McDowell Technical Community College is debuting a free, fast-track Early Childhood Academy from July 14th to 25th, offering both workforce credentials and academic credit for Introduction to Early Childhood (EDU 119). The program is designed for individuals preparing for careers in childcare centers, preschools, Head Start, and other early childhood education settings.
Thanks to generous funding from Dogwood Health Trust and Hurricane Helene relief funds, all tuition, fees, and required materials are completely free for participants.
“This Academy is an incredible opportunity for individuals who want to enter the early childhood field quickly without the burden of tuition and fees,” said Katie Dowdle, Director of Early Childhood Education and Teacher Preparation at McDowell Tech. “Participants walk away with both college credit and the workforce credentials they need—saving time and money while preparing for meaningful careers.”
Normally, the academic portion of the class is a semester-long program, and it can take weeks to complete paperwork and classes for the various credentials needed to work in early childhood programs.
The class will run weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with extended hours on both Wednesdays until 5:30 p.m.. Attendance and full participation are mandatory to receive credentials. The program includes:
- EDU 119: Introduction to Early Childhood Education (college credit)
- CPR Certification
- NC Division of Child Development and Early Education Background Check (D-Check)
- Health Assessment and NCID setup
- A completed credentialing portfolio notebook to present to potential employers
The academic component of the course will be taught by Dowdle, with certified instructors leading CPR and other credential-based segments.
Participants must be 18 years of age or older and have a high school diploma or GED to take the class. Registration is available on McDowell Tech’s Continuing Education site at https://mcdowelltechconed.com/registration.php. (List “Early Childhood Academy” in the class name section to register.)
“This is workforce development at its best,” said Dr. J.W. Kelley, President of McDowell Tech. “We’re helping students gain essential credentials, college credit, and career readiness in just two weeks—all at no cost. It’s a perfect example of how McDowell Tech empowers students to Learn, Grow and Dream while building a stronger community workforce.”
For those unable to attend this summer, McDowell Tech anticipates offering another Early Childhood Academy later this fall.
For more information, contact Katie Dowdle at ksdowdle13@go.mcdowelltech.edu or leave a message at 828-652-0654.
