The mission of the curriculum is to cultivate a new generation of highly skilled educators by guiding young people on a path from high school through college and into their teaching careers. By working with aspiring educators who reflect the demographics of their communities and who are passionate about serving those communities through public education, changing the face of teaching.

In the Education and Childcare program, Davies trains students in the aspects of teaching and working with young children, from birth through elementary age, to become the educators of tomorrow. Students who seek a career in education and childcare tend to be kind, helpful, organized, and enjoy working with others. Students will address the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of the child. The program includes instruction on child growth and development, health, nutrition, safety, and guidance. A variety of roles related to early childhood professions will be examined.

Davies' education and childcare program will prepare students for state certification as a Paraprofessional. Students will be required to take the ParaPro assessment and earn the RI Department of Education Certification. This provides the opportunity to work as a Teacher's Assistant with the hopes that the student will continue in post-secondary education to complete a Teacher Certification program. The secondary certifications are OSHA10 and the Child and Baby First Aid/CPR/AED certificate. 

The YMCA at Davies

Davies students put learning into action as a benefit from our onsite satellite YMCA preschool program. Applying theoretical concepts to real-life situations, students are able to take what they have learned in the classroom and observe young children first hand eventually they learn how to meet the developmental needs and interests of young children.

Presently, educators are in high demand as 1.6 million teachers will be retiring, there has been a 35% drop in teacher prep programs enrollments since 2009, and between 19-30% of new teachers leave the profession within the first five year, with turnover much higher in low-income schools.  There is a growing need for teachers who reflect the student population which is 52.5% children of color; 7% Black, 9% Hispanic.

Standards:

• Understanding the Profession
• Learning About Students
• Building Content Knowledge
• Engaging in Responsive Planning
• Implementing Instruction
• Using Assessments and Data
• Engaging in Reflective Practice

Cross-Cutting Themes:

• Cultural Competence
• Fairness, Equity and Diversity
• Reflective Practice
• Ethics
• Collaboration
• Social Justice and Advocacy
• Self-Efficacy