Starting a Career Working with Kids

One of Jay’s earliest memories is playing with the kids in his mother’s preschool classroom. All the kids would run over to hug him and play with him. “I held on to that good memory and when I was older, I started working with kids myself,” says Jay, who has been working with children since he was 15 years old.

“I have always been passionate about working with kids,” he explains. “Kids are so smart and perceptive, and you can have a real impact on their lives, even at a young age.” Jay took some classes at UMass Boston, but he was not sure what his focus should be. Then he heard about the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Career Training Program and decided to apply. The Program is offered by the Cambridge Community Learning Center (CLC) and the Cambridge Office of Early Childhood.

Through the program, Jay completed a paid internship in a Cambridge preschool classroom and prepared to earn his Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential. “You can always read and write about child development, but it’s the hands-on experience of working with children that shows what it is really like to be a teacher,” said Jay. When he graduated, Jay was teacher certified in Massachusetts and ready to start his career as a professional educator.

Jay wants to get experience working in a school setting. "As a Black man, I believe I can make a difference as a teacher, whether it’s impacting one child or many. All children benefit from good teachers," Jay explains. His long-term goal is to open his own preschool so he can have a leadership role designing curriculum and planning activities.

Do you want to start a career as an early childhood educator? The next ECE Career Training Program will start in October. Learn more at www.cambridgema.gov/EarlyChildhoodCareer. 

Photo: Jay leading circle time in a DHSP Preschool classroom.