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Arkansas Early Childhood Mentor Endorsement

• Do your co-workers frequently come to you when they need help?
• Are you ready for a meaningful professional development experience that will challenge and inspire you?
• Are you looking for new ways to contribute to the early childhood profession?

Consider enrolling in the Arkansas Early Childhood Mentor Endorsement. This training prepares early childhood professionals to serve as mentors to teachers and program directors. Mentor endorsement activities are designed to support and challenge early educators who consistently provide good quality services in early childhood programs. Participants include teachers, administrators, family child care providers, and consultants.

The Mentor Endorsement helps participants increase their knowledge and abilities in several key areas of professional development. Among the course topics are adult development, child-centered curriculum, observation and reflective conferencing, and effective communication skills.

Participants for 2004-05 may choose either the Mentor Endorsement (a series of 7-12 seminars) or the Mentor Endorsement DIRECT, which combines seminars and online work. A total of 45 clock hours of training is provided in seven modules. CEU credit is awarded upon completion of all seven modules (4.5 CEU’s).

Classes are provided by Arkansas State University Childhood Services. The Mentor Endorsement is sponsored by the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education and is registered with the Arkansas Early Childhood Professional Development System.

For more information, contact Diana Courson, asumentor@sbcglobal.net, or call ASU Childhood Services, 1-888-429-1585.

Mentor Endorsement Requirements

1. Trainer status : Applicants must be verified trainers in good standing with the Arkansas Early Childhood Professional Development System Registry. If the applicant is not a verified trainer, a completed application must be submitted to the Trainer Registry before completing Module 2. (Click here to go to the AECPDS Registry Homepage.)

2. Experience in early childhood education : Applicants must have a minimum of two years experience working directly with children in an early childhood setting.

3. Previous education and training: Applicants must meet ONE of the following criteria.

• CDA credential or equivalent

OR

• Degree in early childhood or related field that includes at least 12 hours in child development/early childhood.

4. Program status : Applicants must meet ONE of the following criteria.

• Employed in a program that holds a current Arkansas Quality Approval certificate.  http://www.accessarkansas.org/childcare/approval.html  

OR

• Currently serve as a mentor in a recognized, formal mentoring project. (Examples: Director Mentor Quality Initiative, School-Age Quality Initiative, Child Care Apprenticeship Program)

OR

• If the applicant’s is employed in a licensed/registered child care facility that and does not meet criteria 4.a or 4.b, then a consultant will visit the applicant’s program. The consultant will observe designated indicators on the appropriate environment rating scale(s). If the applicant is a teacher, only that applicant’s group will be observed. If the applicant is an administrator, the entire program will be observed. Scores must meet the requirement set for Arkansas Quality Approval.

If scores fall below the Quality Approval level, the mentor endorsement coordinator will assign a mentor to work with the applicant to implement an improvement plan. A second site visit will be made after the completion of Module 5.The applicant must be implementing a developmentally appropriate curriculum.

OR

• Applicants who are consultants and are not currently employed in an early education program must demonstrate knowledge of best practices through a self-evaluation and an interview with a representative of the Mentor Endorsement project.

 

1. Complete the 45-clock hour Mentor Endorsement course.

2. Hold current trainer verification with the AECPDS Registry.

3. Sign the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct: http://www.naeyc.org/resources/position_statements/pseth98.htm

4. Demonstrate an above average level of practice documented by program Quality Approval certificate or equivalent scores on a monitoring site visit.