Students enrolled in the Child Development Associate (CDA) program will build an understanding of early childhood development, how to create a safe and healthy learning environment, and how to plan and implement lesson plans for children from birth to 5 years old.  This program prepares students to communicate effectively, utilize new technology in the classroom, think critically and creatively, and to demonstrate cultural awareness. The program’s structure and curriculum are designed to prepare students for the Child Development Associate (CDA) national credentialing exam.

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Submit a high school transcript, GED, or HSE
• Read the program sheet (The school reserves the right to adjust program tuition and fees prior to the start of the program.)
• Social Security Number is required to complete application
• successfully pass a drug screen test
• successfully pass a background check
• register with the Family Care Safety Registry or provide verification
• provide verification of CPR (Pediatric First Aid CPR AED) through American Heart Association
• submit a completed Medical Examination Report, signed by person(s) of authority
• submit a completed TB Risk Assessment Form, signed by person(s) of authority

Return signed application form and consent forms if applicable to the address below or submitted online at franklintechnologycenter.com.

Please direct all correspondence and inquiries to:

Franklin Technology Center Adult Education

810 S. Wall Avenue, Joplin, MO 64801

Telephone: 417-680-0004

Step 1

Submit Application with Fee to Franklin Technology Center

In order to be considered for admission into Franklin Technology Center, the first step in the process is to receive an application packet and complete the following:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Submit a high school transcript, GED, or HSE
• Read the program sheet (The school reserves the right to adjust program tuition and fees prior to the start of the program.)
• Social Security Number is required to complete application
• Return signed application form and consent forms if applicable to the address below or submitted online at franklintechnologycenter.com.

Step 2

Registration

Students will be required to:

• successfully pass a drug screen test.
• successfully pass a background check.
  Payment of $136 for background check and drug screening must be paid in full to FTC Adult Education prior to attending orientation.
• register with the Family Care Safety Registry or provide verification.

   

  Prior to beginning classroom practicum training and education, students will be required to:

• provide verification of CPR (Pediatric First Aid CPR AED) through American Heart Association
• submit a completed Medical Examination Report, signed by person(s) of authority.
• submit a completed TB Risk Assessment Form, signed by person(s) of authority.

Step 3

Provisional Acceptance into Program

The Program Coordinator will send out a letter of provisional acceptance by email. Provisional acceptance is based on results of background check, drug screening, and Family Care Safety Registry clearance.* 

* Please bring verification of FCSR registration to orientation.

Step 4

Orientation

All students will be required to attend a mandatory orientation meeting:

Date: Thursday, August 15, 2024

Time: 6:00 pm

Location: Franklin Technology Center

      2220 Indiana Ave.

      Joplin, MO  64804

Please direct all correspondence and inquiries to:

Franklin Technology Center Adult Education

810 S. Wall Avenue, Joplin, MO 64801

Telephone: 417-680-0004

*Disclaimer: The programs and courses require a minimum number of students in order for the classes to be offered.

• 120 hours of classroom instruction
• 480 hours field work/hands-on experience in a licensed preschool program

Students must successfully complete all required coursework, create a professional portfolio, and participate in a formal observation to be submitted to the Council for Professional Recognition for review. 

The field work/hands-on portion of the program is an opportunity for students to learn first-hand through experience.  Students currently employed by a licensed program serving children Birth – 5 years can utilize their place of employment for the field work hours. Students not employed by a licensed program will be placed in a site that is agreed upon by the instructor and student. Students must complete 480 hours of field work in its entirety prior to successful completion of the program.

Program Content:

• Types of Early Childhood Programs
• Assessments
• Child Development Principals & Theorists
• Developmental Milestones
• Planning a Classroom Environment
• Selecting Educational Materials
• Promoting Children’s Health and Safety
• Planning Healthful Meals and Snacks
• Handling Classroom Routines
• Setting Classroom Expectations
• Handling Behavior
• Developing Social and Emotional Skills
• Guiding Children with Special Needs
• Creating Play-based Learning Experiences
• Engaging Families
• Implementing Curriculum

Important Note: FTC Adult Education programs are based on clock hours. The Child Development Associate (CDA) program requires students to maintain 90% attendance and a cumulative grade of C or better during the classroom instructional component, and 100% completion of field work hours to successfully complete the program.

ORIENTATION

A. Safety Training

1. Procedures to ensure safety of the children

2. Physical plant and equipment including fire hazards and emergency equipment

3. Plumbing, sanitation, and electrical equipment

4. Catastrophic measures and warning systems

5. Toys and equipment inspection and reporting procedures

6. Emergency Preparedness and Procedures

B. Health and First Aid

1. Basic Red Cross First Aid program instruction

2. Identification and proper procedures for minor injuries abrasions, cuts, bruises, falls, and reporting procedures

3. Handicapped or incapacitated persons transportation and handling

4. Medical and hospital facilities, emergency policies and liability

5. Recognition, monitoring, and reporting symptoms of:

a. Communicable diseases

b. Conditions (abnormal) and maladies

c. Physical ailments

6. Observation and identification of children with special needs

a. Description and observation of special needs

b. Appropriate techniques for working with special needs children

 c. Reporting, referral, and recording procedures

Policies and liability for procedures regarding treatment and/or medication

C. Administration Procedures and Policies

1. Relationship of Day Care Center to:

a. Sponsoring agency

b. Federal, State and local regulations

c. Other related community service agencies

2. Liability – personal and organizational

3. Worker accountability and responsibility and reporting

4. Budgeting sources and program expenditure recordkeeping

5. Personnel policies and benefits

6. Administrative records and forms completion

D. Child Nutrition and Hygiene

1. Recognition, reporting and recording of symptoms of malnutrition, child neglect and abuse

a. Observation and assistance with feeding the handicapped

b. Food preparation and meal patterns and serving

c. Table manners and personal hygiene instruction to children

2. Appropriate nutritional requirements for different age groups

a. State standards

b. US Department of Agriculture standards sanitation and cleanliness instruction and procedures

E. Child Development Observation and Training

1. Grouping of children

a. Age group classification

b. Activity ability grouping

c. Leader/ child ratio

2. Experience with developmental levels through instruction, observation and performance recording techniques

a. Physical development

b. Social and emotional development

c. Mental development

d. Peer group relationships

e. Authority relationships

f. Behavior patterns

g. Curriculum & Instruction & Assessment

h. Childhood Trauma and Its Impact

i. Dual Language Learners

F. Child Supervision 

1. Learning process technique

a. Teacher directed activities

b. Free plan (supervised)

2. Discipline and guidance techniques

3. Conscious Discipline

4. Bus Monitor Training (if HS Teacher Aide)

G. Activity Supervision and Direction

1. Group activity supervision

a. Smaller groups

b. Entire group

2. Individual activity supervision

3. Child creativity recognition and activity supervision

4. Use of physical space and relation to appropriate activity supervision

H. Consultation Techniques

1. Staff consultation

a. Oral presentation

b. Listening techniques

c. Written report presentation

d. Data collection, recording and presentation

2. Parent consultation

a. Observation

b. Data collection

c. Listening techniques

Behavior description and interpretation

TERM LENGTH 480 Clock Hours

RELATED INSTRUCTION – CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE CLASSWORK. 

ALL TRAINING BELOW WILL BE IN THE CONTEXT OF CLASSWORK THROUGH A CDA INSTRUCTOR.

Classroom Instruction : 120 Clock Hours

Lisa Whitaker - Child Development Associate Instructor   

Education: Bachelors in Elementary Education with a specialty in Early Childhood-MSSU--1993

Masters in Elementary Education-MSU--2005

Certification for Early Childhood Special Education-2008

Certification in Family and Consumer Science for Early Childhood Professions-MEGA--2022

 Lisa Whitaker is an early childhood professional with over 30 years of classroom teaching experience. She believes in nurturing young minds by fostering a love of learning in her students. Throughout her career, Lisa has had the opportunity to impact the lives of countless students and their families in the Joplin community.

In 2007, Lisa left the private childcare sector to teach with Joplin Schools in their early childhood program. She dedicated herself to creating a supportive and engaging environment for preschoolers and their families. She also strived to guide, encourage, and support new teachers to the field of early childhood.

In 2022, Lisa joined the high school side of Franklin Technology Center as an Early Childhood Profession's Instructor, where she continues to guide and encourage students. Lisa teaches both academic and the practical application of working with young children to high school juniors and seniors who are interested in pursuing a career in education. Lisa feels the best way to improve early childhood education for children is to improve the training of the next generation of early childhood professional.

When not working with students Lisa enjoys spending time with family, reading a good mystery, and visiting National Parks with her husband.

Jenae Polok - Child Development Associate Instructor                                                

Education: Oh, The Educational Adventures the Early Childhood field has taken me on! Pittsburg State University's Family Consumer Sciences department captured my heart and awarded me a Bachelor's degree with an emphasis in Early Childhood and minor in Phycology. Through a partnership with Head Start and Oneida University, I achieved my Master's degree in Early Childhood Education. The learning continued with training through programs such as: Conscious Discipline and their Advanced Institute, The Program for Infant Toddler Caregivers, Infant/Toddler Environmental Rating Scales, and the CLASS Assessment Scoring System and numerous other training opportunities through the Head Start/Early Head Start Programs.  

I have been teaching the CDA (Child Development Associate) program for over 10 years. I have served as an Education Coordinator, Coach and Conscious Discipline Coordinator for the Head Start/Early Head Start programs since early 2000s. Now I teach the Early Childhood Professions class at Franklin Tech and am shaped daily by my interactions with some amazing high school students. My true education came from foster parenting, being married to a pastor, raising an energetic and inquisitive little boy plus growing up in a small-town beauty shop. Life is never boring! This is why I adopted the motto "Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape." Early Childhood has become a fun way of life and I love helping build stronger professionals that influence the lives of young children.

Penny Williams

Phone: 417-680-0004 

Fax: 417-680-0005

Email: pennywilliams@joplinschools.org

$800.00

$80.00

$880.00

$425 for CDA Credentialing Exam

The CDA Credentialing Exam will be paid directly to the certifying agency after the completion of the program.

Background Screening               $46

Drug Screening                         $90

Estimated Cost                         $136

*Payment for background screening and drug testing must accompany application, prior to attending mandatory orientation.

Family Care Safety Registry**     $15

**Verification of registration with FCSR.

Estimated Professional Work Experience Out of Pocket Expenses

CPR (Pediatric First Aid CPR AED) through American Heart Association     $75

TB Risk Assessment                                                                            TBD

Medical Examination Report                                                                 TBD