Preschool Teachers

Shape the quality of early education

Ever wonder how kids can get an early start at being geniuses? The Answer: Preschool Teachers.

They spend their days teaching kids below the age of 5 about reading, writing, science, and other subjects in day care or official schools. They help the children interact with one another and remain flexible to different teaching styles so that every student can absorb the information. Working together with their students' parents, they look out for early signs of behavioral or developmental issues and bring them to light as they keep track of their students' progress and routines. Between the day care and home, the preschool teacher gets to be a part of half of their students' daily routine from an outsider's perspective to monitor and foster their progress.

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As the Gulf Coast expands the quantity and quality of preschool programs, this career is going grow as fast as people are exiting.

 

Preschool Teacehers in general earn less compared to other types of teachers, however those that work in elementary and middle schools can earn the amounts shown below. Note that most Preschool Teachers work in daycare establishments where wages can be significantly lower.

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What areas of interests do most Preschool Teachers need?

These skills, interests, and knowledge areas are recommended for a career in early education. The numbers describe the relative importance of each knowledge area or skill set.

85%

Customer & Personal Service
Knowing Principles of and providing personal services that meet the needs and quality standards for customer (student) satisfaction.

82.5%

Oral Communication Skills
Giving full attention to others and understanding what they are saying while also conveying your own ideas clearly and concisely through spoken words

79%

Education & Training Instruction
Principles and methods for curriculum and training design with interest in passing knowledge to others and measuring the training effects

77.6%

Service Oriented & Social Coordination
Looking for ways to help others and adjusting actions in relation to others' action, specifically for the purposes of being understood.

75%

Originality
Coming up with unusual or clever ideas for a given topic or situation to solve a problem, in this case to make the student understand more clearly.

*Source: Texas Career Check. .

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Preschool teachers are mostly work in daycare centers however some

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What does it take to be a Preschool Teacher?

Endorsement: Public Service

While in general an associate's degree in early childhood education is the minimum requirement for becoming a preschool teacher, some public schools would prefer a bachelor's degree in a similar field, so that could be a more solid educational background to aim for. In Texas, the educational program could include a Texas Education Agency (TEA) Educator Preparation Program, but that may not be the case, so be sure to complete this certification along with the exam for a teaching license to teach in Texas.

Along with the degree, a preschool teacher must have Certified Childcare Professional (CCP) certification through the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation to work as a preschool teacher. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards offers other certifications to demonstrate specialization in areas of early childhood development, but to manage a preschool in the state of Texas, you must have a Child Care Administrator license issued by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services. Other useful certifications like CPR and First Aid may be good to have as well when working with younger children.

Remember: Each opportunity will be slightly different with potentially different requirements. Make sure of the certifications, licensures, and educational requirements specific to whatever position you aim for.

Alternative Certification Programs

Alternative certification programs are attractive to individuals that may not have initially made teaching a career choice. Many school districts offer alternative certification programs. Persons that currently possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university interested in a teaching career should contact individual school districts for details.

• Lone Star College
• HCC
• Region IV ESC

 **Additional information can be obtained at the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

**The Texas Education Agency (TEA) also provides significant amount of additional information about numerous topics of interest to current and future teachers.

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Gulf Coast Region Preparation Programs for Preschool Teachers

Community Colleges:

• Alvin Community College
• Brazosport College
• College of the Mainland
• Lone Star College System
• San Jacinto Community College
• Wharton County Junior College

Universities:

• Texas A&M University
• University of Houston
• Texas Tech University
• Houston Baptist University
• Texas Southern University

Major Districts in the  Gulf Coast Region
Aldine ISD Alief ISD Alvin ISD Brazosport ISD Clear Creek ISD Conroe ISD Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Deer Park ISD Fort Bend ISD Galena Park ISD Galveston ISD Goose Creek CISD Houston ISD	Humble ISD Katy ISD Klein ISD La Porte ISD Lamar CISD Magnolia ISD New Caney ISD North Forest ISD Pasadena ISD Pearland ISD Spring Branch ISD Spring ISD Tomball ISD

 

Related Occupations: Childcare Workers, Teacher Assistants, Social and Human Service Assistants

  

If you have questions about our Industry/Occupation Profiles or are an organization in the Gulf Coast Region, please contact webmaster@wrksolutions.com.

*Includes the following counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, and Wharton.

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