Department Overview
The Early Childhood & Teacher Education Department at Luna Community College has two associate and one certificate state articulated programs that prepare early childhood teachers and elementary and secondary paraprofessional teachers. The department has maintained and worked as a quality unit to produce qualified and conscientious professionals. The Birth through Grade 3 licensure track is designed for students who intend to transfer to a 4-year institution and can lead to state licensure. The Teacher Education program has generally been accepted by most other 4-year state institutions of higher education. For licensure purposes the Teacher Education and ECME Birth through Grade 3 programs prepare students for immediate employment as paraprofessionals within the state public education system.
The Education Department’s programs meet the HED proposed core curriculum changes for the 2019-2021 Catalog cycle. The Department is working on creating standardized rubrics for: lesson plans, multimedia presentations, written work, oral presentations, and portfolios. This will allow all students to understand the expectation of performance regardless of course or instructor. In addition, program evaluation tools are revised as part of an institution-wide initiative and will be documented in LCCs WEAVE portal. The evaluation will assess Critical Performance Indictors (verified through work samples) and Candidate Disposition to ensure graduates poses the dispositions necessary to work in the field of education. This evaluation will be conducted at the conclusion of each semester by all department instructional staff. Finally, standardized final exams or end-of-course requirements will be reviewed and revised to ensure alignment with updated course and program objectives.
The Education Department develops the knowledge and competence of students interested in teaching or working in related careers with children birth through secondary education. The programs provide theoretical foundations in principles of child growth and development from the prenatal period through the primary years, as well as a functional understanding of programs and curricula appropriate at each instructional level. Skills emphasized include child observation, curriculum planning for diverse learners, advocacy, and interpersonal and communication abilities.
Upon completion students will earn an Associate in Arts degree in Early Childhood Education with a specific concentration in Birth through Grade 3 or Teacher Education. Students may also earn an Early Childhood Development Certificate prior to earning the A.A. degree. Graduates of the Department will be prepared to work as childcare practitioners, teacher assistants, instructional aides, and directors. Graduates who wish to become certified teachers will need to transfer and complete an approved licensure program at a four year college or university. Our curriculum supports the needs of those wishing to pursue a variety of options including transfer, it is highly recommended that students consult program advisors and review the current catalog at the transferring institution in order to make appropriate course selection.
