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  • Early Childhood, Ready2Teach

Now Enrolling First Ready2Teach Cohort

Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) is currently enrolling its first cohort for its new Ready2Teach program! LAEP’s Ready2Teach is an ambitious effort to increase the number of qualified infant/toddler teachers across Los Angeles County.

By the end of the FREE one-year, earn-and-learn program, participants will be able to obtain their Associate Degree (AA) and California Child Development Associate Teacher permit and will be ready to enter their new career as an infant-toddler teacher.

The program provides:

  • Paid teaching pre-apprenticeship and classroom preparation
  • Free college courses and materials
  • Professional development
  • Wrap-around support from a team of experts to ensure your success

Apprenticeship sites will be located in Hawthorne, Inglewood, and South Los Angeles. The first cohort is slated to begin in August.

Those who are interested can sign up on our interest form:

Already Have a CDA AA and Credential?

We’re also currently hiring Early Head Start teachers (both client-home-based and center-based). Learn more about our current openings here.

For Childcare Centers Interested in Partnering

We’re currently recruiting Ready2Teach employer partners. If you have a licensed childcare facility and are willing to provide mentoring and apprenticeships for our participants, we will provide a stipend for your program as well as leadership and business development coaching. Contact us to learn more.

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LaCora Stephens

Marketing and Communications

LaCora is a seasoned communications professional with a passion for using multimedia storytelling to empower movements for social justice and equality. For over 13 years, she has honed her skills as a versatile multimedia director, overseeing media operations across diverse organizations, including the NAACP Beverly Hills-Hollywood Branch and The Shirley Chisholm Education Foundation. Her deep understanding of the education and equity landscape fuels her creative vision, allowing her to craft impactful narratives that resonate with audiences.

With strategic communication​ and collaboration, LaCora excels in developing and executing compelling​ multimedia campaigns that not only raise​ awareness of critical issues but also​ inspire action and drive meaningful change. Her proficiency in concept​ development, production execution, and​ team leadership ensures projects are​ delivered with exceptional quality. Furthermore, LaCora fosters strong​ relationships with internal and external​ stakeholders, cultivating partnerships​ that maximize campaign reach and impact.

LaCora's educational foundation began with a Bachelor of Science in Theatre Education from Florida A&M University. She then pursued a master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Alliant University of San Diego. This passion for storytelling, fueled by her background in education, translates to her belief in the power of shared narratives. Her work in this area was recognized through her selection as a Women in Film Mentee and film director for Viola Davis’ sponsored film showcase, Diversity in Cannes. Now, LaCora leverages her love of storytelling and commitment to educational equity in her role leading marketing and communications for Los Angeles Education Partnership, while also serving on the board of the Pasadena African American Film Foundation.

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.