VGCC Faculty Member’s Book on Special Education Published
Early Childhood educators and specialists all across the country will soon be using a new book written by Vance-Granville Community College instructor Jennifer M. Johnson of Henderson.
Johnson heads the college’s Early Childhood Associate program. Her book, Early Childhood Special Education, was recently published by Thomson Delmar Learning. It is the third book that Johnson has written for the same professional development series, following Creative Activities for Young Children (2005) and Math and Science Activities for Young Children (2006).
The latest project, which focuses on creative activities for special needs students, is particularly close to Johnson’s heart. “I have one child who has learning disabilities, which encouraged me to write this book,” Johnson said. “In fact, I used my own child’s individualized education program (IEP) as an example in the appendix.”
She has also recently co-written two chapters of the sixth edition of another book, The Exceptional Child. Johnson said that Early Childhood Special Education acts as a supplement to The Exceptional Child.
“We are very proud of Jennifer and congratulate her on the latest of her many accomplishments,” Dr. Michael Ellis, VGCC’s Dean of Arts and Sciences, said. “Her efforts continue to help young teachers be successful in their field.”
Johnson earned a B.S. in elementary education from UNC-Greensboro and a master’s in special education from UNC-Charlotte. She taught in public and private elementary schools before joining Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. She has been at Vance-Granville since January 1999, first as an Early Childhood instructor and for the past five years as program head.
VGCC, which has operated an early childhood program for over 30 years, offers certificates, diplomas and associate’s degrees in Early Childhood education. The curriculum prepares individuals to work with children from infancy through middle childhood in diverse learning environments. In 2007, VGCC’s Early Childhood Associate program became one of the first such programs in the nation to earn the distinction of Accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). For more information, contact Jennifer M. Johnson at (252) 738-3408.
Above: Jennifer Johnson, program head and instructor for the Early Childhood Associate program at Vance-Granville Community College, holds copies of The Exceptional Child, a text to which she contributed, and her new book, Early Childhood Special Education, the third book she has written to assist teachers in day care centers and Head Start programs. (VGCC Photo)
