Early Childhood Education

The mission of the Early Childhood Education Program is to provide opportunities for students to acquire knowledge and develop attitudes and skills needed for initial employment or to upgrade or retrain persons who are, or have been employed in the child care service occupations.

Early Childhood Education prepares students to care for children in a birth through age five school setting.

It is not always the typical curriculum of text books and exams. Throughout the course, students will participate in lab experiences, working with infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers, and school-age children. While enrolled in ECE, students will become certified in CPR, tour various child care settings, and utilize creativity by planning fun and educational activities for children. In addition, graduates have the opportunity to obtain a nationally recognized credential called a CDA (Child Development Associate).

The goal of this program is to provide students with thorough academic instruction to gain the education necessary to become an assistant or, in some cases, a lead teacher in pre-school programs. Each student will gain valuable practical experience as an intern working directly with young children. With the increasing demand for quality child care, this program gives students the opportunity to successfully enter a growing profession.

The Early Childhood Development program now offers the curriculum to obtain your Child Development Associate (CDA) license. This is a shorter, revised version of the 12-month ECE program. It fulfills the education requirements for the nationally recognized CDA credential while allowing individual flex schedules in a local facility. The ease of flex scheduling allows you to work and complete the CDA course work in 3 months.

Statistics

2009/2010 Completion Rate	66.67%
2009/2010 Placement Rate	86.67%
Average Starting Pay	$6.00 - $10.00/hour

Exit Levels

CDA Candidate	1 trimester	Certificate
Attendant	1 Trimester	Certificate
Teacher Assistant	2 trimesters	Certificate
Teacher	3 trimesters	Diploma

For more information contact Gina Matlock: gina.matlock@ttcparis.edu

Our Early Childhood Education Instructor, Gina Matlock, has a B.S. Degree in Child Development and Family Studies from MTSU. Gina continues to remain current in the field by attending seminars and workshops across the state.

Before coming to TTCP, she was employed as a Medical Social Worker at Baptist Memorial Hospital working directly with families, children and the elderly. Gina has been in the educational field of Child Care since August, 1997.

Gina lives in Paris with her husband, Neil, and sons Sam and Jake. Gina states, "I have always had a natural love for children and life in general. I consider myself a very people-oriented person." Gina's hobbies include shopping, cooking, traveling and spending time with family.