I’m Johanna Kugler: a mother, wife, educator, volunteer, community member and hobby farmer. I work at Open Arms Childcare & Preschool wearing many different hats: educator, coach, parent trainer and back-of-the-house expert, including licensing, public.
Research shows that holding a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education is the best predictor of quality in teaching practice. Other studies show formal education and specialized training were significantly associated with higher quality caretaking. In Colorado, only 17 percent of the early childhood workforce holds a bachelor’s degree in early care and education.
The barriers to higher education for both new and working professionals are just too high.
Even with all her years of experience, Perry said she doesn’t feel on the level of younger teachers coming straight into the field with a bachelor’s.
“I feel like having a bachelor s degree would definitely increase my confidence,” she said. “I m changing. I m getting better.”