Events | Health Education and Human SciencesApril 26, 2022

UAFS to Assist Early Childhood Centers with Staff Shortage

Written By: Rachel Putman

In an effort to meet critical demand for early childhood educators in the region, the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith is hosting an open job fair for individuals interested in starting or advancing their early childhood careers.

The job fair is open to the public, and will take place Tuesday, April 26 from 2-6 p.m., at the Echols Conference Center at 504 N. Waldron Ave., in Fort Smith. More than a dozen representatives from childcare centers across the River Valley in urgent need of educators and staff members will be present accepting resumes, conducting on-site interviews, and sharing information about employment.

“Child care providers across our area, and across the country, are struggling with a dire staffing shortage,” said Ronnette Haynes, Coaching & Outreach Coordinator for the UAFS Early Childhood Preschool Program. Trained, qualified staffing at the preschool level is integral to foundational brain development in children, she explained. “The brain develops more from birth to age 5 than any other time in life. During this time the foundation is set for social, emotional, language, literacy, and cognitive skills. These foundations are vital for children to become leaders, team players and problem solvers which not only impacts the rest of their education, but also their future careers and their ability to be productive community members.”

Professionals from the university’s Early Childhood Education Program will be on site to help individuals interested in becoming early childhood educators or advancing their existing ECE skills learn more about enrolling and paying for advanced education. University representatives will also share information regarding the Arkansas Early Childhood Association’s T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship, which pays up to 95% of college tuition and fees for individuals working in childcare centers who choose to continue their education while remaining in the workforce. UAFS was the first four-year institution in the state to offer this collaborative funding program aimed at empowering early childhood educators to further their education while allowing them to stay in the classrooms where they are greatly needed. 

UAFS offers a 26-credit hour Technical Certificate in Early Childhood Education which delivers a curriculum specifically designed to address pre-school and early childhood education through courses including Child Guidance, Preschool Curriculum, and Infant Toddler Curriculum. The university also offers a 60-credit hour Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education program designed primarily for preschool workers and P-4 teaching assistants or paraprofessionals. Coursework is designed to address the birth-to-age-5 population.

Representatives from Stepping Stone School for Exceptional Children and Beyond Academy, Alma; Harvest Time Academy, Fort Smith Public Schools, Kids Unlimited Learning Academy, and Quality Child Care in Fort Smith; and Head Start Child and Family Services, Inc., and Little Blessings Preschool, in Van Buren, will be present.

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• Job Fair
• UAFS
• ECE