The Waldo County Technical Center (WCTC) has reinstated its Early Childhood and K-8 Education program after a hiatus of several years, bringing a fresh approach to training future educators.
Jennifer Howard, the program’s instructor, brings three decades of experience in early childhood education to the role. A former teacher for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Howard also owned and operated Helping Hands Childcare in Belfast for 12 years, earning the title of “Best of the Best” five years in a row.
In addition to her teaching career, Howard is a published author, having written seven children’s books and an early childhood education textbook. She is also a mother of three and an avid fiber artist, sharing her work on Instagram through her account, Acorns and Inchworms.
Howard explained her decision to join the Tech Center, noting that while she had not previously worked with young adults, she found fulfillment in engaging and educating parents throughout her career. She believes her extensive experience in early childhood education allows her to offer valuable perspectives to students.
“I have insight into what teachers should know,” Howard said in a WCTC news release. “I can provide them with a perspective they may not have.”
Howard hopes her students will take one key lesson from her class: to “meet the child where they are” in their educational and professional journeys.
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