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What is Early Childhood Education?
Early Childhood Education is one area where our nation lags behind the rest of the developed world. Only 54% of children in the United States are enrolled in pre-school, compared to 80% for the rest of the world. We trail even Chile and Mexico in how we prepare our youngest children.
However, in 2018, Congress allocated 5.2 billion dollars to subsidize childcare for lower income families. This represents nearly a 100% increase in government spending for this vital service. It's a great time to be a preschool or kindergarten teacher in West Virginia.
A preschool teacher is someone who teaches and cares for children in a preschool setting. A typical day for a preschool teacher may include leading activities such as story time, arts and crafts, and outdoor play. Preschool teachers help children learn to socialize and follow rules. They also work with families to support each child’s individual needs.
There are many reasons to become a preschool teacher. The most important reason is that you can make a difference in the lives of young children. You can help them learn and grow, and prepare them for their future. Another reason to become a preschool teacher is the job security. Preschool teaching is a stable career, with good job prospects. And, it can be very rewarding work. You will enjoy watching your students learn and grow.
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Steps to Become an Early Childhood Education Teacher in West Virginia
West Virginia teachers follow a fairly standard route to teaching. First, you should attend an accredited, approved teacher/educator preparation program in one of West Virginia's many colleges and universities. Prior to enrolling, make sure that your school's education department will support your goals. That is, not every school will prepare you to teach Pre-k through Kindergarten. The West Virginia Department of Education provides a list of approved programs, sorted according to the specific licensure for which the department has approved them.
Your career in Early Childhood or Elementary Education can take many different routes. As a teacher, you can add various endorsements as your career progresses. These will enable you to engage with specific populations and facilitate their learning and growth. Later in your career, you can also take your knowledge and experience and help future educators achieve the same levels of excellence. Alternately, you could rise into administration and help create and implement curriculum changes, as well as shape policy for your school and district.
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Education is more than a mere job. It's a career that will engulf you in all the best ways. You will find that your workday is full of hilarious or enlightening moments. Watching a child's eyes light up when she first grasps a concept or seeing the flush of pride upon turning in a completed workbook are the sorts of compensation that are unreachable in most other professions. With that said, you will be happy to note that West Virginia teachers recently earned a pay raise.
Your teaching career is moments away. Find the teacher preparation program that suits you best and apply today!
Step 1. Earn Your Degree
The West Virginia Department of Education calls education for preK-3, Early Education. You should look for a program that provides this specialty area. You also need to be sure that the school you choose provides a teacher preparation program. Don’t get a degree that doesn’t come with the preparation program, or you won’t be ready to take your tests when you finish your college courses. Currently, the state has several active online early childhood education programs in this specialty. However, given Congress' cash infusion into Early Education, this might increase soon.
You will have to have a bachelor’s degree to teach in a preschool program, but if you want to work in a preschool/daycare program you’ll only need an associate degree and proof that you are working toward a teaching certificate.
As you study, you might take courses such as:
- Human Development
- Educational Technology
- Exceptional Children
- Learning Theory
- Classroom Management
- Student Teaching Experience
Step 2. Pass Your Exams
West Virginia requires that you take and pass PRAXIS examinations to qualify for your teaching credentials. Every teacher will have to take the Core Academic Skills for Educators and Principles of Learning and Teaching exams.
If you wish to teach Pre-kindergarten students in the state, you'll need to pass the test titled, Pre-Kindergarten Education. The test is broken down into five content categories that you should master as you work through your bachelor's degree. Those categories are:
- Early Childhood Development
- Teaching and Supporting Diverse Children
- Creating a Developmentally Appropriate Learning Environment
- Teaching and Learning
- Professionalism, Family, and Community
On the other hand, if you wish to teach Kindergarten through Fourth Grade, West Virginia requires that you take two other PRAXIS tests: Early Childhood Education and Teaching Reading: Elementary Education.
Early Childhood Education covers six content categories:
- Language and Literacy
- Mathematics
- Social Studies
- Science
- Health and Physical Education
- Creative and Performing Arts
Teaching Reading: Elementary Education covers three main content categories:
- Assessment and Diagnostic Teaching of Reading
- Reading Development
- Writing in Support of Reading
Step 3. License Maintenance, Standards, and Qualifications
Teachers in West Virginia must engage in continuing education by completing 15 hours per year, helping them keep up-to-date with teaching technology, research, and techniques.
To ensure that you land the best job, you will need to provide character references, a background check, and any applicable experience. If you have done any teaching or assistant teaching for a private daycare or preschool, make sure that you have this on your resume. If you are just starting to work in a pre-k facility, make sure you start documenting your experience. Keep student names confidential but try to chart their progress as you go. This will provide you with loads of information to share in an interview.
Popular Career Choices
- Preschool Teacher
- Kindergarten Teacher
- Elementary School Teacher
- Special Education Teacher
Additional Specialization Certifications
- Preschool Special Needs:
This certification allows you to teach students with a variety of learning difficulties. - Gifted and Talented:
With this credential, you can help stimulate and inspire very bright minds so that they don't become bored or disaffected with education. When these students are engaged and encouraged, there is much they can do. - Reading:
This specialty focuses on improving how students interact with the written word. Some may need extra help catching up to their grade level. - English as a Second Language:
Students from all cultures and nationalities come to West Virginia in hopes of finding a better life. With this credential, you can help them navigate an English-dominated society. If you love languages and linguistics this is a great choice. - Health Education:
Even very little ones can learn about health and the importance of eating right and exercising. - Visually Impaired:
Blind and visually impaired students need help every day to navigate the world they are growing up in. You can help them to learn braille and everyday life skills that they will use for the rest of their lives. - Foreign Languages:
Common wisdom is that it's easier to learn languages in our early years. Learning French, Japanese, Spanish, or some other language in preschool will set a precedence for later cognitive growth and development. - School Counselor:
Even very small kids need extra care and attention from mental health professionals. If you can help them overcome a personal or family problem, their later lives will positively reflect your work. - Deaf and Hearing Impaired:
Students who are hearing-impaired might rely on you to teach them American Sign Language. You can also work with them on lip-reading and other skills to help them navigate our aural environment. - Autism:
This seems to be a growing population. From the severely affected to more functional students, your credential will enable you to work with these kids and help them lead their best lives.
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Top Early Childhood Teacher Preparation Programs in West Virginia
- Initial Professional Teacher:
This will be your first teaching credential. It indicates that you have an appropriate bachelor's degree, have passed a PRAXIS II subject test, and have met all other requirements. This license will cover your first three years in the classroom. You’ll have to finish your Beginner Educator Internship to renew this license or upgrade to the next. - Temporary Teacher:
This is for teachers moving to West Virginia from out of the state or nation. For this credential, you'll have completed the requirements to teach in a different jurisdiction but have not yet transferred your credentials to West Virginia. - Permanent Teacher:
After your Initial Professional Teacher license, you will need to renew two five-year licenses before you are considered a Permanent Teacher. Another way to become a Permanent Teacher is to attain a Master's degree in your specialty area and teach that subject for at least five years. - Alternative Teacher:
You can "test-in" to this position if you have passed the appropriate PRAXIS II or CORE exam and have significant life or professional experience in the subject area. For instance, if you have significant tenure working as a mechanic and pass the appropriate PRAXIS II, you might teach high school students to become mechanics.
If education is your passion, then you will need a degree from an accredited college or university. Without proper accreditation or state acknowledgment, the West Virginia State Department of Education is unlikely to grant you teaching credentials. Though most Education departments will provide the training you need to qualify for licensure, it's important to ensure that this is the case prior to enrolling. You want to start your career on-time, so research accreditation.
West Virginia Universities & Colleges with Teaching Programs
- West Virginia University
Accreditation By:- Higher Learning Commission
- West Virginia Department of Education
- NCATE
- West Virginia State University
Degrees Offered:- School Counseling and Guidance Services; Master’s
- Elementary Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s
- Reading Teacher Education; Master’s
- Special Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s & Master’s
Accreditation By:
- Higher Learning Commission
- West Virginia Department of Education
- NCATE
- West Liberty University
Degrees Offered:- Elementary Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s
Accreditation By:
- Higher Learning Commission
- West Virginia Department of Education
- NCATE
- Glenville State College
Degrees Offered:- Elementary Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s
- Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s
- Special Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s
Accreditation By:
- Higher Learning Commission
- West Virginia Department of Education
- NCATE
Potential Careers and Salaries for Graduates
Where You Can Work as an Early Childhood Educator
- Blended Preschool Programs
A specific type of program in WV that requires fewer credentials for their teachers. These programs are part preschool and part daycare program, teaching young preschool children while providing their parents with the freedom to work during the weekday. - Public schools:
You will need a full teaching license from the state of West Virginia to teach in public schools. You will work in a classroom with students from all strata of West Virginia society. Public Schools set the standards for teachers in all other settings, so if you qualify for them then your resume should be in good standing with any other sort of school. - Private childcare:
Sometimes this occupation is called an Au Pair or Nanny. In private childcare you will work with a family's child or children. Your duties might be more functional in that you'll shuttle them between activities, or you could have a more instructional role and give them a head start on reading, writing, mathematics, and more. Since the state isn't regulating your classroom, you can teach whatever the parents will permit. - Private schools:
In a private school setting, you will not necessarily need a West Virginia teaching credential. However, private school principals will appreciate if you have an appropriate bachelor's degree or significant experience in the field you wish to teach. - Head Start programs:
This program was started by President Kennedy to help inner city or other disadvantaged children get a proper start in life. You will probably need a West Virginia teaching credential to land a job with Head Start, but this job will provide an endless amount of satisfaction in return. - Community-based programs:
These include everything from preschool arts programs to pee-wee soccer leagues. You will probably not need a teaching license, but a strong desire to work with children coupled with appropriate experience will serve you well. - Faith-based programs:
If your faith is something you want to include in your classroom, then you should seek out a faith-based school. These programs operate separate from public school funding, but they allow you more freedom in what and how you teach, as long as it is approved by the school you are working for. - Military programs:
Teachers who want to see the world sign up to teach on military bases. You might not be able to pick your assignment, so you might end up on a base in Norfolk, Virginia. However, you could land an interesting job in Japan or even Germany. Once you attain a West Virginia teaching credential, you can apply.
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Early Childhood Education Teaching Salaries in West Virginia
- Preschool Teacher:
Our toddlers and pre-k students deserve the best in their formative years. Preschool teachers facilitate a strong foundation for young minds. - Elementary School Teacher:
Once you are licensed to teach elementary school, you can teach any K-6 classroom, though you will likely discover a preference for a particular grade. - Professor of Education:
If you have a lot of experience in the classroom or have achieved a qualifying master's degree to teach at the post-secondary level, you can become a professor. If you want to find a full-time tenure track job, you will probably want to achieve a doctoral degree. - School Principal:
If, after several years in the classroom, you wish to impact students from a more macro perspective, administration is for you. This position requires another PRAXIS test and you will probably want at least a master's degree to be competitive, but it's worth the effort. - Special Education Teacher:
This field is one of the most demanding and rewarding in the entire educational landscape. You will work with a broad spectrum of disabled children to help them meet the goals of an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) that you have designed yourself. - ESL Teacher:
Non-English speakers need education too, and with your help they can master our dominant language and become the leaders of tomorrow. - School Psychologist:
All kids need someone to talk to when life gets hard. You can be the rock in their life, a lifeline that will help them move through to adulthood.
| Occupation | Entry-Level | Mid-Career | Late-Career |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teacher | $25,200 | $25,200 | $31,000 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $34,700 | $40,800 | $47,300 |
| Professor of Education | $60,100 | $70,200 | $102,800 |
| Elementary School Principle | $73,400 | $79,100 | $86,600 |
| Special Education Teachers | $38,500 | $41,400 | $50,800 |
| School Psychologist | $54,100 | $61,000 | $73,200 |
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Sources:
- https://amp.economist.com/united-states/2019/01/26/republicans-and-democrats-are-taking-early-education-more-seriously
- https://education.cu-portland.edu/blog/teaching-license/west-virginia/
- https://www.wvea.org/content/2018-2019-salary-schedules
- https://wvde.state.wv.us/certification/approved-programs/