Cleveland, August 2024: –– Step Forward, the state’s designated anti-poverty for Cuyahoga County, is recruiting for its second “People as Teachers in Training” program cohort.
Developed in response to the persistent shortage of qualified educators and the urgent need for at least 70 employees throughout Step Forward’s Head Start program, this unique initiative aims to decrease staff vacancies and empower individuals with the skills and support necessary to become effective educators.
Individuals enrolled with Step Forward’s “People as Teachers in Training” Program (PATT) will work between 20 and 40 hours as Head Start education aides and receive 120 hours of on-demand, online instruction to obtain their Child Development Associate credential. In addition, participants will be provided weekly professional development opportunities tailored to increase their knowledge of early childhood education, Step Forward policies and procedures, and workplace professionalism. The goal is for participants to complete the credential process and move to full-time employment with Step Forward’s Head Start.
The PATT program is provided at no cost to those who participate. The second cohort is scheduled to begin in Fall 2024.
To help recruit quality educators throughout its Head Start program, Step Forward continues to offer sign-on bonuses, referral bonuses, professional development opportunities, health and wellness initiatives, and an exciting, new compensation package for educators.
“At Step Forward, we are thinking outside the box when it comes to recruitment because we know how crucial it is to have dedicated teachers,” Dr. Thea Wilson, Step Forward’s Vice President of Children and Families, said. “Our goal is to create an environment where our teachers feel valued and supported, enabling them to deliver the highest quality education to the children in our community.”
Those interested in applying for Step Forward’s PATT program can apply online at www.stepforwardtoday.org.