The nationally accredited Early Childhood Programs at Western New Mexico University continues its successful track record of securing grants with a new award by the Thornburg Foundation for $75,000.
The grant is funding the second phase of a program helping prepare classroom teachers through reflective supervision. Current teachers will be given stipends to participate in professional development trainings and apply techniques using reflective practices while mentoring students.
“This new grant award is helping us train future early childhood educators,” said Shannon Rivera,” Early Childhood Programs Executive Director. “Reflective consultation will be available to our teachers on a regular basis.”
Supervising teachers of the Child Development Center, the learning lab for the Early Childhood Programs, are required to mentor and train pre-service teachers participating in practicum courses within the lab site. These teachers do not have systematic training or preparation to mentor students.
“During the first phase of the grant program, reflective consultation sessions were provided and it was determined to be supportive of mentoring skills used by mentoring teachers,” said Rivera. “We wanted a more in-depth and detailed approach to achieve our desired impact.”
Supervising teachers mentor pre-service teachers, university students serving in the learning lab while earning their degrees in early childhood development. Grant money provided through the second phase of the program will provide weekly consultation by a consultant and supervising teachers.
The Child Development Center serves 122 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old.