As a teacher currently working in the field, you know how much joy a career in early childhood education can bring. Nothing is more rewarding than helping young minds build the skills they’ll need for the future. Whether you’ve just started your first ECE job or you are a long-time veteran, you may be looking for ways to grow in your field. Here are some ways to advance your career in early childhood education.
Are You Ready for the Next Step?
There are many reasons you might be eager to further your career. Securing a position with a higher income is one of them. You may also be ready for more responsibility and exciting new challenges. Think about where you want to be in five or ten years. How can you get there?
At U-GRO Learning Centres, we value the passion that drives our staff to strengthen their credentials, and we take pride in fostering them every step of the way. Working for an employer like U-GRO that has a strong commitment to teacher development is a great way to grow as an educator.
Continue Your Education
You chose your profession with a deep appreciation for the importance of lifelong learning. Could it be time to go back to school yourself? Education provides fresh information, stimulates novel thinking, and opens doors to positions on a higher pay scale. Perhaps you began your career with a CDA credential, or maybe you hold an associate or bachelor’s degree. Whatever your current education level, continuing your studies outside of your required in-service days is an important step towards job advancement.
U-GRO works hard to provide support to teachers continuing their education. We recommend online college courses and offer flexible scheduling to teachers who are also studying. In addition, we can offer STARS funding to help cover educational costs. We also have higher education partners that provide discounted tuition for U-GRO team members.
Build Your Skills at Work
Spaces for growth can also come from within the work environment. A good employer provides career development opportunities to bring out the best in its staff. At U-GRO, we put effort into nurturing our teachers and giving them possibilities to branch out. These include partnerships with local school districts and positions in which teachers can help develop other staff.
In-service days are another important career development tool at U-GRO. On these staff-focused work days, our educators have the opportunity to share their experiences and take inspiration from each other. The fresh new ideas we come up with during this time keep us on the cutting edge of early childhood education.
U-GRO also has leadership opportunities like team facilitator, curriculum coordinator, assistant director, and other similar positions. Look for organizations that have positions in addition to teacher or center director. These allow you to diversify your skillset and gain new experiences that will help you regardless of the path you take to grow your career.
Engage with Other Educators
Our teachers also benefit from the strength of our close-knit community. We believe in fostering relationships between educators and support staff, so that we can all work together towards our goal of educating the next generation. With team-oriented leaders who care about the professional development of their colleagues, U-GRO provides a supportive environment in which teachers can reach their full potential.
At U-GRO, we believe that nurturing the potential of our talented staff is key for ensuring our children receive the best early childhood education. Visit our Careers page to learn more about how to advance your career with U-GRO.