Really Stressed Out!! Can I use my CDA to be a Preschool Teacher?!

[MrsCoffee]

OK I have been doing so well, have a couple bad apples but things usually work out. God has blessed my family SO much. I am wondering if He wants me to go in a new direction...


I have families that are for the most part consistent but over the past 2 weeks I have had some extreme uncertainty about whether or not 2 families would be staying, and had to fill a spot for a girl that was pulled to go to summer camp-ugh! So this is a part of our job, but these families signed committing contracts! Does that mean anything any more?! So another scare this morning came when the dcg that I just signed to fill the one I lost, mom came and asked if she could be part time drop in! I just signed her for full! Plus right after I signed her one of my families asked to put a sib. in. Full time! I had to turn them down because I had already accepted this little girl. Well I let the mom know that she could but that I would fill her spot with a full timer if givin the opportunity because I have to look out for my business and family. I also told her about the family that has called me several times to see if everything had worked out because they want that spot. She called me back and told me she would keep full time.

I know I am blessed, praise God that all of this worked out... but how do I keep from freaking out? I love what I do, I love these children. I HATE the games that some of these parents try to play to save their own butts. It is unbelievable some of the things that have happened. NOT every parent is this way but the ones that are...yeash!

Can I take my CDA certificate and teach preschool? Anyone here ever done that? How much on average does a preschool teacher earn?

I am setting a new goal and that is to become a preschool teacher. I have a passion for children but the parents are starting to break my heart

[Janet]

Cda

Maybe it depends on the state, but in MI you can be a lead teacher as long as you have your CDA. I will warn you that in some centers, the lead teachers are paid peanuts. I worked as a lead teacher in a center and I topped out at $8.45/hour. No over time and all of my lesson planning and food program paperwork ended up being done on my own time. Make sure that find out what the pay range is and if you decide to do it, don't settle for a tiny amount of pay and a ton of responsibility. Good luck

[Golden Rule]

When I was frustrated about the wear and tear on my home last summer, I asked around a bit....

As a lead teacher I was offered $7.50hr (that was the highest offer out of 6 offers), then when I asked about the cook position i was offered an average of $12.00hr. Also, Georgia has now made it mandatory for all in home childcare providers to have CDA'S (as of next month, I think).....:confused: I just am not seeing the benefit anymore.... Just me?

[MrsCoffee]

Wow, ...that is the saddest thing! I guess I will just keep on keepin on!

I am in Mich, I will look around.

[SunflowerMama]

OK I have been doing so well, have a couple bad apples but things usually work out. God has blessed my family SO much. I am wondering if He wants me to go in a new direction...


I have families that are for the most part consistent but over the past 2 weeks I have had some extreme uncertainty about whether or not 2 families would be staying, and had to fill a spot for a girl that was pulled to go to summer camp-ugh! So this is a part of our job, but these families signed committing contracts! Does that mean anything any more?! So another scare this morning came when the dcg that I just signed to fill the one I lost, mom came and asked if she could be part time drop in! I just signed her for full! Plus right after I signed her one of my families asked to put a sib. in. Full time! I had to turn them down because I had already accepted this little girl. Well I let the mom know that she could but that I would fill her spot with a full timer if givin the opportunity because I have to look out for my business and family. I also told her about the family that has called me several times to see if everything had worked out because they want that spot. She called me back and told me she would keep full time.

I know I am blessed, praise God that all of this worked out... but how do I keep from freaking out? I love what I do, I love these children. I HATE the games that some of these parents try to play to save their own butts. It is unbelievable some of the things that have happened. NOT every parent is this way but the ones that are...yeash!

Can I take my CDA certificate and teach preschool? Anyone here ever done that? How much on average does a preschool teacher earn?

I am setting a new goal and that is to become a preschool teacher. I ahev a passion for children but the parents are starting to break my heart

I was a preschool teacher before doing this and a lead teacher makes $11/hr, assistant $9/hr. That was at my school in Texas.

[Janet]

MI is so not cool!

Michigan really ****s for finding employment as a lead teacher. The pay is little and they expect so much from you! I interviewed at a different center and they only wanted to pay me $7.25 an hour as a lead teacher. I told the director that the offer was an insult and they countered with $7.50 as a final offer. I declined. A couple months later, they called and offered the job again at the same rate but told me I should give it a chance, and that I would love it there. I was like "ummm...no"

[MrsCoffee]

egh.... yuck. Well I guess I am not doing so bad...

Just had one Dcb go home from fever parent called me and Dr. said hand foot mouth... My children have never had this nor any other Dcc. DcM said Dr. said HIGHLY contagious! Life of a daycare provider! Ha!

[Golden Rule]

egh.... yuck. Well I guess I am not doing so bad...

Just had one Dcb go home from fever parent called me and Dr. said hand foot mouth... My children have never had this nor any other Dcc. DcM said Dr. said HIGHLY contagious! Life of a daycare provider! Ha!

This too shall pass :: Time to break out the bleach and water to disinfect everything, yet again..... Never a dull moment is there?
Sending good vibes for a better day tomorrow!!!

[nannyde]

When I was frustrated about the wear and tear on my home last summer, I asked around a bit....

As a lead teacher I was offered $7.50hr (that was the highest offer out of 6 offers), then when I asked about the cook position i was offered an average of $12.00hr. Also, Georgia has now made it mandatory for all in home childcare providers to have CDA'S (as of next month, I think).....:confused: I just am not seeing the benefit anymore.... Just me?

Georgia has now made it mandatory for all in home childcare providers to have CDA'S

WOWIE ZOPS You have a link for that?

In my State you can have an entire Center FULL of employees that don't even have a GED. The minimum requirement of education for the DIRECTOR and assistant director is a GED. The Centers get to decide who is "teacher, lead teacher" etc. They don't have any rules for that at all. They all call all of their staff "teacher" and not a one of them has to even have a GED much less a high school education or college education. Heck they can work there for a year before they even have to have any training other than child abuse. If they leave their current job the clock starts over when they start the next job. There's no accountability for Center workers other than the few who last more than a year.

If they made that a rule here it would be the same thing as saying almost all kids in care must go to Centers. The Centers here would LOVE that. It would almost completely eliminate home day care. I wouldn't even qualify for that and I have a Bachelors Degree in Nursing Science and 31 years of experience.

Are they requiring Center staff to have it too? One thing I have learned in Child Care in the last 30 years is the most kids will go to the least educated worker. The business that has the least educated workers will have the most of the kids.

Wow I've heard some crazy things in my career but that one about takes the cake. I am SHOCKED.

(I read a few years back the average age and education level of home day care providers in my state. I will have to look that up. I think it was 18 percent had more than a high school education and something like 40 percent had less than a high school diploma... like a GED or lower. I can't remember for sure. I remember tho that they just did a survey and didn't require the respondents to PROVE the education. I think the stats would be way lower than reported if that were the case. People have a tendency to really overexaggerate their experience and education when just asked as opposed to show. I've found that over the years of interviewing staff.)

Don't quote me on that tho... cuz it's off the top of my head. If I get a chance I will look that up. It was in a "state of the state of child care something" that was put out by our CCRR

[originalkat]

I worked as Lead Preschool Teachers in numerous centers/preschools in California and Kansas. The most I made was $10.00 per hour. You will make more money doing Home Daycare for sure. I am going back to school to finish my Early Childhood Certification so I can teach up to 3rd grade. Since my own kids are going to be in school, I thought I would go in this direction for better pay/benefits/time off. I will have to bite the bullet and school full time online starting in August. But in 1 1/2 years I will be ready for my Student teaching. I think it will be worth it.

[QualiTcare]

if you're talking about a preschool in a daycare, i'm sure you could work there with a CDA - if you even have to have that.

if you want to be a preschool teacher in a school or head start type program, you have to have a bachelor's degree.

i know this lady who worked in a daycare center as a preschool teacher aka the four year old class and she went to school for two years to get an associates degree because she thought she could get a job teaching at an actual preschool with an associates. she was shocked when they told her she needed a bachelors. i still can't figure out how she went for two years without figuring that out.

[Golden Rule]

Georgia has now made it mandatory for all in home childcare providers to have CDA'S

WOWIE ZOPS You have a link for that?

In my State you can have an entire Center FULL of employees that don't even have a GED. The minimum requirement of education for the DIRECTOR and assistant director is a GED. The Centers get to decide who is "teacher, lead teacher" etc. They don't have any rules for that at all. They all call all of their staff "teacher" and not a one of them has to even have a GED much less a high school education or college education. Heck they can work there for a year before they even have to have any training other than child abuse. If they leave their current job the clock starts over when they start the next job. There's no accountability for Center workers other than the few who last more than a year.

If they made that a rule here it would be the same thing as saying almost all kids in care must go to Centers. The Centers here would LOVE that. It would almost completely eliminate home day care. I wouldn't even qualify for that and I have a Bachelors Degree in Nursing Science and 31 years of experience.


I will hand enter it... http://decal.ga.gov/ChildCareService...lyDayCare.aspx did that work?

Are they requiring Center staff to have it too? One thing I have learned in Child Care in the last 30 years is the most kids will go to the least educated worker. The business that has the least educated workers will have the most of the kids.

Wow I've heard some crazy things in my career but that one about takes the cake. I am SHOCKED.

(I read a few years back the average age and education level of home day care providers in my state. I will have to look that up. I think it was 18 percent had more than a high school education and something like 40 percent had less than a high school diploma... like a GED or lower. I can't remember for sure. I remember tho that they just did a survey and didn't require the respondents to PROVE the education. I think the stats would be way lower than reported if that were the case. People have a tendency to really overexaggerate their experience and education when just asked as opposed to show. I've found that over the years of interviewing staff.)

Don't quote me on that tho... cuz it's off the top of my head. If I get a chance I will look that up. It was in a "state of the state of child care something" that was put out by our CCRR

I dont know how to add links, but will try.

It says we must posess a CDA, TCC in Early Childhood, Associates Degree in Early Childhood, or a Para-Pro certification...

It keeps saying invalid file...anyone know how to link? I accidently put the link in the middle of your quote...but I think it works, anyway...!!

[tmcp2001]

The link worked.

And, WOW. I can't believe they are requiring that for new applicants!! That's going to deter a LOT of people! I think it's great that they are trying to up the level of education but it's going to be tough for people to do!

[boysx5]

I have a degree in ECE and preschool teachers make nothing thats why I do daycare instead the money is much better

[Golden Rule]

The link worked.

And, WOW. I can't believe they are requiring that for new applicants!! That's going to deter a LOT of people! I think it's great that they are trying to up the level of education but it's going to be tough for people to do!

I have several friends that have already closed....a lot have just decided not to re-register. If we could afford more education, most of us would be in another field to begin with ::...but seriously, where are the benefits?

In all honesty, the incentives to register are gone. The un-registered homes have been advertising in the paper for years and nothing is ever done... yet we are held to such a tight standard and feel our lively hood threatened every day. (no, I don't report them. It just is frustrating to have to compete with that, sometimes.) I am in a very precarious situation in that if I get into trouble with the State for an unregistered daycare, it could cost me my Paramedic Certificaton, also... Catch 22....