• Lead fun, educational activities for preschool kids in an on-site child care center

• Prepare a portfolio of sample curriculum and lesson plans for K-12 learners

• Monitor and enhance a child’s intellectual, social, emotional and physical development

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Teachers shape the future one child at a time. In our Teacher Education program, students study how teachers create and manage healthy learning environments for pre-K and K-12 children. As they explore a variety of careers in education, students practice the following skills:

• Developing then delivering curricula and lesson plans
• Supervising children and using positive reinforcement to guide their behavior
• Communicating with parents about children’s activities, interests and progress
• Planning and preparing nutritious, age-appropriate meals and snacks
• Performing infant and child CPR, as well as providing pediatric first aid
• Implementing infection control and illness prevention policies by sanitizing toys, etc.

After studying the developmental characteristics of children at various ages, students team up to draft daily lesson plans based on short- and long-term curriculum goals. Under the supervision of staff, they present their lessons to preschool students at LCTI’s on-site child care center, World of Imagination. Lesson activities may range from story time and sing-alongs to puppet shows and science experiments.

Students learn how to observe, record and analyze children’s behavior, a habit that can help educators improve the effectiveness of their lessons, for example, or identify developmental problems. Passing a physical, obtaining federal and state clearances for working with children and securing letters of recommendation are required for the program.

Industry Credentials

Teacher Education students can earn the following certifications and credentials in high school:

• Child Development Associate-Ready Certificate
• Infant and Child CPR Certification via American Red Cross
• OSHA Certification via CareerSafe®
• Pediatric First Aid Certification via American Academy of Pediatrics
• Pennsylvania Skills Certificate via NOCTI®

College Credits

The following schools have articulation agreements with LCTI that allow Teacher Education students to earn college credit for work they complete in high school:

• Lehigh Carbon Community College

Career Pathways

with industry credentials:

• Family child care provider
• Child care assistant group supervisor
• Nanny

with associate degree:

• Child care center director
• Preschool teacher
• Teacher’s assistant

with bachelor’s degree:

• Elementary school teacher
• Preschool director
• Special education teacher