SIGNING ON THE DOTTED LINE — Students in the Jefferson County Co-Vocational Early Childhood Education program participated in the first statewide Health and Human Services Signing Day on October 4th. to get a job. Attending the program were, from left, Serenity Monigold, Hannah Sherbondy, Raeni Kerr, Claire Watkins, Leona Clutter and Kaley Joynson-Beebe. Also in the program are Raelynn Woodworth and Lea Riggs. — He contributed

BLOOMINGDALE — Early childhood education students signed on the dotted line Oct. 4, committing to complete associate training in child development during their senior year at the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School.

Instructor Rebecca Kelley explained that eight seniors in her class participated in the first Ohio Health and Human Services Signing Day.

By agreeing to complete the program requirements, students will earn nationally recognized CDA accreditation.

Those who signed included Leona Clutter, Claire Watkins, Kaley Joynson-Beebe, Serenity Monigold, Hannah Sherbondy, Raeni Kerr, Raelynn Woodworth and Lea Riggs.

Kelley said this is a path to career advancement in early childhood education.

“Almost all preschools with a Step Up to Quality rating want an employee to have a CDA.” Kelley said. “We’ve been doing CDA for the past eight years, but last year was the first year to sign.”

Students must complete 120 hours of child development education and 480 hours of working with young children to receive their CDA.

Ways to earn those hours include the program’s classes, a preschool lab where students interact with preschoolers, preparing them for kindergarten; taking a test at Belmont College; being observed by a professional development specialist and creating a portfolio that also keeps track of training and education.

Students can earn college credit for higher education degrees.

“We build that portfolio over the senior year and a lot of the information is relevant to early childhood,” Kelley said. “It’s the first time all the seniors are on track to get it.”

The training enables students to become qualified early childhood education teachers for children aged birth to 5 years and ensures they graduate from high school with the skills employers are looking for.

She noted that highly trained and certified teachers are in high demand across the state, and that this credential could open doors to employment prospects, including teacher aides and substitute teachers, among others. Students can also obtain administrative roles in childcare and preschool programs.

Health and Human Services Signing Day was made possible by Career Compass for Health and Human Services and is funded by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.