In the world of early childhood education, there’s a remarkable achievement that more people should know about – earning a Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential™.
The Council for Professional Recognition, a nonprofit that supports early childhood education professionals, administers the CDA® and just announced that the 1 millionth Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential™ has been awarded. This milestone represents the culmination of over four decades of dedicated efforts to elevate the quality of care and education provided to our nation’s youngest learners.
The journey toward this achievement began in 1975 when Margaret E. Wright received the very first CDA Credential. Back then, it was hard to envision the monumental impact this program would have on early childhood education (ECE). This pioneering initiative was born out of the need for a highly qualified workforce to support the Head Start program, designed to promote equitable early learning for all children, especially those from underserved communities. As Edward R. Zigler, the architect of the CDA, emphasized, the question was whether we would offer developmental child care or merely babysitting. The CDA was the answer, bridging the gap between theory and practice.
The demand for well-trained child care providers has always been substantial, but many faced obstacles in pursuing formal education. Adult learners with families and full-time jobs found it challenging to access the training they needed. The cost and time commitment of a college degree in early education were also significant hurdles.
The CDA has emerged as the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education. The CDA is a key stepping stone on the path of career advancement in ECE. The CDA is based on the National CDA Competency Standards that guide early childhood professionals toward becoming qualified educators of young children.
A recent survey by the Council found that 87% of CDA-holders felt more prepared for their roles, equipping them with essential skills like evidence-based practices, specialized knowledge of child development, and the ability to manage challenging classroom situations.
What sets CDAs apart is their ability to connect with children and communicate effectively with parents. They demonstrate higher commitment and retention rates, which benefits both the children they serve and their employers. These highly skilled educators are precisely what the early childhood education field needs.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the commitment to the CDA remained unwavering. Applications for CDA renewals remained strong, underscoring the enduring value of this credential. Ten U.S. states and territories have integrated the CDA into their child care licensure and career progression pathways, ensuring that CDA holders play a central role in ECE.
Jada Vargas, an 18-year-old and recent graduate of Alchesay High School on the Fort Apache Reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona, is the 1 millionth person to earn the CDA.
Vargas says she realized becoming an educator was her calling when she worked in a child care center and began going through the CDA credentialing process. She says she learned very quickly that each child requires different types of support and interactions.
“If you want to pursue something you are passionate about, like the CDA, it is worth the effort. I believe you can do anything you put your mind to, and I try not to let anyone affect my journey,” she says.
Dr. Calvin E. Moore, Jr., the CEO of the Council for Professional Recognition, says, “We congratulate Jada on earning her CDA and being the 1 millionth person to do. She joins a distinguished and successful group of professional educators who are well prepared to foster the social, emotional, physical and cognitive growth of young children. Having a CDA does more than just help educators bring out the best in children, it also advances their careers and contributes to the status of our profession.
Supportive measures, such as scholarships and financial assistance, are making it easier for educators to earn the CDA. Initiatives like the high school CDA program have also been instrumental in introducing young individuals to the early learning field, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills.
As we celebrate this historic milestone of 1 million CDAs, we know it’s a testament to the dedication, hard work, and resilience of educators who have embraced the CDA’s enduring purpose— igniting the imagination and nurturing the love of learning in our youngest learners.
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Vice President of People and Culture
Janie Payne is the Vice President of People and Culture for the Council for Professional Recognition. Janie is responsible for envisioning, developing, and executing initiatives that strategically manage talent and culture to align people strategies with the overarching business vision of the Council. Janie is responsible for driving organizational excellence through strategic talent practices, orchestrating workforce planning, talent acquisition, performance management as well as a myriad of other Human Resources Programs. She is accountable for driving effectiveness by shaping organizational structure for optimal efficiency. Janie oversees strategies that foster a healthy culture to include embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of the organization.
In Janie’s prior role, she was the Vice President of Administration at Equal Justice Works, where she was responsible for leading human resources, financial operations, facilities management, and information technology. She was also accountable for developing and implementing Equal Justice Works Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy focused on attracting diverse, mission-oriented talent and creating an inclusive and equitable workplace environment. With more than fifteen years of private, federal, and not-for-profit experience, Janie is known for her intuitive skill in administration management, human resources management, designing and leading complex system change, diversity and inclusion, and social justice reform efforts.
Before joining Equal Justice Works, Janie was the Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer for Global Communities, where she was responsible for the design, implementation, and management of integrated HR and diversity strategies. Her work impacted employees in over twenty-two countries. She was responsible for the effective management of different cultural, legal, regulatory, and economic systems for both domestic and international employees. Prior to Global Communities, Janie enjoyed a ten-year career with the federal government. As a member of the Senior Executive Service, she held key strategic human resources positions with multiple cabinet-level agencies and served as an advisor and senior coach to leaders across the federal sector. In these roles, she received recognition from management, industry publications, peers, and staff for driving the creation and execution of programs that created an engaged and productive workforce.
Janie began her career with Verizon Communications (formerly Bell Atlantic), where she held numerous roles of increasing responsibility, where she directed a diversity program that resulted in significant improvement in diversity profile measures. Janie was also a faculty member for the company’s Black Managers Workshop, a training program designed to provide managers of color with the skills needed to overcome barriers to their success that were encountered because of race. She initiated a company-wide effort to establish team-based systems and structures to impact corporate bottom line results which was recognized by the Department of Labor. Janie was one of the first African American women to be featured on the cover of Human Resources Executive magazine.
Janie received her M.A. in Organization Development from American University. She holds numerous professional development certificates in Human Capital Management and Change Management, including a Diversity and Inclusion in Human Resources certificate from Cornell University. She completed the year-long Maryland Equity and Inclusion Leadership Program sponsored by The Schaefer Center for Public Policy and The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. She is a trained mediator and Certified Professional Coach. She is a graduate of Leadership America, former board chair of the NTL Institute and currently co-steward of the organization’s social justice community of practice, and a member of The Society for Human Resource Management. Additionally, Janie is the Board Chairperson for the Special Education Citizens Advisory Council for Prince Georges County where she is active in developing partnerships that facilitate discussion between parents, families, educators, community leaders, and the PG County school administration to enhance services for students with disabilities which is her passion. She and her husband Randolph reside in Fort Washington Maryland.
Chief Operations Officer
Andrew Davis serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Council. In this role, Andrew oversees the Programs Division, which includes the following operational functions: credentialing, growth and business development, marketing and communications, public policy and advocacy, research, innovation, and customer relations.
Andrew has over 20 years of experience in the early care and education field. Most recently, Andrew served as Senior Vice President of Partnership and Engagement with Acelero Learning and Shine Early Learning, where he led the expansion of state and community-based partnerships to produce more equitable systems of service delivery, improved programmatic quality, and greater outcomes for communities, children and families. Prior to that, he served as Director of Early Learning at Follett School Solutions.
Andrew earned his MBA from the University of Baltimore and Towson University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland – University College.
Chief Financial Officer
Jan Bigelow serves as Chief Financial Officer at the Council and has been with the organization since February of 2022.
Jan has more than 30 years in accounting and finance experience, including public accounting, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. She has held management-level positions with BDO Seidman, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Pew Center for Global Climate Change, Communities In Schools, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization and American Humane. Since 2003, Jan has worked exclusively in the non-profit sector where she has been a passionate advocate in improving business operations in order to further the mission of her employers.
Jan holds a CPA from the State of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lycoming College. She resides in Alexandria VA with her husband and dog.
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