Copy
A Warm Welcome to Cassie Noble
 
Please help us welcome Cassie Noble who joined the Early Childhood Project Team on April 1, 2016!  We are thrilled to have her with her interest in early care and education,  positive attitude,  experience balancing online database work and connecting with people AND her willingness to learn about Montana’s early childhood systems.

She originally hails from the state of Washington where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Western Washington University in Bellingham. Cassie served two years in AmeriCorps with the first year traveling throughout the south and her second year was spent working for the Greeley Colorado School District as the Volunteer Coordinator. Cassie is happy to have landed in Bozeman to enjoy her love of the outdoors and long-distance running. 

Cassie will be cross-trained in almost all aspects of the Early Childhood Project daily operations with primary focus on the Practitioner Registry and the ECE: P-3 and Leadership Financial Assistance Project. She may be reached at cassandra.noble@montana.edu.
The Professional Development Incentive Award – Higher Education (PDIA-HE) has been changed to reduce paperwork for everyone involved. While working toward your college certificate or degree in early childhood education, after completion of your early childhood course work each semester you may send the application, copies of your transcript that show your course of study for which you are enrolled and grades for completed courses, and a W-9 form for us to review. The application will be posted on the ECP website on the following schedule:
Adult Learning I and II - Register TODAY!
There is still time to register before May 6 for the Adult Learning I and II courses to be held in Bozeman on May 18-19, 2016. To become an approved early childhood Professional Development Specialist in Montana, these courses are required and they are a rich learning opportunity for anyone who works with other adults in a learning capacity—offering workshops or courses to child care and out-of-school time program staff.

For more information and course objectives, please click here.  Each six hour course is also available for college credit upon request. A Professional Incentive Award is offered for those who complete these two courses in addition to the 15 hour Training Basics course.
Early Childhood Incentives and AWARDS – Just for YOU!
Now that you are current on the Practitioner Registry and renew your status annually, be sure to go to our website to learn about all of the options to apply for awards through the ECP (or the Early Childhood Services Bureau.)  This chart gives a brief overview of the available opportunities for you!
 
Are You a Center-based Child Care/Early Childhood Program Director?
Need a boost and time to interact with other directors in early childhood? Join the Early Childhood Project for a rich opportunity to network with other directors, share strategies, learn from each other, and celebrate your leadership in the field.

The 12th Annual Montana Directors’ Symposium is scheduled for September 15-16, 2016 in Great Falls. The planning group is finalizing presenters and sessions and all programs will receive a Save the Date postcard this Spring. Registration will be posted on the ECP website this summer in late July with a full schedule! Stay tuned...



MT Early Care and Education Career Development Advisory Board (CDAB) Meeting
Have you ever wondered who guides the Early Childhood Project's direction for programs, policies and procedures? The CDAB has broad representation from partner agencies and organizations in Montana and meets two times each year to discuss our work and plan for the future. The next meeting is scheduled for May 16-17 in Bozeman. If you are interested in communicating with your board representative directly to bring issues forward, Libby will be happy to help you make that connection. If you have questions or concerns that you would like the board to address, please contact the ECP Director, Libby Hancock at libbyh@montana.edu.