dixon. “The more education a teacher receives, the better off the children in her classroom will be.” Employment opportunities for graduates of Campbell’s B-K licensure program aren’t just limited to a day care facility or the classroom, however. “These graduates will be prepared to teach children with special needs and work with their families in early childhood programs like More at Four and Head Start, in addition to early intervention programs with families who have children with special needs and disabilities,” said Chester. “We are really excited about the career opportunities the program opens up to our students.” For more information about Campbell’s B-K licensure or the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholars programs, contact Dr. Connie Chester at the Campbell University School of Education, 910.893.1655 or 800.334.4111, ext. 1655.Photo Copy: LaTonya Moore, Kim Pate and Jackie Dixon interact with Dr. Connie Chester’s son, Isaac, a first grade student at Northwood Temple. Moore, Pate and Dixon received grants to pursue licensure in B-K education.
Education students receive boost from T.E.A.C.H.