Credentialing as a Means to Recruit, Train, and Retain Educators

How can credentialing be used to recruit, train, and retain early childhood educators, or perhaps even return professionals who have left the field? In today’s episode, you’ll learn more about the CDA credentialing process, why it’s useful, and how it works.

Today’s guest is Dr. Calvin E. Moore, Jr., an accomplished leader in early childhood education He was appointed CEO of the Council for Professional Recognition in May 2020. He’s the Council’s first CEO to hold its early education credential, the Child Development Associate® (CDA). He is also a former member of the Council’s governing board. Dr. Moore holds a BS degree in early childhood education, an MS in Education degree, and a Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education. Dr. Moore participated in Head Start as a child, and then later professionally, so he’s seen the value of early childhood education from different perspectives.

Listen to the episode to learn more about why the CDA is important to the early childhood space and how credentialing can help the teacher shortage, and strategies leaders can implement to help diversify the field

Topics Discussed in This Episode

[00:01:04] What the CDA is

[00:02:15] The process of preparing to get a CDA credential

[00:03:15] Why the CDA is such an anchor for the early childhood space

[00:05:57] How credentialing can help in a teacher shortage

[00:07:28] Advocacy work that the council does

[00:10:25] Ways to recruit and retain educators besides credentialing

[00:16:01] How to diversify the field and specifically to bring more men into the early childhood space

[00:20:15] How to support leaders who support CDA

[00:22:55] Opportunities for scholarships and grants

[00:24:50] Support offered by the CDA

Resources