PVCC’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) program is an excellent partner for community agencies such as Southwest Human Development. When a community agency, such as Southwest Human Development offers professional development commensurate with the content and rigor of a college course, then professional development participants may earn college credit. An opportunity such as this changed Monika Shook-Jones’ life.
Early child educator Monika Shook-Jones participated in Southwest Human Development’s Journey Through Books professional development. As a result, she earned three transferable credits for ECH190 Emergent Language and Literacy at PVCC. Earning these three credits enabled her to be on track to graduate from NAU during the summer and secure a position as a kindergarten teacher in the fall. Without these transferable credits through PVCC’s ECE program, Monika would not have been able to obtain her teaching certification and secure a teaching position; rather she would still be completing the final classes needed.
PVCC ECE faculty, Ana Stigsson, helped Monika become a PVCC student and enroll in the course. Southwest Human Development Journey Through Books Program Manager Pamela Hoffer was both the Journey Through Books facilitator of professional development and a PVCC adjunct faculty member, taught the course and made this credit-bearing professional development possible.
Monika shared, “I know having taken the course alongside Journey Through Books not only grew me as an educator but helped me in securing my first teaching position at the elementary level.”
PVCC ECE offers many opportunities to study, learn, and achieve. “Who knew that three credits attached to a professional development opportunity would change Monika’s life and the lives of children and families in our community in a profound way,” states Christie Colunga, Early Childhood Education Program Director. For more information on how PVCC’s ECE coursework might advance your career, contact Ana Stigsson at ana.stigsson@paradisevalley.edu