Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center Hosts Statewide Meeting of Educators

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The early childhood development meeting at the Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center included, from left, Vernoice Baldwin, Jennifer Henk, Mindy Shaw, Joyce Hargrove, Rebecca Evans, Susan Ligon, Cindy Randolph and Cindy Kirk. Not pictured – Mardi Crandall and Deniece Honeycutt.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The staff of the Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center on the University of Arkansas campus recently hosted a meeting of early childhood development representatives from other institutions across the state.

The Arkansas Early Childhood Cohort group toured the facility, which is part of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, and met to discuss new requirements for the upcoming state licensure process for professionals engaging in the care and education of children from birth through kindergarten.

The cohort group provides collegial support during professional program accreditation processes and works cooperatively to ensure consistency in courses in early childhood development across the state to assist in their transfer to four-year institutions.

“University of Arkansas child development faculty extended the invitation to the group to come to our campus and tour the Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center,” said Vernoice Baldwin, executive director of educational programs. “The cohort members were excited about the opportunity and expressed the desire to have more early childhood demonstration sites for college and university students across the state.”

Those in attendance included Mindy Shaw, University of Arkansas Community College in Batesville; Joyce Hargrove, Phillips Community College in Helena/West Helena; Rebecca Evans, NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Rogers; Susan Ligon, East Arkansas Community College in Forrest City; Cindy Randolph, Pulaski Tech College in North Little Rock; Cindy Kirk, National Park Community College in Hot Springs; and Vernoice Baldwin, Jennifer Henk, Mardi Crandall and Deniece Honeycutt of the U of A.

“I’ve been impressed with the work the cohort group is doing for the state of Arkansas in the field of early childhood development,” said Randolph. “Creating this group was very innovative and the collaboration is valuable.”

The group has been identified by outside sources as a group that embodies collaborative work and lends support to each other during Associate of Applied Science program accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

The Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center recently earned reaccreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children to once again rank among the top 10 percent of private-sector childcare facilities in the nation.