Jodi's passion for working with children and her desire to create nurturing and educational environments led her to pursue a career in Early Childhood Education. She knew that in order to achieve her goal, she needed a program that would provide her with a solid educational foundation and hands-on experience. Luckily, she discovered Six Nations Polytechnic's (SNP) Early Childhood Education program, which was conveniently located within her community!
SNP's Early Childhood Education (ECE) is a two-year diploma program offered in collaboration with Niagara College. The program provides students with the opportunity to understand the world from a child's perspective and engage in practical learning experiences. With a focus on hands-on learning, students participate in a minimum of 600 hours of fieldwork experience. Jodi had the privilege of being placed in various child-care centers, allowing her to gain insights into different teaching techniques and management styles. Upon successfully completing the program, graduates are eligible for employment with school boards.
Jodi had a positive experience in the ECE program, describing it as enriching, nurturing, and engaging. For Jodi, she says, “The program being located close to home eased my sense of self and was a big factor in my success.” She appreciated the student activities that allowed her to bond with her classmates and feel comfortable with her instructors. She also notes that these activities helped create a sense of community within the program. One standout moment for Jodi was her final assignment, which involved creating a mock daycare. This assignment sparked a dream within her to own and operate her own daycare in the future!
After successful completion of her program, Jodi is now employed full time at Stoneridge Children's Centre, working in the Infant Program! Her responsibilities include providing nutritious meals, creating creative activities, and going for daily walks with the babies. In addition to her caregiving duties, Jodi also completes administrative tasks such as taking daily attendance, communications for absent children, making daily entries on the Hi Mama app, filling out accident reports, and documenting sleep checks.
Jodi attributes her career success to the ECE program at SNP, which enhanced her resume and helped her secure a job in which she excels! She highly recommends SNP's Early Childhood Education program for individuals aspiring to work in the field. Jodi emphasizes that “SNP is a great post-secondary option for those who would like to study close to home but still gain valuable skills.”
To follow in Jodi's footsteps, interested individuals can apply for the September 2024 intake by visiting snpolytechnic.com/apply