CCSD Pathway Profile - Early Childhood Education

Cherokee High School Career Pathway teacher Kym McCrary observes as Early Childhood Education student Reagan Hawthrone teaches a lesson and classmate Tessie Ray looks on.

The Cherokee County School District offers 38 Career Pathway high school programs, which provide students with a wide selection of job exploration and preparation electives. Through CCSD Pathway Profiles, we'll regularly share highlights with you from one of these programs. This week's profile focuses on Early Childhood Education, which is offered at Cherokee HS and Woodstock HS. The Teaching as a Profession Career Pathway is offered at Creekview HS, River Ridge HS and Sequoyah HS.

Cherokee High School Career Pathway teacher Kym McCrary sees her success stories in classrooms across the Cherokee County School District.

Over the past 12 years, she has taught hundreds of students in her Early Childhood Education program, and many have chosen to return to CCSD for their own careers as educators.

Junior Mya Lavender is a student in the program to pursue her dream of becoming an elementary school teacher.

"I enjoy learning about children in the Early Childhood pathway. Going to work with the students in first grade at Liberty Elementary has been a fun experience," said Mya, who plans to participate in Work Based Learning next school year to gain more experience before heading off to college for an education degree.

Ms. McCrary, who has been an educator for 20 years, loved home economics classes as a high school student and the childcare lessons sparked her career interest. [Click here to see more photos from her classes.]

"All of my students will be around children at some point in their lives," she said. "Even if they have become teachers or have their own children they will have some knowledge of dealing with young children."

The Pathway's classes encompass many topics, including fire safety and the opportunity to become CPR certified.

Within the Pathway, classes offered include: early childhood education I, II and III; early childhood education practicum. Students can earn three hours of college credit from the University System of Georgia with passage of all courses, the End of Pathway assessment and portfolio requirements. Students can compete in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) state and national career skills contests.

This Pathway prepares students for careers including, but not limited to: elementary school teacher, paraprofessional, preschool teacher, childcare worker, preschool and childcare education administrator, child social worker, school psychologist, preschool assistant teacher.

The average income range for careers in this Pathway in Georgia is $33,000 to $76,000. Local and area employers for this Pathway include, but are not limited to: Cherokee County School District and other public K-12 school systems, public and private preschool programs, Georgia Department of Education, Teach for America, daycare and childcare providers, private schools and tutoring services.

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