Six teachers from the University’s Child Development Lab at the McPhaul Center received the Child Development Associate credential for their superior work with children.

The credential, awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition, is given to qualified individuals who excel in enhancing the quality of early-care education for children from birth to 5 years of age.

“I’m extremely proud that all six of our teachers who applied and went through the credential program were successful,” said Child Development Lab Director Amy Kay in a telephone interview Thursday. “This was a fairly intensive process.”

Kay said the credential was a large commitment for the teachers, requiring on-site classroom observations, written and oral examinations and nearly a year in coursework and professional training – most of which was completed after work hours.

Heather McCannon, one of the recipients of the CDA credential, said portions of the program were difficult for her after she took maternity leave.

“Everyone else in the program helped me catch up,” she said in a telephone interview Tuesday. “I really enjoyed myself, and I’m looking to further my education as a result.”

McCannon said she enjoyed listening to the program’s guest lecturers who spoke on a variety of topics ranging from child abuse to getting kids more involved in the classroom.

Like McCannon, contributors to the lab – comprised of caregivers, students and teachers who work with young children – seek to create curricula that piques the interest of each child, Kay said.

For instance, education professionals create individualized learning activities for each child, rather than an overall plan for everyone.

Such training is advantageous for new teaching environments, and despite six teachers receiving the credential, Kay said some skills and training the credential required complemented what members of the lab were already doing. For example, building strong relationships with children’s families to facilitate the learning process is a primary goal for the lab and the credential program, she said.

“These teachers are role models for undergraduate and graduate students at the University,” Kay said. “It’s not only another step in the teachers’ professional development, but it also allows them to demonstrate, model and share their experiences and knowledge with others.”