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Last Updated: 2/12/2008

PDA Resource Materials

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Professional Development Advisors

Whether you are just starting your career or already working, a Gateways to Opportunity Professional Development Advisor can help you achieve your goals.

 

From selecting coursework to developing a plan for success the job of the Professional Development Advisor (PDA) is to represent you and guide you in making step-by-step plans for your career. Working with you for short-term advising or long-term mentoring, PDAs will help you:

  • Explore your professional goals and objectives
  • Explore the many careers in Early Care and Education
  • Create a professional development plan
  • Decide what courses and/or trainings to take to meet your goals
  • Locate available courses and professional development opportunities in your area 
  • Understand the differences between college certificates and degrees and decide which is best for you 
  • Help you understand the different early care and education credentials and their requirements 
  • Meet requirements for a degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development 
  • Explore financial assistance for coursework or training 
  • Help you learn how to network and ask questions to get the information you need 
  • Find help with basic English or math skills, or support for learning the English language

PDAs are also coaches and mentors to individuals seeking credentials or career changes in early care and education in Illinois. As experienced veterans the field of early care and education. PDAs offer:

  • Mentoring skills, and information on trends in higher education, course articulation, and ways to develop leadership and communication skills
  • Up-to-date information on new credentials as they become available through Gateways to Opportunity

Click here to review a list of PDAs specialty trained to help you succeed.

How can I talk with a Professional Development Advisor?

Call 1(888) 548-8080 to learn more about Professional Development Advisors throughout the state. Send us a message via our online form. Our staff will work with you to find a Professional Development Advisor in your area. Your call will be handled quickly and all information will be kept confidential.  Call today!

Still have questions?
  Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page
 

Professional Development Advisor applications are NOW AVAILABLE

  • Bilingual (many languages) representation is encouraged
  • We are actively recruiting PDAs from everywhere in the State of Illinois. Due to gaps in services, we are especially interested in applicants from the following areas: Chicago, West Metro Suburbs, Northern Illinois, DeKalb, Sterling-Rock Falls, Galesburg, Peoria, Danville, East St. Louis.
  • Download our Frequently Asked Questions in PDF Format (What is PDF?).

Download the application in MS Word and mail it, along with accompanying documentation to:

Adrienne Simms
Program Coordinator
INCCRRA
1226 Towanda Avenue
Bloomington IL 61701

Want to be a Professional Development Advisor?


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