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Level III
Illinois Director Credential
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Nelda Jones
Administrator/Owner
Stepping Stone Early Childhood Learning Center, Inc.
Chicago, Illinois
Years in Position: 5 years
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“Earning the Illinois Director Credential highlighted the
important task that I have embraced. As early childhood professionals,
developing strong cognitive and social foundations in our children is
essential. Today’s preschoolers will impact future generations that will run
this global society. This Herculean task requires dedicated individuals such as
IDC recipients. I am now one of those individuals. I am so elated to have
earned my Illinois Director Credential. Achieving IDC status authenticates all
my prior and future endeavors.”
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My career spans over 30 years of providing services to children with special
needs. I obtained a Master’s Degree in Pre-School Disabilities in 1978 and a
Doctorate in Special Education Administration in 1996 from Illinois State
University. I am now enrolled in Erikson Institute’s Infant/Toddler Certificate
Program. My interest in early childhood began when I became a grandmother. I
decided to open a child care center in 1997. It was not as simple as I had
imagined. In 2003, a life long dream of having a child care center was realized
and Stepping Stones Early Childhood Learning Center (SSECLC) was founded. Our
center is located in a high priority inner city low-income area. Providing high
quality child care in a licensed facility in our community is challenging. We
meet that challenge daily and look forward to expansion. We have grown rapidly.
SSECLC is currently developing a new site to continue and expand services in
other high priority inner city Chicago neighborhoods.
In 2005, we established a Head Start Partnership with Easter Seals Metropolitan
Chicago. The following year we developed a partnership with Chicago Public
Schools Community Partnership Pre-K Program. Both partnerships are ongoing. In
July 2006, we received NAEYC accreditation and then the Illinois Director
Credential in 2007!
When I have time, my hobbies are traveling, genealogy, golf, and collecting
international art. My goal is to visit all seven continents. My current project
is developing a culturally diverse curriculum program for 2-6 year olds.
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