VGCC Instructor appointed to national commission

Tracey Bennett, an instructor for the Early Childhood Associate program at Vance-Granville Community College, has been selected to serve as a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)’s Commission on Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation. Bennett’s term lasts for two and one-half years, from June 1, 2010 through Dec. 31, 2012.

The influential commission determines the accreditation status of Early Childhood education programs at colleges across the country. For several years, Bennett has been a peer reviewer for NAEYC, examining other community colleges’ programs that train future teachers and child care workers, and reporting her findings to this commission, which makes final decisions.

“The quality of any accreditation system is dependent upon the quality of the accreditation decisions made by the Commission,” said commission chair Rebecca Brinks and staff director Alison Lutton in a congratulatory letter to Bennett. “Your work with the successfully accredited early childhood program at VGCC and service as an accreditation reviewer and team chair demonstrates your understanding of quality and development issues related to early childhood teacher education.” VGCC became one of the first 17 programs in the nation to successfully complete the national accreditation process in 2007. VGCC offers an Early Childhood Associate degree and diploma, as well as certificates concentrating on early childhood administration, general education, infants and toddlers , family home child care, and Special Needs.

Bennett, a resident of Durham, has taught at VGCC since 2003. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in human development and family relations, with a focus on early childhood, at North Carolina Central University. She is now a student at Walden University, working toward a Ph.D. in early childhood education.