Ty’Shae Chaney is looking forward to what’s coming next now that she has her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential in hand.

Ty’Shae has been an assistant teacher at Central Plaza Head Start since August. She first started at the center last February as a floater. She is one of several LCCAA Head Start staff members to earn the CDA this spring.

“The most rewarding part is being able to say ‘I DID IT!’,” she said. “The trainings gave me a different perspective on how to approach everyday situations in the classroom, with younger children in my life outside of work and my very own child.”

The CDA is widely recognized as the foundational credential for the early childhood education profession. After completing 120 hours of training and 480 hours of experience, Chaney also presented a portfolio and hosted a classroom visit.

Although the content appeared intimidating at first look, Chaney gave herself grace and took each task one step at a time, learning more about herself in the process.

“The information I learned will help me in many different ways with my job,” she said. “Having patience and letting the children lead has been by far the best approach to teaching preschoolers. It has allowed me to find activities that the children enjoy which allows them to stay engaged while learning valuable information.”