Area child development center recommends LCU

[August 04, 2012]  When Penny Driver, owner and director of Teddy Bear Christian Child Development Center in Riverton, discovered that Lincoln Christian University offered a new online associate degree in early childhood education, she immediately encouraged employees to begin classes at LCU to meet state requirements.

LCU introduced the new 61-hour online program in the fall of 2011. LCU's Associate of Applied Science in early childhood education results in three credentials through Gateways to Opportunity: a Level 4 Early Childhood Education Credential, a Level 4 Infant Toddler Credential and, with an additional eight credit hours, the Level 1 Illinois Director Credential.

"We have decided to go to Lincoln Christian University because we feel that it will allow our staff to become teacher-qualified and learn how to apply Christian values in our program," Driver said. "This program will provide them with the background they need to understand God's work and how to apply it to the families we serve. It also provides quality Christian education for them to become the best Christ-like teachers to minister to our families. … It also allows them to attend college and not interfere with the care of their children and families, since it is all online."

Driver continued: "I am very pleased with the AAS program and very excited about the future possibilities with LCU. Karen Estep and her staff are very helpful and make it very easy to ask questions and to get my staff enrolled and keep enrolled and provide quality education."

Dr. Karen Estep is the director of the program, which is offered through LCU's School of Adult & Graduate Studies. All courses are offered online in an accelerated format of six weeks per course. Students must also complete 155 clock hours of field experience. To learn more about the program, visit http://www.lincolnchristian.edu/
Hargrove/AASEarlyChildhood.overview.asp.

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Teddy Bear Christian Child Development Center is located at 1170 E. Lincoln in Riverton. The center opened in 1996 as a small center with 50 children and today is a Quality Rating System Star Level 2 center with 125 children, nine teachers and 10 aides.

Gateways to Opportunity is the single statewide professional development support system designed to provide guidance, encouragement and recognition to individuals and programs serving children, youth and families. Resources and services provided by Gateways to Opportunity include credentials, professional development advice, Great START, a registry, the Illinois Trainers Network and a scholarship program. To learn more, visit http://www.ilgateways.com/.

Lincoln Christian University is a Gateways to Opportunity-entitled institution. In addition to the online associate degree, LCU offers early childhood courses in a traditional on-campus format resulting in the same credentials. Students in these programs may qualify for additional scholarship funding through Great START wage supplements. Classes for the early childhood degree begin in August.

Established in Lincoln in 1944, LCU's mission is to equip Christians to serve and lead in the church, the workplace and the world. Today, LCU offers a variety of degree programs for undergraduates, graduates and seminary students. Classes are offered on campus, on-site or online. To learn more, visit http://www.lincolnchristian.edu/.

[Text from file received from Lincoln Christian University]