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Professionalism is key to making a good impression. Whether you’re new to Head Start or you are a veteran staff member, Professionalism in Early Childhood Education Basics gives you the skills to step into your Head Start role.

At its core, Professionalism contributes to the success of an individual in the Head Start space. Understanding how to prioritize your professional development will support your career. This course will cover practicing professionalism day to day, encouraging professionalism at your center, and understanding what it means to be a Head Start professional so that you can better serve your families.

Course Information:

• Start Date: On-Demand
• Course Level: Beginner
• Target Audience: All staff/staff renewing their CDA
• Requirements/Prerequisites: n/a
• Course Meeting Times: n/a
• Completion Timeline/Duration: 30 days

Topics:

• Professionalism

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how to prioritize your professional development
• Practice professionalism in your day to day work
• Encourage and support professionalism in others at your center

Head Start Alignment:

This course supports programs in meeting Head Start Program Performance Standard 1302 – Program Operations, which “covers the full range of operations from enrolling eligible children and providing program services to those children and their families, to managing programs to ensure staff are qualified and supported to effectively provide services.”

Course Authors

Zuly Vazquez

Zuly Vazquez is the Senior Manager of Online Professional Development at the National Head Start Association (NHSA), where she leads leadership courses and both the 5-star review CDA program for Head Start and early childhood educators —a multiple-time Apex Award winner by Training Magazine—and the groundbreaking CDA Pathway to Purpose for High School students. As an innovative educator and professional development expert, she is transforming entry paths into early childhood education. Drawing from her experience as a classroom teacher, trainer, curriculum developer, to Head Start leadership, her expertise in bilingual instruction and curriculum design ensures all programs maintain rigorous, high-quality professional standards while offering flexible online delivery. Through her comprehensive approach to professional development, she strengthens the early childhood workforce pipeline by supporting current educators and creating pathways for high school students to discover their calling while building a more diverse, qualified, and passionate generation of educators committed to shaping the future of our youngest learners.