Early Childhood / Teacher Education

Humanities, Social and Behavioral Science Division

Program Coordinator: Debra Courtney Tietze

Educational Support Staff: Louise Schreier

Office Telephones: 845-574-4562, 845-574-4482

Full-Time Faculty: Debra Courtney Tietze

Early Childhood Adjunct Faculty: Judith Kesselman, Kyle Miller, Ellen Mitchell, Marcia Scheer

Childhood Education Adjunct Faculty: Linda Alvira, Louise Schreier

The Early Childhood Development certificate of training is especially designed to provide those who are planning to work in Early Childhood settings (such as Head Start Centers, Pre-K programs, nursery schools and childcare centers) with an overview of developmentally appropriate practices necessary for effective work with young children. Courses in child developmental theory, curriculum planning, program management and fieldwork experiences are required. Students interested in Early Childhood Development should seek academic advisement as soon as possible. For information and advisement, contact Debra Tietze, Teacher Education Program Coordinator, at 845-574-4562.

SUNY Rockland’s on-site childcare facility, the Campus Fun and Learn Child Development Center, Inc. for ages 3-5 years, is used as a fieldwork placement and observation site for students. This facility will expand in Fall of 2007 to include services for infants and toddlers, as well as preschoolers and after school /school age children. It is open to SUNY RCC students, faculty, staff and the general community as well. For childcare information call Director, Kyle Miller, at 845-574-4561.

The Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences/ Early Childhood/Childhood Teacher Education (Grades Pre-K-6) is especially designed for those students interested in transferring to four year programs leading to teacher certification in either Early Childhood or Childhood Education. Students begin both their required Liberal Arts core sequence, their major concentration, two semesters of a foreign language, as well as some pre-service professional education courses here at SUNY Rockland. Under the “Extending the Bridge” project we have developed articulation partnerships with 6 regional colleges to assist in the recruitment and transfer of our diverse pool of teacher candidates.

Participating colleges include: Dominican, Marymount of Fordham University at Tarrytown, St. Thomas Aquinas, SUNY New Paltz, CUNY Lehman and Ramapo College of New Jersey. (However, students who follow our teacher education guide sheets will be well prepared to transfer to other teacher education programs of their choice as well).

Our longstanding Jointly Registered Teacher Education Program with SUNY New Paltz allows students to coregister at both institutions in a 2+2 agreement leading to a baccalaureate degree and teacher certification. SUNY New Paltz provides a periodic “advisor in residence” on our campus to facilitate the transfer and registration process. For information regarding advisement hours contact the Student Support Center at 845-574-4306.

Most four year teacher preparation programs, have now raised their entry requirements to: a minimum GPA of 2.75-3.0 (strong B average), and expert evidence of advanced writing skills through essay evaluation, a personal transfer interview and strong letters of reference. For acceptance into the upper-division professional core of teacher preparation courses students should plan their first two years of studies here at SUNY Rockland accordingly. For advisement information Contact Coordinator, Debra C. Tietze at 845-574-4562 or Louise Schreier at 845-574-4482.

NOTE: We also serve students wishing to begin preparation for Middle Childhood and Adolescent Teacher Education by careful advisement and the substitution of PSY 213 Adolescent Psychology for PSY 212 Child Psychology.

Through our “Preparing Adults for Careers in Teaching” PACT project (a FIPSE grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education from 2001-2005) we have created special advisement services for adults transitioning into new careers in teacher education. For transcript evaluation advisement appointments contact Louise Schreier in Teacher Education at 574-4482 or Terri Kaye Needle, Coordinator of “Services to Adult Returning Students” (STARS) in the Student Development Center at 845-574-4383.