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Ready2Teach

For communities facing systemic barriers to success, early childhood education is a game changer.

Infant-Toddler Early Childhood Educator
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High-quality early childhood education can prevent academic achievement gaps from forming. Lack of access, though, leaves children unprepared for kindergarten and less likely to graduate from high school.

Yet there is a shortage of qualified early childhood educators. Los Angeles County has a shortage of available space in early childhood education programs, especially in low-income communities.

Building the Early Childhood Education Workforce

Ready2Teach is an ambitious effort to increase the number of qualified infant/toddler teachers across Los Angeles County. At the end of this one-year, earn-and-learn teacher accelerator program, participants will obtain a California Child Development Associate Teacher permit and enter the workforce. LAEP supports participants through:

  • Classroom Preparation: Training on developmentally appropriate practices, social-emotional learning, thoughtful interactions with children, infant-toddler care, preventative health and safety, and first aid/CPR
  • Teaching Residency: Matching participants to paid internships at licensed childcare facilities, where they’ll receive practical experience and mentorship
  • College Coursework: Partnering with local colleges, participants will complete all necessary classes to obtain their permit by the end of the program
  • Professional Development: Experienced LAEP staff will supplement college coursework with workforce development training
  • Wrap-Around Support: Connecting participants to services – like childcare vouchers, transportation stipends, and a laptop loan program – to support successful program completion

This initiative is made possible by generous lead funding from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

Start a Rewarding Career in Early Childhood Education

Whether you’re looking for your first job or want to change careers, Ready2Teach offers the training, support, and experience you need.

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Setting Childcare Providers Up for Success

LAEP will build a network of partner sites to host and mentor Ready2Teach interns. In return, we will help hosting facilities build capacity to sustain and grow their business.

  • Mentor Training: LAEP Early Childhood Coaches will train mentors to guide interns through inquiry-based discovery around children’s behavior, child-centered activities, individualized support, and more, developing reflective practice for interns and mentors
  • Intern Support: Interns will free up precious time to focus on administrative business tasks
  • Professional Development: Partners will be enrolled in business administration coursework to develop strategies to improve business practices and increase child enrollment
  • Business Coaching: LAEP business coaches will help providers improve financial performance and adapt to the changing early childhood education landscape through professional development around staff mentoring, staff management, and business administration
  • Stipend: Participating sites will receive a $1,000 stipend at the end of the program

Build Capacity Through Professional Support

Could your licensed childcare facility benefit from Ready2Teach? LAEP is recruiting childcare facility partner sites.

Contact Us

PARTNER WITH US

LAEP can come alongside your community, as thought partners and collaborators, empowering you to drive transformation and liberation.

Collaborate

Eric Barela, Ph.D.

Senior Consultant, Raya Cooper Impact Consulting

Dr. Eric Barela has worked as a measurement & evaluation professional for over 2 decades, helping organizations to better understand and act on their social impact. He’s currently a Senior Consultant with Raya Cooper Impact Consulting and previously worked at Salesforce, where he led efforts to measure the social impact of the company’s work with nonprofits and educational institutions across the globe. He began his career working with the Los Angeles Unified School District and with the nonprofit, Partners in School Innovation. Eric previously served on the Board of the American Evaluation Association and currently serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the American Journal of Evaluation.

Eric grew up in East LA and was educated in the Montebello Unified School District. He holds a Ph.D. in education from UCLA. He loves a good road trip, with his husband serving as trusty navigator.