Staff Development
The Consortium’s Head Start Program offers many opportunities in a variety of venues that supports professional development for all staff. The Consortium’s management team provides a robust staff development program for all employees.
Teachers and teacher assistants are required to possess credentials reflecting early childhood education or infant/toddler CDA. Should staff need to earn their CDAs the Consortium provides an opportunity in tandem with T.E.A.C.H. scholarships to support college coursework for staff to attend, and from time to time receive bonuses upon completion of course work.
The FACS (Family and Community Specialist) receives training pertaining to their focus as they work directly with parents. The FACS receives training in Triple P and some FACS teams will look into enhancing their skills by training through Aspen Institute for family workers. This is very intensive training to demonstrate a way of utilizing their skills and knowledge to further support the family goals. Additionally, the FACS staff will receive training on family goal setting, and data collection for the Program Information Report submitted annually to the Office of Head Start.
Support Staff which are clerical, facilities staff and kitchen staff are provided training in their areas of assignments that focus on health and safety in the workplace or computer training so technology can support their needs to streamline their work.
The management team receives training annually on issues and trends that impact the workplace. Then they are to develop their own theory to practice for workplace development. Such topics covered are emotional intelligence, generational employees in the workplace—just to name a couple.
The Consortium support the staff by implementing the 8 dimensions of health and wellness within the work environment. Training topics for healthy eating, exercising and other physical and mental health strategies are implemented and available to all staff.
Finally, staff are offered opportunities for areas of their weakness to attend seminars in a clinic type setting and reflective of their personal needs for professional development. This would occur monthly and in pre-service options where the focus would be on content, curriculum, health, nutrition and parent engagement. These are required for a holistic approach to teaching in the classroom. Staff are fully equipped with knowledge and support materials such as books, virtual training, laptops, and iPads to enhance their workplace and training development.