Dear EDvance College community,

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the first edition of the EDvance College newsletter! I am thrilled to share with you the exciting news about our first year launch and our recent accreditation status from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WSCUC).

Our founding cohort of 22 students, consisting of early childhood educators who reflect the cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity of the field, officially began our two-year pathway of the Early Childhood Studies (ECS) B.A. degree program on September 6, 2022, with an expected graduation date of Spring 2024. The demographic profile of our students aligns with our identity as an institutional home for California’s early childhood workforce.

Our commitment to providing accessible and affordable higher education for early childhood educators has been recognized through this accreditation, and we are proud to offer a degree program that meets the highest standards of quality. Behind the scenes, we have an incredible team of staff members and faculty who have worked tirelessly to help shape the first year of the program. We are grateful for their dedication and hard work, and we are excited to continue our growth and success of EDvance College in the years to come.

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Crankstart Foundation, Heising-Simons Foundation, Mimi and Peter Haas Fund, Silver Giving Foundation, the Harold L. Wyman Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, our newest funder this month that is supporting our East Bay expansion efforts. Thanks to their contributions, we will be able to reach even more passionate early childhood educators and provide them with the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills while working full time and raising a family.

Thank you for being a part of the EDvance College community and for your commitment to providing the best education for our youngest learners.

- Dr. Lygia Stebbing, President

EDvance College Updates

EDvance Receives WASC Accreditation
We are proud to announce that EDvance College has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), which recognizes our commitment to providing high-quality education and support for our students.

We are particularly excited to share with you the commendations we received from WASC. The Commission commended EDvance College in particular for the following:

1. Living its mission at every level and dimension within the institution. Our mission to provide accessible and affordable higher education for early childhood educators is at the core of everything we do, and we are proud to be recognized for this commitment.
2. Providing extraordinary student support to ensure success resulting in alumni who have persevered to become leaders and change agents. Our focus on student support and success is central to our mission, and we are proud to have alumni who have gone on to become leaders in the field.
3. Embodying the spirit and principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion +Belonging, and realizing the promise of human and linguistic diversity. We are committed to promoting justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work, and we are honored to be recognized for this commitment.
4. Attracting excellent people who are building a history-making organization. We are proud of the talented and dedicated individuals who make up our community and are committed to building an organization that will make a meaningful impact on the field of early childhood education.
5. Manifesting the value of “Reflect to Evolve.” We believe that ongoing reflection and learning are essential to growth and improvement, and we are honored to be recognized for our commitment to this value.

We are honored to receive these commendations from WASC and we are committed to providing the best possible education and support for our students. This accreditation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff, and students. We are proud to offer a degree program that meets the highest standards of quality and to be recognized for our commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

EDvance Joins National Early Care and Education Workforce Center as a Partner

We are excited to announce that EDvance has recently become a secondary partner of the National Early Care and Education Workforce Center. The center was established by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support the development of a skilled and diverse early care and education (ECE) workforce.

As a secondary partner of the center, EDvance is committed to supporting the center's mission by providing our expertise and collaborating with other partners to advance the field of ECE. Our involvement with the center will allow us to stay up-to-date on the latest research and best practices in ECE, and to share this knowledge with our students and the wider EDvance community. For more information about the National Early Care and Education Workforce Center, please click on this link.

Career Pathways in ECE Panel: Insights from Alumni

At EDvance, we are dedicated to helping our students achieve their career goals in the field of early childhood education. This month, we held a workshop where our current students had the opportunity to gain valuable insights into developing their careers and professions as ECE educators.

Our alumni panelists, Krystle Danridge, Merced Rocha, and Janice Garcia, generously shared their experiences with developing their careers and the trajectory of their professions. Krystle holds a Master's degree in ECE and is a Family Child Care Provider, Merced holds a Master's degree in ECSE and is a Lead Toddler Teacher, and Janice is a New Teacher Mentor and Lead PreK Teacher. Our current students were able to engage in meaningful conversations and ask questions, allowing them to gain insights into what it takes to build a successful career in ECE.

We were inspired to see the engagement and enthusiasm of our students during the workshop. By holding similar events in the future, we hope to continue building on the legacy of EDvance College and our relationships with our students. Thank you to our alumni panelists for their time and expertise, and to our current students for their participation and interest in building their careers in ECE.

Upcoming Information Sessions

We are currently recruiting early childhood educators in San Francisco and the East Bay for our incoming 2-Year upper division pathway for our Bachelor’s degrees in Early Childhood Studies (ECS). Limited space is available, and we hope that you can help us spread the word about our upcoming information sessions.

A key feature of our program model is focused on removing barriers to transfer. To be eligible for transfer to EDvance College, ECE professionals must have completed a total of 60 units, including ONLY 15 units of General Education requirements. These requirements significantly reduce the barriers many of our early childhood educators face in becoming transfer ready. For more information on our transfer requirements click here.

Upcoming info sessions are as follows:

• Monday, April 10, 6:30-7:30pm
• Wednesday, April 19, 6:30-7:30pm
• Thursday, April 27, 6:00-7:00 pm

To RSVP for an info session, interested applicants should complete this registration with their name, contact information, and which session they plan to attend.

In addition, if you know someone who would be a great fit for EDvance College, please share our information session flyer with them.

Alumni Feature

Danielle Loughridge is an alumna of EDvance College and a true advocate for the field of early childhood education. Danielle graduated from EDvance in 2015 as part of the Beta Cohort, the second ever cohort of students.

Since graduating, Danielle has obtained her MA in Early Childhood and has been working as a Site Administrator while also consulting in the field. Danielle has remained involved with EDvance College, previously working as the Pathways Director while the program existed at San Francisco State University and now serving as an instructor for the Spring 2023 semester.

In her current role as faculty, Danielle is instructing the Community of Reflective Practice Course, which allows students the opportunity to reflect and refine their practice as it relates to language and literacy. Her commitment to supporting fellow educators is truly inspiring, and her success after graduating from EDvance College is a testament to the quality of the program and the impact it can have on the lives and careers of its students.

When asked about her experience with EDvance College, Danielle had this to say: "EDvance College truly understands the barriers students face with the educational system and maintains a supportive atmosphere that recognizes and understands what it means to be part of the workforce. The college embraces diversity and creates a nurturing environment that allows students to show up as their authentic self, while challenging them to be reflective, life-long learners."

We are proud to have Danielle as a member of the EDvance College community and appreciate her dedication to supporting the next generation of early childhood educators.

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Alumni Survey Contest Winners

‍We are delighted to announce the winners of our recent alumni survey contest. Congratulations to Marlin Darby, Melva Bosley, and Kelly Wheatley for each winning a $50 Target gift card.

Thank you to all the alumni who took the time to complete the survey, and for sharing your valuable insights into your experiences since graduating from EDvance. Your responses will help us better understand your needs and interests, and we are excited to use this information to develop new opportunities for you to stay connected with your fellow alumni and the wider EDvance community.

For those who have not yet completed the survey, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible. Your feedback is important to us, and it will help us shape our alumni engagement strategy and identify new initiatives to support you.To complete the survey, please click on this link.

Student Spotlight

Aileen Wang is a determined and passionate early childhood educator who is currently pursuing her degree at EDvance College. Aileen is a mother of two and a first-generation college student who came to the United States from China.

Aileen has been working in the ECE field for almost 18 years and currently holds the position of Toddler Lead Teacher. When asked about her goals and dreams in the ECE field, Aileen shared that she hopes to become a coach and support families and children in reaching their goals. She is passionate about helping families, teachers, and children succeed in their careers.

Aileen chose to enroll at EDvance College because it was the only program that met her needs for online and remote courses. She appreciates the flexibility of the program, as it allows her to work full-time while pursuing her degree. Aileen is grateful for the opportunity to receive an education that fits her schedule and lifestyle, without having to sacrifice her work and family commitments.

In Aileen's own words, "This schedule and lifestyle works for a teacher like me, who works hard and full time to get their degree. I love this program - it meets all the teachers' needs and wants. We can work full time and get our degree. It's a double win-win situation for me!"

Aileen's dedication and commitment to the field of early childhood education are truly inspiring. We are proud to have her as a student at EDvance College and look forward to seeing her continue to achieve her goals and dreams in the ECE field.

Job Postings

Whether you’re an ECE center looking to promote job openings or a student looking for career advancement opportunities, EDvance College’s ECE Job Board helps connect opportunities with qualified educators. Please be sure to send ECE job postings to info@ed-vance.org.  

Below are recent positions that are available:

1. Part-Time Infant/Toddler Teacher, Little Bananas Daycare: 2511 45th Ave San Francisco, CA 94116
2. Teacher, The Little School:1520 Lyon Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

In addition, EDvance College is currently accepting applications for:

• Adjunct Faculty positions for Fall 2023 & Spring 2024 (Apply now!)

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