Early Childhood Education program continues legacy
PERRYSBURG – The Owens Community College Department of Teacher Education and Human Services has received a seven-year accreditation for its Early Childhood Education Technology program through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Owens was the first institution in the state to receive NAEYC accreditation more than 20 years ago, and it is still one of only three in Ohio to have the designation. Across the United States and Canada, Owens has one of 214 accredited programs.
“We’re pretty proud of that,” said Michelle Arbogast, chair for Teacher Education and Human Services. “Their standards are tough. They look at everything from your college president to your curriculum to your admissions, your faculty, your support services. It’s very thorough.
“It’s validated all of the hard work and preparation, that we know our students are prepared when they leave here,” Arbogast said.
In addition to the associate degree in Early Childhood Education Technology, the Department of Teacher Education and Human Services offers degrees in Community & Family Service, Education Transfer Concentration and Social Work Transfer Pathway, and certificates in Advanced Instructional Technology and Design, ASL Interpreter Preparation and Foundations in Instructional Technology and Design.
The YWCA of Northwest Ohio and Owens have a partnership allowing students in the YWCA program to transition into the Owens Early Childhood Education program. Upon completion of the CDA certification, students can receive up to six credit hours of college credit toward their Early Childhood Education associate degree.
According to a news release from NAEYC, the accreditation “serves as a mechanism for ensuring a consistent and high level of program quality.” The organization sets “national standards for programs that prepare early childhood teachers of children from birth through age 8.”
To retain accreditation, programs must demonstrate the following:
- They meet NAEYC’s standards
- Respond to the unique needs of their degree candidates and communities
- Provide intentional learning experiences to allow their degree candidates to obtain the knowledge and skills to be effective
- Continually assess and reflect on their degree candidates’ performance.
While the Owens program is reaccredited through 2029, there are annual and biannual reports it must submit to NAEYC.
Arbogast said the bulk of the work came down to her and fellow Teacher Education and Human Services faculty, professor Mindy Gray from the Findlay-area Campus and adjunct instructors Kimberley Fisher, Belinda Costin and Nehama Miller.
However, she said the process involved the entire team.
“It took a little bit of everybody, from the president to our faculty and secretary and staff,” Arbogast said.
Arbogast said NAEYC commended the Owens team for how thoroughly it reviewed its program. The first report they submitted was 118 pages.
“It’s such an introspective on your program that you not only look at where you are now but what is the vision for the program going forward,” Arbogast said. “It validated the things we do well, our team and the support system we have at Owens.”
For more information on the Owens Department of Teacher Education and Human Services, visit Teacher Education.
