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0:0:0.0 --> 0:0:29.570 Chonda Walden …Implementation manager and Abena Ocran- Jackson, vice president of credentialing and today's conversation, will be led by our new team member Andrew Davis. Now, Andrew is not only our Chief Operating Officer, but he's also a champion for education. The importance of winning educational attainment resonates within him. For Andrew has an ardent zeal that fuels his passion for ensuring a quality workforce for our field. 0:0:30.110 --> 0:0:32.830 Chonda Walden Now, as the CEO, Andrew. 0:0:33.730 --> 0:0:34.350 Chonda Walden What's wrong? 0:0:34.630 --> 0:0:35.320 Andrew Davis No. 0:0:35.430 --> 0:0:35.690 Andrew Davis He's. 0:0:35.770 --> 0:0:36.20 Andrew Davis Just. 0:0:34.620 --> 0:0:36.430 Larissa Norris Ohh, he was he was being silly. 0:0:36.430 --> 0:0:37.40 Chonda Walden Ohh. 0:0:38.900 --> 0:1:9.410 Chonda Walden Andrew's responsible for the programs division, which includes operational functions of credentialing, growth and business development, marketing and communications, public policy and advocacy, research, innovation and customer relations. Now with such a Herculean task, it makes sense that he'd wanna spend time with you all to deepen the understanding of what fuels you, what challenges you and what inspires you to continue your support of the CDA. 0:1:9.810 --> 0:1:19.590 Chonda Walden And we invite you too. Thank you. And we have invited you to our Virtual roundtable for some party dialogue with Andrew. And at this point, I'll turn it over to him. 0:1:20.780 --> 0:1:35.80 Andrew Davis Thank you so much, chonda and good morning everyone. Thank you all. I I'm really curious about where everyone is physically located. I myself am in the state of Illinois. 0:1:36.80 --> 0:1:53.170 Andrew Davis I am have been here for the last 11-12 years or so and before that I was in the Washington DC area and so doctor Gundling, I think I am very early in in my career used to calling you my days while I was with Kaplan early Learning Company and. 0:1:54.300 --> 0:2:23.610 Andrew Davis So so it it's it's good to see so many of you represented here. So in the moment, I'm gonna kind of turn it over to to you to to get some ideas of where you are physically, but a quick background of myself. I'm coming to the Council for most recently serving as the Senior Vice President of partnerships engagement with Acelero Learning and Shine Early Learning where we did a lot of work specifically around supporting Head start programs but. 0:2:24.250 --> 0:2:28.40 Andrew Davis More recently, in statewide training technical assistance systems. 0:2:29.550 --> 0:2:54.940 Andrew Davis One in state of Indiana, just most recently in Wisconsin and some other communities, the city of Philadelphia as well. And prior to that, I was with Follett early learning Stablished Follett School solutions and their department of early Learning. And as I said before, Doctor Gundling I was with Kapler Learning Company, which interestingly was a chance. 0:2:56.300 --> 0:3:30.10 Andrew Davis Job offer that that took me down the path of of learning, about being connected to the early childhood education field, and it was incredibly beneficial and also coincided with when my daughter was being born. So I was learning as she was also growing and applying a lot of what I learned. And so the reason I wanted to get this opportunity today is because I'm just crossed my 60 day mark and I've been swimming in all kinds of things internal at the Council and learning about things. 0:3:30.300 --> 0:3:52.880 Andrew Davis From the from the inside and I know that that's always only part of the story, and So what I really wanted to do, and I'm asked, Sean, did her team to put together a group of our professional development specialists to share with me just some of your experiences. 0:3:53.960 --> 0:4:6.90 Andrew Davis And so I I guess I want to start by just asking where everyone is physically located and maybe how many years you've been serving in the role of as of PDS? 0:4:30.870 --> 0:4:31.590 Larissa Norris Yeah. 0:4:9.210 --> 0:4:38.820 Paige Catt (Guest) Well, I'll start. I knew I'd be asked that question. I should have looked back and and and looked that up. I'm not sure myself five or six years I've been PD specialist. I live. I'm Paige. Cat and I live in northeast Arkansas. Corning, Arkansas. And I'm. I met Larissa at the Head Start Conference this year and we got to talk. And and I have to say that Larissa helped me when all the computers are being redone. I was in the middle of several visits and. 0:4:39.160 --> 0:5:5.90 Paige Catt (Guest) I thought I was going to pull my hair out, but thanks to her I didn't and I'm still here so I have lots of stories I can tell, but I'm a 30 year educator. I taught kindergarten 2nd grade for 30 years in the coding school district. So I've I retired a few years ago and so this has kept me busy and I really enjoyed. I love being in the head start centers. When you said the head start head start is my passion. 0:5:5.720 --> 0:5:29.860 Andrew Davis Yeah, I Umm, it's interesting. I spent a lot of time in Arkansas in two communities. One was in Pine Bluff helping to when that hits our program was failing and trying to write a grant to help rebuild that one. And the other one was the program that saved the children was doing. And there was based in Dardanelle. 0:5:40.180 --> 0:5:40.950 Paige Catt (Guest) How? Gosh. 0:5:30.900 --> 0:5:49.570 Andrew Davis Is well, so like that whole 9 county region as well. So I spent at least a good six months where I feel like I lived in Little Rock and went like zigzag place to place. So Arkansas is a special place to me. So thanks for Paige for. 0:5:51.0 --> 0:5:51.670 Andrew Davis I know. 0:5:49.270 --> 0:5:56.660 Paige Catt (Guest) Should have come up the northeast Arkansas. We would have shut down and basically that's what I do. The head start centers in a four or five county region. 0:5:57.250 --> 0:5:58.580 Andrew Davis Great. Thank you. 0:6:0.420 --> 0:6:0.890 Andrew Davis Who's next? 0:6:0.800 --> 0:6:21.850 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) So I'm happy to go next. I'm Robert gundling. I'm the cofounder and President and CEO of Better Futures. Were a early childhood consulting service, integrating my background in early childhood education with my business partners, background in business, finance, lending. 0:6:22.600 --> 0:6:42.730 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) And we are on a mission to disrupt the early childhood landscapes so that it is never referred to as a fragile industry, but is a vibrant, robust business industry contributing significantly to. 0:6:44.30 --> 0:6:46.820 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) The local, regional and national economy. 0:6:47.710 --> 0:6:51.610 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Umm, so Andrew. So I've been a PD specialist. 0:6:55.220 --> 0:6:55.560 Andrew Davis You know. 0:6:53.370 --> 0:7:4.960 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I don't remember years. So Paige, hats off to you. Since it's inception, my work primarily has been and is in Washington DC where. 0:7:7.470 --> 0:7:14.640 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Most recently, I served as the President of the NAEYC affiliate in Washington. 0:7:16.650 --> 0:7:18.440 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) DC yeah. 0:7:19.500 --> 0:7:19.890 Andrew Davis Thank you. 0:7:19.800 --> 0:7:20.470 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Where? 0:7:22.270 --> 0:7:29.970 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) We're about to give a one time supplemental payment, so all of you in the rest of the country might want to take note. 0:7:30.630 --> 0:7:42.40 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Where our assistant teachers are gonna receive a $10,000 no strings attached. One time supplemental payment. 0:7:42.810 --> 0:7:54.470 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Umm. And teachers will receive a $14,000 one time supplemental payment that is tied to a law in DC. 0:7:55.360 --> 0:8:22.360 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Where there will be $74 million starting, I believe it's 74 or 72 million starting next year non lapsing where we will get to the place where all early childhood education teachers in our city in the city will be at parity, that's compensation package, not salary, a whole package at parity with our public school system. 0:8:24.260 --> 0:8:34.560 Andrew Davis It's excellent, and no, it's a model that I know the rest of the country is is eager to figure out a way to to also support. So thanks. Thank you, Robert. 0:8:35.870 --> 0:8:37.130 Andrew Davis Who would like to go next? 0:8:39.310 --> 0:8:40.380 Teresa McKay I can go next. 0:8:41.660 --> 0:9:10.870 Teresa McKay My name is Doctor Theresa McKay. I wear many hats in the field. I've been a PD specialist since before we were called, PD specialists, so a very long time, probably since the late 90s, early 2000s, I think. And I currently work for three higher Ed institutions, all three of which have CDA components to them. 0:9:11.690 --> 0:9:16.760 Teresa McKay I also have my own training and consulting business on the side. 0:9:17.980 --> 0:9:28.910 Teresa McKay And maybe venturing back into the classroom soon, there is a teacher shortage here in Florida, so. 0:9:29.900 --> 0:9:36.800 Teresa McKay Yeah, it's been a hot minute since I've been in the classroom. But you know what? If there's a need, then I'm gonna follow. So. 0:9:37.630 --> 0:9:38.780 Teresa McKay We'll see how that goes. 0:9:39.300 --> 0:9:41.0 Andrew Davis And and what part of Florida are you in? 0:9:41.290 --> 0:9:47.20 Teresa McKay I'm in central. I'm in Winter Haven. I'm like smack dab in between Orlando and Tampa. 0:9:47.540 --> 0:9:58.990 Andrew Davis Oh, great. OK. Yeah, I I in one of my roles, I spent some time as an interim executive director of of the LSF. 0:10:0.230 --> 0:10:1.140 Teresa McKay Oh yeah. 0:10:8.30 --> 0:10:8.740 Teresa McKay Yeah. 0:10:0.330 --> 0:10:9.120 Andrew Davis Programmed in Florida so there was based in Tampa or Tampa. So the Hillsboro, the Pinellas. 0:10:13.950 --> 0:10:14.700 Teresa McKay Oh wow. 0:10:24.850 --> 0:10:25.490 Teresa McKay Yep. 0:10:27.340 --> 0:10:27.730 Teresa McKay Thanks. 0:10:9.820 --> 0:10:30.850 Andrew Davis It was Deval, and then also West Palm Beach. So it got to do the little triangle and Florida in in an interesting place. It's like evolution and revolution while like the rest of the country is also kinda like running to catch up. So I'm glad to have your perspective here. OK. So we've got three other PD specialists. 0:10:32.30 --> 0:10:33.380 Andrew Davis Who would like to go next? 0:10:36.430 --> 0:10:37.850 Marjorie (Guest) I think ohh goes. 0:10:36.530 --> 0:10:39.200 Washington, Salina I will. Hi. Ohh, I'm sorry. 0:10:40.850 --> 0:10:49.360 Washington, Salina Hello, my name is Selena Washington. I am here in a little small town of Wetumpka, AL, and. 0:10:50.480 --> 0:10:51.110 Washington, Salina Do you? 0:10:48.550 --> 0:11:0.960 Andrew Davis No, exactly where we're touka is, in fact, yes, I do. And I I there there was a man that there was a a friend of mine who was actually on the City Council. 0:11:2.570 --> 0:11:12.960 Andrew Davis And with Tonka, because I was down there working with the HISAR programs, we done the one in Selma and then the one that was going to in Montgomery with. 0:11:14.650 --> 0:11:32.670 Andrew Davis Doctor Walter White and I, we we were. He was helping me do that. But this the county seat. So the program was headquartered in which Unka. And anyway Long story short, I got to spend a lot of time on we talking so an exactly where you're wrong is such. 0:11:31.380 --> 0:11:35.140 Washington, Salina A lot of people don't know about us. What's your friend's name? That was on the Council. 0:11:35.230 --> 0:11:36.620 Andrew Davis He did passed away. 0:11:36.700 --> 0:11:37.230 Andrew Davis Umm. 0:11:38.670 --> 0:11:40.500 Andrew Davis His first name was. 0:11:43.310 --> 0:11:43.800 Washington, Salina Percy. 0:11:42.840 --> 0:11:44.30 Andrew Davis Season. 0:11:44.570 --> 0:11:44.910 Washington, Salina Murphy. 0:11:45.650 --> 0:11:47.670 Washington, Salina Healthy give healthy girl. 0:11:45.460 --> 0:11:53.110 Andrew Davis Percy. Percy. Thank you. Yeah. Percy, man. Percy was what took me around, and I didn't even know he passed away. So it was. 0:11:54.370 --> 0:11:56.860 Andrew Davis Great, great guy, yeah. 0:11:52.900 --> 0:11:57.180 Washington, Salina Yeah, very, very young, very sudden. He was a church member of my. 0:11:57.560 --> 0:11:59.10 Andrew Davis Ohh but. 0:11:58.630 --> 0:12:0.0 Paige Catt (Guest) That's amazing. 0:12:0.300 --> 0:12:0.600 Washington, Salina Yes. 0:12:0.200 --> 0:12:3.750 Andrew Davis Yes, what small world? Small world. But sorry, continue please. 0:12:2.600 --> 0:12:8.490 Washington, Salina Ohh yeah, very very small. That's interesting. Yes, but. 0:12:9.550 --> 0:12:32.60 Washington, Salina I am like I said, if you're in with Trumpet, Alabama and we are trying to get Alabama on a better connection with the Council and I recently, previously I was the birth to five developmental coordinator for the Alabama State Department of Early Childhood Education, and I also have a trainee in consulting business. 0:12:32.140 --> 0:12:52.810 Washington, Salina Uh, myself, but I recently moved over into a new position and they have created position as the CDA support specialist, so that is my entire job. Now it's being a support for CDA candidates. I am the only one that we have in the state but. 0:12:53.750 --> 0:13:8.450 Washington, Salina So I'm serving the entire state in the Council has been a tremendous help. I am so thankful to Don Owens and Chonda Walden because they have really helped me transition into my new position and. 0:13:9.470 --> 0:13:19.70 Washington, Salina Basically, ohh you did ask about the. I can go on and on Andrew. I thought talking and won't stop. I think I've been on specialist about 4-5 years. 0:13:19.840 --> 0:13:49.30 Washington, Salina But I received my CDA over 20 years ago and I've been excited about moving into this new position because it's not just a job for me, it's personal. It's personal. For me, this is my life. What I'm helping these candidates do is my life. I started out 20 something years ago and got my CDA and then my associate degree and then my back with them. My masters, my EDS and I am one year away from having my doctor so. 0:13:48.870 --> 0:13:51.110 Andrew Davis Ohh. Fantastic. Congratulations. 0:13:49.890 --> 0:13:58.390 Washington, Salina Properly. Look, I'm speaking that one year. So that's my my expected graduation date and fall of next year, so. 0:13:59.290 --> 0:14:20.830 Washington, Salina I I'm speaking that I'm gonna stay on track with that. So with encouraging these candidates and being out supporting them and helping them to reach their goal of getting their CDA, like I said, it's it's personal for me. It's not just a job and I enjoy every moment of it and so thankful for the support that I have received from the Council. 0:14:22.520 --> 0:14:22.810 Andrew Davis But. 0:14:22.10 --> 0:14:24.280 Washington, Salina I think I answered your questions. I don't know. 0:14:23.450 --> 0:14:31.560 Andrew Davis No, you certainly did. Thank you so much. Thank you so much, Marjorie. No, no, no pressure for you to to be from a place that I've heard of. We've been to so. 0:14:32.600 --> 0:14:34.370 Andrew Davis It's it's alright if you're. 0:14:34.770 --> 0:14:46.590 Marjorie (Guest) No, it's OK. So I'm Marjorie in Massachusetts. I've been. I'm the baby, I think, cause I've been a city, a special PDS specialist for two years only. So. 0:14:48.310 --> 0:15:17.420 Marjorie (Guest) Have lots to learn here, but I am a family daycare provider for four years now. I came from Brazil, so I was a teacher there. Kindergarten and 1st grade teacher for a while and then moving here. I started with the CDA because someone told me it would be a good thing and I loved it and everything happened. I love being a PDS. It kind of happened because I really enjoyed. 0:15:37.350 --> 0:15:38.170 Andrew Davis That's awesome. 0:15:17.500 --> 0:15:48.760 Marjorie (Guest) I hope process while I was taking my CDA and yes, I'm still learning. But that's like I I stay in my family daycare most of the time and whenever I get a call, when I go for a visit is the highlight of my week because I love doing it. It's very exciting and because I speak Portuguese, there is a huge demand for Portuguese speakers in Massachusetts, so I I get to see a lot of Brazilian people or Portuguese people here too. 0:15:49.380 --> 0:15:54.970 Andrew Davis That's fantastic. Thank you so much, Marjorie. And and I feel like we have another. 0:15:55.520 --> 0:15:56.90 Marjorie (Guest) Sorry. 0:15:55.860 --> 0:15:57.590 Andrew Davis Umm. Is it symbolic? 0:16:1.500 --> 0:16:3.120 Chonda Walden Yes, that is sebawit. 0:16:2.650 --> 0:16:6.480 Sebawit Yirsaw Ohhh yeah. Good evening everyone. And I'm gonna be first. 0:16:6.820 --> 0:16:8.690 Sebawit Yirsaw Uh, can you hear me? 0:16:8.920 --> 0:16:9.460 Andrew Davis Yes. 0:16:12.60 --> 0:16:12.730 Andrew Davis Yes, we can. 0:16:10.910 --> 0:16:25.390 Sebawit Yirsaw Hello. Yeah. Good evening everyone. My apologies for joining late. I'm originally from Ethiopia. I live in DC and right now I'm in vacation and Ethiopia and I'm joining this meeting from Ethiopia. 0:16:26.510 --> 0:16:27.150 Andrew Davis Ohh. 0:16:26.630 --> 0:16:38.0 Sebawit Yirsaw To be specific, I'm just accompanying my sister to Italy, so I'm just traveling to the airport right now, but I just didn't want to miss this meeting so I just. 0:16:38.650 --> 0:16:44.150 Sebawit Yirsaw Join you. So first of all I would like to thank Chonda and Larissa for just. 0:16:45.660 --> 0:16:50.670 Sebawit Yirsaw Are giving me this opportunity to join this uh meeting with this, with all of you great people. 0:16:52.30 --> 0:16:56.270 Sebawit Yirsaw I have been PDS for the last five years, since 2018. I'm. 0:16:57.370 --> 0:17:6.610 Sebawit Yirsaw Other CD instructor for the Amharic CDA I actually worked with Tony and. 0:17:8.150 --> 0:17:39.660 Sebawit Yirsaw And I have just designed and instruct the MRI CD. I've been a PDS and I wear different hats in the ECE field. Right now I'm working as a quality facilitator for her living in the sheets, Captain quality and with QRS and I I'm still a PD specialist, proud to be PD specialist. I have my CD. I earned my CDA over 10 years ago and I start my career in the. 0:17:39.770 --> 0:18:7.990 Sebawit Yirsaw Field by getting first my CDA in infant and taller. So I'm so grateful for the Council for the support that the been provided to me, to the Amharic speaking population lately, because the America CDA has been such a success for all of us and I'm here just to hear and share my thoughts with you. Thank you very much. 0:18:8.950 --> 0:18:17.680 Andrew Davis Thank you so much and I I feel like you know, really honored that there's so many different perspectives are being represented and and so many different parts of the country. 0:18:19.50 --> 0:18:23.980 Andrew Davis So on the just a quick check, what's the time that we have allotted for this just so I make sure. 0:18:24.880 --> 0:18:26.770 Chonda Walden 11 thirty 11:30. 0:18:26.230 --> 0:18:51.710 Andrew Davis OK, great. OK, thanks. So. So the first question I'd like to ask and you know I I know there, there, there are a lot of us on. So you think in terms of how we step forward and offer your perspectives or think about like where we need to to step back. But I really want to be able to hear as richly as possible from from all of you. 0:18:52.870 --> 0:19:17.0 Andrew Davis The first question might take a moment for you to to pause and think about, but I appreciate all the words that you all have said about you know how the Council's been helpful and supportive to you. If you had to answer this question, how would you go about it? What is, what do you wish the Council understood about your role as a PD specialist? 0:19:23.400 --> 0:19:24.140 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Well, Andrew. 0:19:25.250 --> 0:19:26.770 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) True to the work I do. 0:19:29.410 --> 0:19:34.840 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I would wish the Council would look at the reimbursement rate given. 0:19:35.880 --> 0:19:39.420 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) What has transpired and where we are currently? 0:19:40.410 --> 0:19:40.960 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Umm. 0:19:41.870 --> 0:19:44.10 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) As a result of the pandemic. 0:19:46.330 --> 0:19:50.720 Andrew Davis Can can you can you say more about that cause 'cause? I feel like there is. 0:19:52.220 --> 0:20:0.520 Andrew Davis There is a number of factors like you've got gas prices, they're going up, you've got a pandemic. But then you also kind of have like. 0:20:1.370 --> 0:20:10.750 Andrew Davis Historically, it's like been said, so there's just general like inflation. So, so can you, can you say more about what? 0:20:12.320 --> 0:20:13.70 Andrew Davis What? What? 0:20:14.680 --> 0:20:23.10 Andrew Davis What would we factor in in thinking about that and and do you think is there a right in your mind that you think is actually appropriate that was as that directly? 0:20:27.870 --> 0:20:28.780 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) So. 0:20:30.520 --> 0:20:31.40 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Because. 0:20:32.500 --> 0:20:34.50 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Because of my background and. 0:20:38.840 --> 0:20:39.140 Andrew Davis Or. 0:20:34.800 --> 0:20:43.30 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I don't have access to all of the information financial information to me to respond to the question. 0:20:44.150 --> 0:20:50.420 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) From my perspective, what you mentioned, yeah, the price of gas has gone up. 0:20:51.270 --> 0:20:51.870 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Umm. 0:20:52.820 --> 0:20:53.550 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) The. 0:20:57.20 --> 0:20:58.880 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I found over the years. 0:21:0.260 --> 0:21:2.10 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Which I'm happy to do. 0:21:4.470 --> 0:21:7.510 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I've had to invest my own time. 0:21:9.640 --> 0:21:15.880 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) In supporting the candidates through the process, realizing that once. 0:21:17.360 --> 0:21:19.890 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I accept to do the visit. 0:21:20.930 --> 0:21:28.600 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I am clear that was part of the original to me responsibility. I become an agent of a of the Council. 0:21:29.310 --> 0:21:29.890 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Umm. 0:21:31.170 --> 0:21:38.190 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) So. So that would be one thing that I respect and honor that. 0:21:39.630 --> 0:21:43.60 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Would not have, I believed, impossible to think about. 0:21:43.840 --> 0:21:45.790 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) When when the system. 0:21:46.560 --> 0:21:47.190 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Was. 0:21:49.520 --> 0:21:50.430 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Launched. 0:21:54.880 --> 0:21:55.640 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Yeah, I mean. 0:21:57.600 --> 0:21:59.770 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Cost of I mean running. 0:22:3.800 --> 0:22:12.440 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) For the for the virtual visit and running off the, the copying of the scoring instrument, and so I think. 0:22:13.740 --> 0:22:16.810 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) To me, just the Council looking at. 0:22:17.490 --> 0:22:20.560 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Or conducting a survey to find out. 0:22:21.200 --> 0:22:30.980 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) From PD specialists, what are real costs that they're incurring and if possible to give an estimate of what that cost? 0:22:31.760 --> 0:22:32.380 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Would be. 0:22:33.660 --> 0:22:34.150 Washington, Salina Robert. 0:22:32.990 --> 0:22:37.640 Andrew Davis Thanks, Robert. Would everyone else, first of all agree with that universally? 0:22:38.630 --> 0:22:39.580 Andrew Davis Yeah, right. 0:22:38.460 --> 0:23:11.510 Washington, Salina Yes, I was just about to piggyback off of Robin and say, Robert, I can help you out a little bit. I I have recently since I moved over, I'm stepping back from actually doing the observations myself because I'm giving so much support with assisting the candidates with the process of a lot of them dragged their feet when it comes to their portfolio, you know, and a lot of them are are locked when it comes to moving around the Council's website and they're calling for assistance. So. 0:23:11.650 --> 0:23:30.820 Washington, Salina I backed away from actually being the one that do that probation, but we have a shortage of PB facialists in Alabama, and so we have what I'm hearing from a lot of I have a group of coaches that all became PE specialists. And what I'm really hearing now is we have, especially when it's in rural areas. 0:23:32.460 --> 0:23:59.240 Washington, Salina Because they actually work for the State Department, they're having two. They can't be on the clock when they go out to do the visit. So they're having to clock out to go and do the visit. Well, if they're driving an hour away to go do the visa, you know, it's kind of not really worth them clocking out. So, you know, so it it's a struggle when I have a lot of my child care center calling saying, well, we we're trying to find expensive trying to find someone in the area, and I'm working so closely with him. I can't do the visit. So. 0:24:0.70 --> 0:24:1.190 Washington, Salina Yeah, those things. 0:24:1.920 --> 0:24:3.650 Washington, Salina Are definitely a factor. 0:24:4.790 --> 0:24:5.300 Andrew Davis Thank you. 0:24:4.950 --> 0:24:8.120 Washington, Salina Which one of my things I already had on my list for you. 0:24:9.530 --> 0:24:12.180 Marjorie (Guest) I want to jump in on the the price. 0:24:13.460 --> 0:24:44.10 Marjorie (Guest) Conversation because, for example, to have an assistant to stay at my daycare for me to be able to do the visits, I pay anywhere from $130 to 170, and I'm talking about a person that probably don't have a degree. I'm talking about a person that only has the state license to be in my daycare, so she wins $130 if she has no qualification, just the license. 0:25:7.230 --> 0:25:8.220 Andrew Davis Already losing. 0:24:45.50 --> 0:25:14.460 Marjorie (Guest) So I pay more for her than to do the job that I'm qualified to do, and if I get someone that has has a better license, which is a license for 10 kids and potentially CDA sometimes not, but just the license for 10 kids, I have to pray anywhere from 150 to $170 per day. So right there, it's out of my pocket. A big part of that, right. The other thing about the the costs, when I do. 0:25:14.550 --> 0:25:44.620 Marjorie (Guest) Bilingual or monolingual for Portuguese, for instance, I do the the paper test. I get paid $50.00 for that. And I'm I'm speaking 2 languages, reading a task for two hours and I'm getting $50. The person that is translating for the candidates that I'm seeing now is getting $150 for two hours with a discount price. So that's like huge to see. I know part of this job is. 0:25:45.210 --> 0:26:7.250 Marjorie (Guest) Volunteer right cause it's state when we apply to be a pity specialist cause it's a symbolic payment. It's not what we are worth. But even though when you think you're candidates paying $150 for someone to just like to move to travel where they are entrance late and you are getting a third of that. 0:26:8.450 --> 0:26:26.890 Marjorie (Guest) To get ready all the responsibility with the test that you were administrating and the the procedures from the Council and sending it and all those little things that are counting as a responsibility, I feel like I have so much more responsibility. And yet it's a very symbolic price. 0:26:27.800 --> 0:26:33.920 Andrew Davis Mark Martin, can I say sorry, sorry. Let me not cut you off because I you. You were. You had another. 0:26:33.360 --> 0:26:59.350 Marjorie (Guest) Ohh no no I I wanna complete my thought with regards to the the test exam with. It's a little out of topic but the paper test is made. The candidates are supposed to answer with pencil. So this I think is a huge problem. I just had a candidate reaching out to me because she was denied the credential. 0:26:59.700 --> 0:27:28.200 Marjorie (Guest) And she is trying to find why and the first thought that pops in my mind, this candidate's upset. Right? Because she didn't make it. And how can I prove that I didn't touch her test if it's made out of pencil, cause like, I could easily wanted to make this candidate. No, it's not my who I am. But like, if I have a personal situation during the visit, for example, and I wanna to conduct this in a. 0:27:29.70 --> 0:27:59.360 Marjorie (Guest) And professional way. How can I prove myself that I remain professional and didn't do anything you know? Because she's questioning me. Coming back to me, I know she's supposed to reraise my number from her phone after we have the visit and everything, but of course she's not gonna do it. So now she's coming back to me and asking me what happened. Cause at the visit I had a good report and now I I was denied and I saw that she didn't succeed at the the paper test. It was. 0:27:59.820 --> 0:28:11.50 Marjorie (Guest) A big failure, but I couldn't tell that to her during the test, so I had to remain like blank face. Everything's good, but I knew she wouldn't pass. 0:28:11.750 --> 0:28:17.950 Marjorie (Guest) And then I was like, Oh my gosh, what about if she comes with the pencil situation? Because this is a big. 0:28:18.760 --> 0:28:22.340 Marjorie (Guest) Thing that I I I think it's a big thing that has to be revealed. 0:28:23.420 --> 0:28:38.940 Andrew Davis Thank you. So so let me let me make sure I'm I'm recapping what I've heard so far. So the first one, there's a universal acceptance that you all would wish that we understood more about the challenges with the current reimbursement rate. 0:28:40.140 --> 0:29:5.670 Andrew Davis What's clear is that there you are all doing this, clearly beyond what you're being compensated for, and it's because of your commitment to the work that it is not an even bigger problem for you. But that's not to say it's not a problem. So there are all of all of you are doing this because of your commitment to the field and your work, and there is. 0:29:5.930 --> 0:29:12.700 Andrew Davis Yeah. So while it's symbolic, there should be a higher level of. 0:29:13.690 --> 0:29:45.460 Andrew Davis Symbolic exchange like let's say there and I'll. I'll tell you. All right, now that it is definitely one of the priority projects for us that we're doing, it is a very real time thing. And I think everyone from the Council who is on the call right now is involved in that process and and we are. So we're trying to get it right. We we don't want to, you know go from like 100 to 110 and and you know try to then start like screaming from the hills that we did something well we actually wanna really make. 0:29:45.640 --> 0:29:58.270 Andrew Davis Make it meaningful and significant to to offset imbalance. The commitment that you all are actually giving. There is one question I wanna I wanna come back to Marjorie's second point, but there is one question I want to ask you all. 0:30:0.490 --> 0:30:6.570 Andrew Davis Do just by quick show of hands. Do all of you know other PD specialists? Yes. 0:30:8.440 --> 0:30:10.710 Andrew Davis Would would you say, would you say that? 0:30:12.560 --> 0:30:44.960 Andrew Davis Of the PD specialists you know is the level of commitment and effort that you give to this work consistent with what you see with others or do you feel that you represent a different level or is somewhat higher level of commitment based on the the other PD specialist that you have seen or do you feel like it's a fairly consistent level where everyone who's doing this work is doing it at the same level with the same level of accountability? 0:30:49.920 --> 0:30:57.990 Washington, Salina I guess I can't really give a direct answer on that because within my role at the department, like I said, we have several coaches that. 0:30:59.260 --> 0:31:14.790 Washington, Salina With the Child Support, the CDA candidates in the state, but this position being created, we also have I'm the only CDA support specialist, but we have some of our coaches that go out and coaching classrooms that have become specialists and. 0:31:16.230 --> 0:31:20.680 Washington, Salina So they can't really. Some of them would like to. 0:31:21.300 --> 0:31:28.310 Washington, Salina Umm do it as maybe an extra source of income, but they really can't because. 0:31:29.260 --> 0:31:31.930 Washington, Salina Most of them are. Just choose. You just do it on the clock. 0:31:33.590 --> 0:31:33.980 Andrew Davis Baba. 0:31:33.290 --> 0:31:37.790 Washington, Salina There and not get paid, not get paid by the Council. So I'll be out to get paid by the Council. 0:31:38.770 --> 0:31:39.450 Teresa McKay And I wanna. 0:31:38.480 --> 0:31:40.830 Andrew Davis Page or Teresa? Yeah, yeah. 0:31:40.450 --> 0:31:47.60 Teresa McKay Oh, sorry, and I just want to add to that that you know of the ones that I'm aware of here in Florida. 0:31:48.240 --> 0:31:52.740 Teresa McKay We tend to have an issue with those that don't follow the rules that. 0:31:54.390 --> 0:32:23.850 Teresa McKay Are not doing what they have been contracted to do and I hear this from my CDA students as well that they are so disappointed in the the PD specialists once they've selected them and and have worked with them now, haven't dealt with in my career. I've only had one person not receive their CDA and that was another case like Marjorie was talking about. She just didn't. 0:32:23.940 --> 0:32:26.710 Teresa McKay Do well, but you know, I feel like. 0:32:27.820 --> 0:32:30.880 Teresa McKay For those who are are super into. 0:32:31.970 --> 0:33:3.20 Teresa McKay The importance of the CDA, and there the importance of the having it, they are, by and large, pretty disappointed in some of the CDA specialists that we have, our PD specialists that we have now that also being said, like for example, when we go to the conference and we meet with other PD specialists, that's the cream of the crop. Those are the people that come to that PDS symposium if they can. And so those people that I know and and work with their. 0:33:3.120 --> 0:33:11.760 Teresa McKay They're like us. They're on the same level. So I would say it's probably, you know, just a crapshoot in all honesty, is to who's who's being. 0:33:12.410 --> 0:33:14.290 Teresa McKay You know who's on our level and who's not. 0:33:16.180 --> 0:33:26.890 Andrew Davis Paige and said away. I want. I want to kind of like, first of all, get your thoughts about what's been said already, but I'll also see if you have any additional thoughts around this, this. 0:33:28.10 --> 0:33:33.980 Andrew Davis This question of you know what do you wish the Council understood about what you do so, Paige? 0:33:34.900 --> 0:33:35.200 Andrew Davis Yeah. 0:33:34.660 --> 0:33:54.830 Paige Catt (Guest) Well, I'm in a I guess you'd say unique situation because I teach the CDA class Another lady and I work together. You know, if I can't do it, she will do it. And so we bark piggyback back and forth. And you know, she does a great job. And, you know, I've learned from her. And so I can't say that, you know, she doesn't have the. 0:33:55.650 --> 0:34:13.240 Paige Catt (Guest) What I what I want to do but but uh. But right now she is not able to work and so it's just me. But you know what I've seen, you know? Again, it's just been she and I. So that's that's kind of tough question to ask or for me to answer but. 0:34:13.320 --> 0:34:13.580 Paige Catt (Guest) Them. 0:34:15.580 --> 0:34:43.890 Paige Catt (Guest) You know, I I see a lot of these people having trouble just getting registered to, to take the test. I mean, to to to to get a verification visit. And I've spent hours. It seems, you know, just helping them get registered. Just trying to get everything their ducks in a row, everything just to to get the city a visit. You know, the visit done. So, you know, I can put in hours before I even travel an hour or two to get. 0:34:44.100 --> 0:34:47.250 Paige Catt (Guest) To where I'm going. And then you come home and. 0:34:48.390 --> 0:35:6.620 Paige Catt (Guest) It I'll spend hours filling out the the verification the the results sheet I mean cause I can't stand, you know, just a few words just to leave a few things done. Done. I want to. I just have to get in there and so I could probably spend four or five hours on one student easily. 0:35:8.250 --> 0:35:26.80 Andrew Davis That that's very, very helpful. So so. So if I had to summarize what I'm hearing from you, Paige, you you would say you, you wish and you would want the Council to know that the time that is spent is much greater than the visit. 0:35:37.590 --> 0:35:38.350 Paige Catt (Guest) Absolutely. 0:35:26.820 --> 0:35:47.600 Andrew Davis The travel to the visit is it's inclusive of the registration process and any type of support from the time you're selected as the PD specialist for that candidate, including the final. And in that four to five hour range. Would you all agree that that's. 0:35:48.920 --> 0:35:54.410 Andrew Davis That's relatively accurate for all of you in terms of the amount of time that you spend per candidate. 0:35:56.340 --> 0:36:21.870 Paige Catt (Guest) I mean, from the time I get there, e-mail that they've selected me. You know, I had to find out where they're from, you know, talk to them. I mean, it's just it's all the little things and, you know, just the computer to try to get through, to try to get registered. It's not easy. And especially if you're teaching school and you have are teaching preschool and you have 10 minutes here and 10 minutes there, you can't get it done in in a day. 0:36:22.290 --> 0:36:22.640 Andrew Davis Yeah. 0:36:22.620 --> 0:36:33.590 Paige Catt (Guest) It's and and then there uh center directors calling me. Well, can you help me with this? And, you know, of course I can. I'll. I'll try. But I mean spend I spend easily 4 hours. 0:36:35.900 --> 0:36:36.350 Andrew Davis Thank you. 0:36:35.930 --> 0:36:42.120 Washington, Salina Well, if it's way greater than that because you think about your visit on site, it's 4 hours. 0:36:43.260 --> 0:36:46.770 Washington, Salina That's for our process right there and then and then. 0:36:43.310 --> 0:36:51.70 Paige Catt (Guest) Well, that's true. That's true. I'm just thinking I'm just thinking travel there, coming back into paperwork. I. 0:36:53.260 --> 0:36:55.10 Paige Catt (Guest) Cut. It wasn't even. 0:36:48.980 --> 0:37:8.820 Washington, Salina Exactly when you're after you get home and you're doing your, your paperwork is lengthy. And like I said here in the state, when I'm working with specialists and trying to find a specialists, I just got an e-mail a moment ago from the regional director and the Birmingham area saying she has several candidates that need. 0:37:9.720 --> 0:37:10.200 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Mm-hmm. 0:37:9.150 --> 0:37:10.510 Paige Catt (Guest) Yeah, this this season. 0:37:9.550 --> 0:37:15.270 Washington, Salina To be observed, well, first of all I have to reach out and find a PV specialist in their area that. 0:37:15.350 --> 0:37:30.450 Washington, Salina Umm, there's gonna be able to go out and see him and most of the kind of reason why they're reaching out to me instead of the Council going on the website is because a lot of them are in rural areas and when you get in the rural areas like I tell you, have you have that travel time where you have to get there. 0:37:31.70 --> 0:37:34.320 Andrew Davis Yeah. So, so, so, so, so was it accurate to say? 0:37:32.80 --> 0:37:34.490 Paige Catt (Guest) I can't believe it. I I wasn't even considering. 0:37:35.280 --> 0:37:35.500 Paige Catt (Guest) And. 0:37:35.80 --> 0:37:39.90 Andrew Davis So is it accurate to say so? We're saying four to five in addition to the visit? 0:37:39.400 --> 0:37:40.470 Paige Catt (Guest) I absolutely. 0:37:40.830 --> 0:37:41.280 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Umm. 0:37:42.470 --> 0:37:43.430 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) So Andrew. 0:37:40.540 --> 0:37:44.70 Andrew Davis Right. OK. So so yeah. 0:37:44.550 --> 0:37:50.290 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Prior to the new system, the average rate in the DC metro area. 0:37:51.480 --> 0:37:51.960 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) That. 0:37:52.720 --> 0:37:56.710 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Observers were getting compensated at was $400. 0:37:58.370 --> 0:37:58.890 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) And. 0:37:59.690 --> 0:38:1.430 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) And and people. 0:38:2.280 --> 0:38:16.210 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Who we're going through the process didn't sneeze at it, so I'm not suggesting cause I understand and I support that. Part of the reason. 0:38:17.230 --> 0:38:22.120 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Structuring of this was to address that issue. 0:38:24.20 --> 0:38:33.90 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I think like anything else in early childhood education, cause we've yet to develop a national system. Anything is complex. 0:38:35.90 --> 0:38:39.580 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) But for example, in this area we have this. 0:38:40.210 --> 0:38:45.810 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) State and local government that is providing funding to pay the application fee. 0:38:46.220 --> 0:38:46.480 Andrew Davis Yeah. 0:38:46.730 --> 0:38:49.260 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I'm so it's not the candidate, so. 0:38:50.680 --> 0:38:50.980 Andrew Davis Yeah. 0:39:0.60 --> 0:39:0.310 Andrew Davis Yep. 0:38:50.680 --> 0:39:2.150 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) So baby, for some responsibility from the Council that to, if not already, initiate some conversation with those state departments about the rate. 0:39:3.780 --> 0:39:4.680 Andrew Davis That's a great point. 0:39:6.310 --> 0:39:25.300 Andrew Davis So. So in Subway I wanna give you a a chance. I know you're not on camera. I don't want you to be at a disadvantage. But if if you had a response to anything you wish that the Council understood about your work and role as a PDS and it's fine if you don't have anything you wanted to add. I just wanted to give you an opportunity to to weigh in if you did. 0:39:29.930 --> 0:39:41.340 Andrew Davis Nope. OK, I'm assuming you're you're. You're in your travels, so we'll, we'll we'll give you another opportunity later on. So. So one other question. Ohh yeah. Marjorie, go ahead. 0:39:43.710 --> 0:39:44.10 Andrew Davis Sure. 0:39:41.470 --> 0:39:53.960 Marjorie (Guest) I just want to bring one more thing because that's because of what happened this week. It came to me, the candidate that I'm talking about, look for me for directions on how she could. 0:39:56.480 --> 0:40:24.850 Marjorie (Guest) A contest the results. So that was another fine line for me, because of course the the orientation is really clear. If she thought that I was not professional in somehow like during the visit or during the test, she could contest. So the question for her was I don't think you did anything wrong. I just don't think this is fair, that they are denying the CDA. So I was in a very complicated situation. I didn't know how to deal with that. 0:40:24.960 --> 0:40:57.130 Marjorie (Guest) Because they told her well, you can write a letter and explain what you think is going wrong, that you don't agree with. But I don't know how to help you cause this is my work in your work. So I wish there was something more clear about. Like what number to call. Maybe have, like, a person to help you through the process when you have a situation like that. Cause even like giving her some clues for what, like she could do? She could like how she could write this letter I was feeling like I was cheating on the Council. 0:41:20.110 --> 0:41:20.560 Andrew Davis Sure. 0:40:57.180 --> 0:41:22.360 Marjorie (Guest) Because I'm like, this is not my job. Speak against the Council's decision and at the same time, it's not my I I don't feel right of letting the candidate go away alone with this situation where she's really frustrated. So I was like, this is a very fine line and I don't wanna be in professional, but I also don't wanna be taking sides so that I think should be reviewed. 0:41:23.20 --> 0:41:40.230 Andrew Davis Thank Marjorie. And I just want to ask, is there anyone else that can either relate to have been put in a similar situation where you find yourself having to, you know, answer for things that feel like they're kind of, you know, out of bounds or have you found ways to like? 0:41:41.270 --> 0:41:45.760 Andrew Davis Set boundaries where you find yourself not in that situation, and I could imagine. 0:41:47.100 --> 0:41:58.720 Andrew Davis Experience and the years of doing this, you know, can can help. So it's just curious about have any of you have been kind of met with that situation or what advice you would have give Marjorie based on your experience? 0:41:59.240 --> 0:42:24.410 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) What has worked for me, Andrew almost from the I repeat multiple times during the visit that the Council has the sole responsibility for the final decision. I also repeat that when the visit is over, my responsibilities to the Council and and. 0:42:25.570 --> 0:42:37.730 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) When I've submitted all my information to the Council, I send every candidate an e-mail and I put that information in writing again. 0:42:38.910 --> 0:42:40.220 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I have found. 0:42:41.310 --> 0:42:42.120 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) As Marjorie. 0:42:43.560 --> 0:42:47.230 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Describe I've had a candidate call me and say well. 0:42:48.10 --> 0:42:49.180 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I didn't get it. 0:42:50.20 --> 0:43:1.790 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) And what I say to them is, so I I I wanna repeat to you that when the visit ended my responsibilities and. 0:43:4.240 --> 0:43:17.300 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I would suggest you call the Council customer service line cause they are the people who can best help you with your current issue and I've not had any candidate. 0:43:18.440 --> 0:43:20.840 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Push, push back from that. 0:43:24.270 --> 0:43:25.770 Andrew Davis Thank you. Thanks for sharing there, Robert. 0:43:27.500 --> 0:43:34.310 Andrew Davis OK, Marjorie, so I appreciate that feedback and it's captured and believe me bird and. 0:43:35.850 --> 0:44:3.260 Andrew Davis Part of the goal of this is figuring out where the ways that we can intervene, and I think on the on the theme of what are some of the challenges because as we talked about, you know reimbursement rate is 1, the knowing the amount of time that's being put into it is is another. But what would you say in general are some of the other just biggest challenges of. 0:44:4.500 --> 0:44:18.590 Andrew Davis Doing this work and it could be from, you know, some of them are environmental but but I guess specifically I'm looking for what are the things that you find as challenging in working with the Council as a part of that work? 0:44:21.180 --> 0:44:24.210 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Well, I want to first say and acknowledge. 0:44:24.900 --> 0:44:29.470 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Chandra and the staff at the Council. 0:44:30.230 --> 0:44:32.240 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Through through. 0:44:33.140 --> 0:44:42.370 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Abena, who I go back with have been outstanding. Larissa, providing the customer service so. 0:44:43.170 --> 0:44:45.410 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Some of the issues that. 0:44:46.200 --> 0:44:53.560 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) That I would that ioffer. I just wanted to frame it in that perspective the responsiveness is. 0:44:54.660 --> 0:45:6.100 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Up above what I expect the the the respect is a colleague above what what I expect. 0:45:6.920 --> 0:45:9.230 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Two issues for me. 0:45:11.10 --> 0:45:13.100 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Our number one, the technology. 0:45:14.60 --> 0:45:22.760 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) So for example, today I just got a notice of availability and I got 3 emails for the same person. 0:45:27.670 --> 0:45:36.680 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Larissa, without Larissa's support and and so sometimes, it makes me think, OK, because I'm in DC and. 0:45:37.730 --> 0:45:45.460 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I've had the historical relationship with the Council. I've been at the Council of the staff, knows who I am, I'm comfortable. 0:45:46.180 --> 0:45:58.390 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Having conversations with the Council, but what if I were a PD specialist and that were not my situation? What would this look like? So, so the technology. 0:45:58.750 --> 0:46:2.20 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I'm to me continues. 0:46:3.750 --> 0:46:4.200 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) To. 0:46:5.940 --> 0:46:9.550 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I still can't figure out my council at times. 0:46:10.170 --> 0:46:10.640 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Umm. 0:46:12.560 --> 0:46:17.630 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) And then secondly, and I own this one and it's about me. 0:46:18.190 --> 0:46:20.110 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Uh know about this and. 0:46:21.470 --> 0:46:23.560 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) It was an experience I had early on in. 0:46:24.430 --> 0:46:33.450 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Abena did a fabulous job at the World Forum helping me understand the board's decision to get rid of the gold standard. 0:46:35.540 --> 0:46:42.380 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) So I want to say I respect and I understand the decision. However, as an activist in early childhood education. 0:46:43.310 --> 0:46:46.920 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I believe the Council does have some responsibility. 0:46:48.310 --> 0:46:53.340 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) For the accountability of people who do the CDA training. 0:46:55.130 --> 0:46:57.230 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) And and I'll own that. 0:46:58.320 --> 0:47:2.230 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Early on in my work with the CDA. 0:47:3.190 --> 0:47:5.890 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) We had a program in DC. 0:47:8.190 --> 0:47:12.460 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Majority of teachers were non-english speaking. 0:47:14.440 --> 0:47:17.700 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) The owner spent $7000. 0:47:18.610 --> 0:47:23.860 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) For someone to come and train the entire staff and none of them got a CDA. 0:47:29.300 --> 0:47:29.630 Andrew Davis Yeah. 0:47:29.370 --> 0:47:33.990 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I'll just leave it there, because to this day, I. 0:47:35.580 --> 0:47:40.380 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I still struggle with words about how I feel about. 0:47:41.20 --> 0:47:41.420 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) That. 0:47:42.60 --> 0:48:2.800 Andrew Davis Yeah. So, so, so so two very, very big and important points. And Robert, I appreciate you laying the setting the table for us to talk about those two. I think let's start with the technology one and just wanna see like does that resonate for everyone else as well or they're challenges with the technology? 0:48:5.830 --> 0:48:6.380 Andrew Davis Yes. 0:48:7.180 --> 0:48:7.430 Paige Catt (Guest) Yeah. 0:48:8.370 --> 0:48:24.140 Andrew Davis Yeah, so, so I I uh, I appreciate the example of the very real time, one of the three emails that just came through. Are there other examples that that that you can share that are examples of the challenges? 0:48:24.520 --> 0:48:39.160 Marjorie (Guest) I think it's an absurd that the demographics information disappears once you accept it the the visit cause you need the phone you need the address and it's not there anymore. So how come we don't have that information through the process? 0:48:40.500 --> 0:48:41.30 Andrew Davis Got it. 0:48:41.310 --> 0:48:42.30 Paige Catt (Guest) That's a good one. 0:48:42.390 --> 0:48:51.70 Washington, Salina And one thing I kind of did Andrew was asked when I knew that I was gonna be participating in this round table asked. 0:48:52.900 --> 0:49:1.590 Washington, Salina Our PD specialist here in the States Canada, what their thoughts were for me to bring to the table and that was one of their. 0:49:2.370 --> 0:49:18.170 Washington, Salina Their comments about technology and sometimes things. One example one specialist told me that well, she actually was trying to. I don't know whether it was renew or or maybe she had expired and she was trying to come back and. 0:49:18.910 --> 0:49:22.130 Washington, Salina She said she was told she didn't qualify and then. 0:49:23.850 --> 0:49:33.510 Washington, Salina It was something dealing with, I guess, all of her paperwork didn't upload and so now she has to wait six months before she could reapply. 0:49:34.270 --> 0:49:34.890 Washington, Salina Ohm. 0:49:35.810 --> 0:49:39.940 Washington, Salina And that that's just been the thing, a few of them mentioned having problems with. 0:49:42.280 --> 0:49:43.790 Washington, Salina With technology, with the Council. 0:49:45.170 --> 0:50:2.700 Andrew Davis And before, I just wanna say hi, charvella. Thank you for joining. We we've been, I'm Andrew Davis, I'm the new Chief operating officer. We've done introductions and we're just trying to to, I'm trying to learn a little bit more about your, your world as a PD specialist. Where are you located physically sure about? 0:50:3.660 --> 0:50:9.920 Charvella McKaye I am in Ohio, Columbus. OH, and I apologize for being late. I was on a search committee and we just finished an interview. 0:50:10.100 --> 0:50:16.890 Andrew Davis Not a problem that that this is this is your gift to us. So we appreciate you you spending any time. So thank you. 0:50:18.360 --> 0:50:42.990 Andrew Davis OK, so so and thanks for those examples. Selena, are there are there others related to technology? And the question on the table right now Charvella is talking about what are some of the biggest challenges for being a PD specialist? And Robert shared that the technology is a challenge that was just trying to get examples of that from others experiences. So are there other technology issues that you all can? 0:50:44.920 --> 0:50:45.400 Paige Catt (Guest) It just. 0:50:44.750 --> 0:50:46.230 Andrew Davis Think of or yeah. 0:50:52.300 --> 0:50:53.680 Andrew Davis Yeah, user friendly. 0:50:46.180 --> 0:51:18.230 Paige Catt (Guest) It seems that the the the computer program is just not well, it's just not computer friendly or not friendly to the person that you know has a few minutes. You can't just go down through there and click. I need to do this, this and this. They have to find a pencil over here and you know, how do you know what this pencil's for? You. It's it's not easily understood. And even me after I've done it several times. If I haven't done it in a few months, I still have to think. Well, let's see. Where do I go? It's not lined up. It's better than it was several years ago. 0:51:18.290 --> 0:51:30.970 Paige Catt (Guest) It was redone and and it was better. And while I'm on that, does anybody notice the misspelled words on the on the verification visit? Do you notice? Does that not drive you crazy? 0:51:31.740 --> 0:51:32.100 Paige Catt (Guest) The. 0:51:31.530 --> 0:51:32.640 Andrew Davis It would drive me crazy. 0:51:33.100 --> 0:51:47.620 Paige Catt (Guest) I I mean, and I've gone through there and you know, I've tried to tell us that's just not professional. You don't have six or seven misspelled words or I don't wanna say misspelled, let's say typos, I call them typos or grammar. 0:51:49.0 --> 0:52:11.580 Paige Catt (Guest) Issues on a test that you know it's going nationwide and and you know it is much better the last time you know before we redid the test and the questions, it was terrible that probably had 20 typos in it. But you know it is better or down to six or seven. But you know why can't those be changed? Why can't somebody see that you know I I. 0:52:10.620 --> 0:52:13.450 Andrew Davis So Sean, Sean Chonda asked a good question. Their page. 0:52:15.550 --> 0:52:17.260 Andrew Davis Where are the typos that you're seeing? 0:52:17.620 --> 0:52:24.50 Paige Catt (Guest) In the we're the verification visit where where they have the questions you know they might, they've misspelled classroom. 0:52:25.990 --> 0:52:26.380 Larissa Norris She's. 0:52:25.610 --> 0:52:29.350 Paige Catt (Guest) Verification was misspelled in a in a place I. 0:52:29.60 --> 0:52:35.140 Larissa Norris Pages let me know there's a couple times I just don't have the ability to go in and change something that's. 0:52:36.270 --> 0:52:37.240 Larissa Norris That's a bigger. 0:52:41.390 --> 0:52:42.500 Andrew Davis But it shouldn't be, yeah. 0:52:38.360 --> 0:52:45.230 Larissa Norris Tasks and then just changing it. But but Paige, I still have your emails, which I can definitely share. 0:52:48.590 --> 0:52:48.960 Larissa Norris Yeah. 0:52:45.940 --> 0:52:52.660 Andrew Davis No, that, that's that's. That's helpful though and and that's that's that's not a small deal page. So so thanks for raising it. 0:52:54.650 --> 0:53:3.410 Paige Catt (Guest) Yes, I hopefully other people have noticed that I just, you know, just little words. That's my thing. Misspelled words. But you know the word classroom. 0:53:4.80 --> 0:53:8.0 Paige Catt (Guest) Yeah, and just easy words. I just. 0:53:7.410 --> 0:53:8.380 Andrew Davis Yes, that. 0:53:9.550 --> 0:53:10.270 Paige Catt (Guest) Take a look at. 0:53:9.170 --> 0:53:14.120 Andrew Davis Well, easy or hard if we're using it, we should be spelling it right. So yes, absolutely. 0:53:12.870 --> 0:53:19.790 Paige Catt (Guest) Look, look through it today, Andrew, let's look. Let's see if you can find any of those. Those errors tapos just wanna be tapos. 0:53:19.110 --> 0:53:26.520 Andrew Davis Sure. And and and if you if you come across them again like and you've got screenshots and Larissa already has them, then yeah, please, we'll. 0:53:27.270 --> 0:53:32.820 Andrew Davis Will we don't want any spelling errors anywhere, so like, that's the thing that just needs to get fixed right away. 0:53:32.270 --> 0:53:34.710 Paige Catt (Guest) Hi get that off my mind. Thank you. 0:53:36.850 --> 0:53:37.410 Andrew Davis Ohm. 0:53:38.50 --> 0:53:59.160 Andrew Davis The the uh. Any. Anyone else on on the technology part? Or should we move move on to the other part? The other challenge, I appreciate you raising the gold standard and like the role of the Council plays, is that a shared feeling and opinion around the decision to? 0:54:0.360 --> 0:54:1.0 Andrew Davis Stop. 0:54:2.220 --> 0:54:5.20 Andrew Davis Recognizing the gold standard. 0:54:26.850 --> 0:54:27.290 Andrew Davis Yeah. 0:54:34.590 --> 0:54:35.60 Andrew Davis Sure. 0:54:35.960 --> 0:54:36.270 Andrew Davis Yeah. 0:54:9.870 --> 0:54:39.220 Marjorie (Guest) I try to make comments on my visits when I see the effort there as a Robert was saying like you can clearly see the difference when people did not take a class for doing the CDA and the quality is like very different. So I think they should be recognized for that. I have a comment that is out a little on this topic a little out. I don't know if I should make it now we have we have been facing a new issue here. 0:54:39.310 --> 0:55:10.20 Marjorie (Guest) The Massachusetts is that they have this program for coaches to come to your daycare and help you set- up the way it should be by the CDA standards. So not only me, but other of my colleagues had the same situation where you see the stage is perfect, everything is where it should be. The the amount of toys duplicates all the things that you wanna see on your visit. But then during the practice you don't see. 0:55:10.120 --> 0:55:41.990 Marjorie (Guest) That being reflected on the person's abilities, so for us it's been hard with the tool. The way it's set-up because people that are putting up the show can have really high scores because everything is set-up perfectly. So I don't know how we could I try again, put on the observation if I know that someone had a visit, a coach came, but usually they only tell you that afterwards because they don't wanna be discredit for the work. 0:55:42.370 --> 0:55:42.780 Andrew Davis Got it. 0:55:42.110 --> 0:55:47.410 Marjorie (Guest) So this has been a very big issue here in Massachusetts and that's. 0:56:11.470 --> 0:56:12.10 Andrew Davis Yeah. 0:55:48.680 --> 0:56:15.770 Marjorie (Guest) I mean, I don't know if in other places it is a a situation too, but this is raised a big concern to me because I feel like some people dream I visit. I cannot say no. She did not have the setup for safety, for health because it's there. But you, you know that the person doesn't know what you do with that. You know. So that has been a very complicated point for us here. 0:56:16.870 --> 0:56:46.420 Marjorie (Guest) And also when you comment about the the colleagues, I have a very close friend which is has been a PDS for a long time and this we are like help each other and all those. But we know other people that are doing the visits and not following up with the four hours with the structure of observing, reviewing and feedback. So what I'm concerned is we had people that got different. 0:56:46.490 --> 0:57:18.220 Marjorie (Guest) PDS is doing the visit in like one hour in those people were got the CDA and I'm like how is it possible for you to do that in one hour? It's it's not humanly possible to see all the aspects you wanna see in one hour. And I had a candidate that first looked for me and then came back with the results and said I didn't even know I was being verified because the person came here and she said she was just giving me a coach visit. 0:57:18.390 --> 0:57:48.690 Marjorie (Guest) And when it was over, I got the e-mail with the credentials. So I'm still like, out of my brain with that cause. Of course, this candidate wouldn't tell that to the Council cause she wants the CDA. But how come this person is still doing visits if the candidate didn't even know she was being evaluated? So that's something that is still here for me because I'm like, this is not city aid. This is not what we want to see in the field, but at the same time, we report those PDS and they are still there. 0:57:55.390 --> 0:57:55.840 Andrew Davis Marjorie. 0:57:48.780 --> 0:57:57.570 Marjorie (Guest) Active doing things you know, so this is a a huge concern in Massachusetts right now, at least for the Portuguese speakers. 0:57:58.0 --> 0:58:12.170 Andrew Davis Yeah. Well, thank thank you so much for for that feedback. I know it's something that Chonda and Larissa take very, very seriously. And part of the process as we are reviewing not only the reimbursement rate, but also thinking about. 0:58:13.420 --> 0:58:42.80 Andrew Davis You know what are quality standards? How do we keep it such that the people that we are working with are people that are like yourselves, like the ones who are really committed to this work and that we can establish a really strong reciprocal working relationship. What we don't want is for those types of PD specialists to reflect negatively on those of you who are really doing this work and really committed to it. And so we wanted. 0:58:42.260 --> 0:58:51.130 Andrew Davis You know, get better at that. So thanks. Thanks for raising that that point separately. I saw you had your hand raised. So I wanna give you an opportunity to to weigh in. 0:58:53.750 --> 0:59:0.820 Sebawit Yirsaw Yeah. Thank you so much. I just would like to piggyback what Mr Gundling has said about. 0:59:2.100 --> 0:59:4.230 Sebawit Yirsaw Candidates and training centers. 0:59:6.170 --> 0:59:35.500 Sebawit Yirsaw Most of the times when I went out to see candidates, you know, to observe candidates, I see like sometimes they portfolio is not them properly or just seems like I don't know which school they have been. It seems there is a disconnection between training centers in candidates. Sometimes I see like they have copies only and it is hard and they are not to coach but just to observe so. 0:59:35.760 --> 0:59:38.320 Sebawit Yirsaw I can't say much, so I would really. 0:59:39.80 --> 0:59:55.330 Sebawit Yirsaw Uh. Emphasize that the Council take some time and just ensure that this training centers are doing their job, their parts and insuring like the preparing the candidates in the right way. 0:59:56.790 --> 0:59:57.680 Andrew Davis Thank you, sebawit. 0:59:57.10 --> 1:0:1.60 Sebawit Yirsaw Uh, yeah. I just would like to add that one. Thank you. 1:0:1.380 --> 1:0:31.990 Andrew Davis No, thank you that, that that's that's a good point and it resonates because obviously if you know we're expecting that the training center is done their job when you show up your job should be easy and and you you can tell when some of the the precursor work to your visit has not been done. It's frustrating. And for those of you who have already articulated how committed you are to this, that you're not doing it for the money, you're doing it because it's an important part of the field and developing the workforce. 1:0:32.420 --> 1:0:56.720 Andrew Davis And you can't in good conscience. It's similar to what Marjorie was saying. It's like I know that I, according to what I'm supposed to do, I'm seeing this area set-up correctly, and yet I still have concerns about am I putting through a candidate is going to be good for our workforce and for our field. And so we, we do take that seriously. And and I. 1:0:58.130 --> 1:1:5.770 Andrew Davis The degree to which Robert, you know your point about our responsibility on the training centers is it's a thing that we. 1:1:8.50 --> 1:1:20.760 Andrew Davis It's complex as you said, but but we, but there's a way for us to to do it and do it right and we're not backing off of, of how we do that, it's but but might not be in the way that we initially thought we were going to do it. 1:1:21.760 --> 1:1:22.790 Andrew Davis I yeah. 1:1:23.430 --> 1:1:23.760 Andrew Davis Yeah. 1:1:21.540 --> 1:1:23.930 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) So Andrew cause. 1:1:31.830 --> 1:1:32.130 Andrew Davis Please. 1:1:25.550 --> 1:1:39.390 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) And for everyone, please allow me. I'm gonna let go of some heavy thing on. That was in my mind. So to me extreme situation and again Abena was really helpful to me when I saw her cause it. 1:1:40.400 --> 1:1:43.670 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Quite honestly, kept me up a few nights afterwards. 1:1:44.390 --> 1:1:44.840 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) On. 1:1:46.120 --> 1:1:50.410 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Was I observed a candidate English was not her first language? 1:1:51.950 --> 1:1:52.600 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) And. 1:1:53.830 --> 1:1:57.380 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) And from my perspective, the observation went well. 1:1:58.550 --> 1:2:1.470 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) About 25% of her portfolio. 1:2:2.370 --> 1:2:3.500 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Was incomplete. 1:2:8.110 --> 1:2:12.750 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I threw the candidate and just cause unplugged in in this region. 1:2:15.530 --> 1:2:23.590 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) New of where she got the training. And so to me and I understand having worked at a national level. 1:2:24.730 --> 1:2:39.110 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) What I'm raising, and I believe it's not as easy as it appears to do as it as you think it would be because of the scope, the scope of it. But I was faced with a dilemma. 1:2:40.330 --> 1:2:47.240 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) How do I how much accountability do I give to the candidate she did what? 1:2:48.510 --> 1:2:55.220 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) What I I know she did. She did what she thought she was supposed to do. 1:2:56.840 --> 1:3:0.450 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) And when her blood rushed out of her. 1:3:1.340 --> 1:3:13.980 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Body when I said to her, now I just need to talk with you about some things in your it. What do you do? Well, I know what I did, but I mean really evident like. 1:3:15.530 --> 1:3:17.650 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) She I mean, it was traumatic. 1:3:18.560 --> 1:3:22.690 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Like I can't express myself like the language I. 1:3:23.560 --> 1:3:26.220 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I did what I I followed their rules. 1:3:29.290 --> 1:3:29.660 Andrew Davis Yeah. 1:3:28.240 --> 1:3:38.240 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Yeah. So that's why I believe with the gold standard, I respect with the board said. But I think it could have been revised not. 1:3:39.490 --> 1:3:40.440 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Sun said it. 1:3:41.770 --> 1:3:43.80 Andrew Davis Yeah, we. 1:3:44.100 --> 1:4:17.450 Andrew Davis We we agree in terms of the mission, right? So so the, the the we don't want that to happen and we wanna put systems in place for that not to happen and whether or not that's done through the mechanism of a gold standard or some other way that's what we've got to figure out and I I think but it but it's work that we we take very seriously Robert and and we know what's happening out there and you know you got a chance to see that first hand and know exactly where that connection was and just imagine. 1:4:17.830 --> 1:4:28.370 Andrew Davis That's not the only place where that's happening, and it's really unfortunate for the candidate and I the the the part that you know. 1:4:29.400 --> 1:4:33.680 Andrew Davis This is this is my time to talk, but but the part of our. 1:4:34.560 --> 1:4:35.290 Andrew Davis Work. 1:4:36.360 --> 1:5:0.970 Andrew Davis That I feel a significant pressure in the sense of urgency around responsibility for is creating the environment that allows for the systems to work well together. So whether that's the technology that doesn't become a roadblock or an obstacle for people who want to do this work, how do we help facilitate that in the easiest way possible? Can we create systems where the training? 1:5:2.80 --> 1:5:33.70 Andrew Davis Leads to a candidate as qualified as ready for a PD specialist to do their part in. In everyone work together. How do we create those systems? And it's an ongoing thing and what worked on a smaller scale or a time before it has to evolve so that people aren't, like you said, profiting off of doing poor work for the field. And we know that every step away of the way in this field, there have been organizations that have profited off of less than stellar work and contributions. 1:5:33.150 --> 1:5:52.20 Andrew Davis And so we're we're we're trying to figure out how to do that, but I'm saying that as a thing that's an active and ongoing part of our work rather than its. We're developing the silver bullet and hopefully step by step you'll be able to secure about and see some things soon that lead us in that right direction. 1:5:54.980 --> 1:6:8.330 Andrew Davis Other challenges, though, that that come to mind before we pivot to another question. Is there anything that we haven't had covered? But I feel like I've got some really, really good examples from those of you, but we've shared. 1:6:11.150 --> 1:6:13.620 Andrew Davis Anything. OK, alright. Well, let let. 1:6:14.790 --> 1:6:16.630 Andrew Davis No, sorry. Go ahead, Selena. Go ahead please. 1:6:13.230 --> 1:6:40.320 Washington, Salina I did have come. I'm sorry, Andrew. I did have someone mentioned maybe something like ID badges. Although they know they they're not employed by the Council. But when you're going out and you're going into these sites and centers a lot of times directors and they want to know who you are and just something recognizing exactly acknowledging that you are a pretty specialist for the Council to identify. 1:6:41.560 --> 1:6:42.190 Andrew Davis Great. Thanks. 1:6:41.480 --> 1:6:43.10 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Selena I. 1:6:43.920 --> 1:6:55.390 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Support 100% we asked the candidate to show us ID and it's always been the question in my mind, but I don't have to show anything. 1:6:58.430 --> 1:7:22.20 Andrew Davis So. So this next question is a little bit of a personal reflection and I understand you're you're all of your respective commitments to doing this work and why you do it if you have to give me your your top two or three reasons, what are what are the main benefits to you personally and individually for being a PD specialist? 1:7:22.720 --> 1:7:25.790 Andrew Davis What did what does it? What does it mean to you personally? 1:7:27.120 --> 1:7:34.600 Washington, Salina Mine is seeing the results of the candidate reaching their goals because, like I said earlier, it it's personal. This is my own personal journey. 1:7:36.890 --> 1:7:37.540 Andrew Davis Thank you Salina. 1:7:39.430 --> 1:7:46.180 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Well, as I mentioned, because of where I am in my relationship with the Council, I feel. 1:7:48.340 --> 1:8:4.320 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) It fulfills the responsibility of mine to the relationships that I have at the Council and, and therefore the awareness of how seriously this is taken at the Council and people. 1:8:5.20 --> 1:8:21.120 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Doing really good work. Second for me is I'm clear. I'm at the stage in my career paying it forward and I value the opportunity through the Council to stay connected. 1:8:21.830 --> 1:8:23.370 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) In supporting. 1:8:24.620 --> 1:8:27.330 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) The next generation of. 1:8:28.910 --> 1:8:34.820 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Early childhood educators, and I think there's more right about. 1:8:35.760 --> 1:8:40.320 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) The system then issues and challenges. 1:8:40.990 --> 1:8:41.660 Andrew Davis Thank you, Robert. 1:8:43.620 --> 1:8:56.910 Marjorie (Guest) She meets me. The greatest joy is to see that other kids are getting quality care, so that's the highlight for me. Going to places and seeing their the the candidates are. 1:8:58.250 --> 1:9:28.130 Marjorie (Guest) Like putting all their air forts to offer good quality for childcare like I I'm very emotional. Like I get the goose. The goose bumps when when you see a good candidate and I feel always like one more one more one more. You know that's like my my motivation and the other thing that I found through this year's is when the candidates come back to you I've had like several taking pictures of the changes they did. 1:9:28.240 --> 1:9:38.810 Marjorie (Guest) And sending the pictures to me and saying like, thanks to you, you help me see this. You help me see that. So those two for me. Like I can get paid $100 for that. 1:9:41.170 --> 1:9:43.480 Marjorie (Guest) But I wet. I read or not, but I can't. 1:9:43.790 --> 1:9:44.370 Charvella McKaye Yeah, right. 1:9:45.0 --> 1:9:47.450 Andrew Davis Loud and clear, Marjorie. Thank you though. 1:9:47.750 --> 1:10:19.420 Charvella McKaye And for me, it's just seeing and helping advance the field for quality program for children. Families sorta has has Marjorie is sad, but then in addition to that, as an educator, I think it goes deeper than that because it's helped building the confidence and the candidate or they have a lot of ohas like, Oh my God, I can't believe I did this and just the uplifting it brings to them and their self esteem and confidence that they've accomplished something. And oftentimes they talk about continuing. 1:10:22.490 --> 1:10:22.750 Andrew Davis Yeah. 1:10:19.600 --> 1:10:29.210 Charvella McKaye Because they didn't know that they could. So that's like really rewarding to see those uhas and just how proud they feel of themselves. 1:10:30.530 --> 1:10:31.170 Andrew Davis Thank you so much. 1:10:34.570 --> 1:10:35.800 Andrew Davis Paige, you're you're muted. 1:10:34.880 --> 1:10:39.240 Washington, Salina I didn't want to hop on top of anybody else, but in this field. 1:10:41.150 --> 1:10:42.710 Washington, Salina Ohh, I'm sorry, she's music. 1:10:37.990 --> 1:10:43.10 Andrew Davis We'll, we'll, Paige start Page started talking, but then she she was, she was muted. 1:10:44.60 --> 1:10:45.800 Andrew Davis OK. Yeah. 1:10:50.490 --> 1:10:51.80 Paige Catt (Guest) How's that? 1:10:50.840 --> 1:10:52.860 Andrew Davis Here, that's good. Now we can hear it. 1:10:52.310 --> 1:11:16.740 Paige Catt (Guest) OK, I I have to piggyback off of all everybody, especially Robert, you know, saying staying connected. You know, once you retire, I just had to stay connected and this with head start again head start has been a big part of my life and getting to the head start centers and you know that's pretty easy for me because they have strict strict guidelines they have to go by and so. 1:11:17.40 --> 1:11:22.430 Paige Catt (Guest) And it it's just, it's just a fun job. It's just fun so. 1:11:23.700 --> 1:11:24.90 Andrew Davis Thank you. 1:11:23.300 --> 1:11:28.290 Paige Catt (Guest) That I agree with everybody. What they what everybody's saying is just resonates. 1:11:30.610 --> 1:11:31.150 Andrew Davis Thank you. 1:11:30.710 --> 1:11:32.940 Paige Catt (Guest) That all traces talking to us or. 1:11:34.220 --> 1:11:34.620 Andrew Davis No. 1:11:35.20 --> 1:11:35.750 Paige Catt (Guest) OK. 1:11:37.450 --> 1:11:40.470 Andrew Davis Salina. Sorry didn't mean to cut you off. You you were added to yours. 1:11:39.770 --> 1:12:6.330 Washington, Salina Ohh no, I'm sorry, I didn't know Paige was speaking, but I was just about to say when you're in this field just to see the candidates want to know what's developmentally appropriate and want to move forward. Because in this field, there are so many child care centers that can't afford to pay. People who are actually receiving formal education and who actually know what's developmentally appropriate. A lot of times. 1:12:10.740 --> 1:12:11.140 Andrew Davis Mm-hmm. 1:12:6.430 --> 1:12:20.600 Washington, Salina Talking things are just hiring people that are just walking in and just want a job and they have no clue to what's developmentally appropriate for the children that they're working with. So for them to be at the point where they wanna know and they wanna move forward. 1:12:21.850 --> 1:12:24.420 Washington, Salina That that's something that's very rewarded. 1:12:25.390 --> 1:12:39.160 Andrew Davis That's fantastic. Thank you for sharing. That will give the opportunity for Sebawit or Theresa to to share any reflections if you have no obligation to, but if if it's something that's already has been said then. 1:12:39.240 --> 1:13:0.970 Andrew Davis Umm. Over. Move on to my my last question which is what? What can we do collectively at the Council to just be more helpful? I know you. You've given like a tremendous amount of suggestions already and there's a role that you all play. I appreciate the. 1:13:2.610 --> 1:13:18.710 Andrew Davis For lack of a better term, the sacrifice that that you make and the concessions that you make in, in, in pursuit of all as all kind of doing this work together and understanding is complexities. But if there are things that we can do to be more helpful, what would you say those things would be? 1:13:20.640 --> 1:13:21.570 Andrew Davis You have Theresa go ahead. 1:13:24.800 --> 1:13:25.590 Andrew Davis OK. 1:13:22.480 --> 1:13:42.670 Teresa McKay OK. Yeah, I'm really talking to you this time. I've just been over here talking to myself and agreeing with everything. So I think one of the most helpful things that we had going and chonda you probably, I think you were the one that did it was like in Florida, we just had a statewide PD specialist meeting. 1:13:47.950 --> 1:13:48.330 Chonda Walden Uh-huh. 1:13:43.510 --> 1:14:14.100 Teresa McKay And so it would be nice to have like, even if it's twice a year just to have a virtual meeting, it doesn't have to be in person. And I mean, we're zooming all the time, right or or teams meetings all the time. So if we could just have a get together of those of us who are, you know, involved and, you know, just didn't even have to be a long meeting just to check in or just to update on some things or or what have you. I think that would be super helpful. 1:14:14.680 --> 1:14:25.170 Andrew Davis Sorry, sorry. Just to piggyback on that, so does do do all of you feel the same way that you benefit from the community of other PD specialists and and what's happening? 1:14:26.140 --> 1:14:36.400 Andrew Davis And so two follow up questions to that number one, do you feel like it matters whether it's regional or national? 1:14:37.200 --> 1:14:51.810 Andrew Davis Or is it just the getting together is helpful? That's the first question. The second one is getting together is a confident in person conference for just PD specialists. Would that be valuable to you as well? So those two questions. 1:14:52.950 --> 1:14:53.700 Andrew Davis What was that? 1:14:52.740 --> 1:14:58.550 Teresa McKay I I would say yes, just because I'm already off mute. But I would say yes to both of those things. 1:14:58.820 --> 1:14:59.180 Andrew Davis Great. 1:14:59.210 --> 1:15:14.750 Teresa McKay I think that it would be valuable. The PDS symposium is wonderful during the conference, but you know quite honestly, the conference is is intense. And so it almost feels like we don't get everything that we want to get accomplished. 1:15:16.220 --> 1:15:32.50 Teresa McKay During that time, I mean, it's always great. So don't get me wrong on that. But I think both regional and maybe you know non regional, I mean I, you know maybe one of each, I mean I don't know and I realize that that puts a lot onto the CDA staff but. 1:15:32.550 --> 1:15:35.370 Teresa McKay Umm, I think for us it would be beneficial. 1:15:36.290 --> 1:15:37.700 Andrew Davis Thank you. Very helpful. 1:15:39.410 --> 1:15:45.840 Marjorie (Guest) I feel like Chonda and Larissa have been like a game change for my practice. 1:15:46.770 --> 1:15:47.650 Larissa Norris Thank you. 1:15:46.980 --> 1:16:11.490 Marjorie (Guest) Having having like real people that you can reach out to when you know you're gonna get a response timely I think is a huge support. I also had Raquel Andrade for some time, but I lost contact with her. Her phone changed. But anyways, I like that we have real people that know that we are working and we need support so that for me is huge. 1:16:11.880 --> 1:16:12.180 Andrew Davis Great. 1:16:12.970 --> 1:16:13.700 Andrew Davis Thank you so much. 1:16:23.580 --> 1:16:24.410 Larissa Norris Thank you. 1:16:12.830 --> 1:16:33.360 Paige Catt (Guest) I have said that before too, that Larissa has been a game changer. I mean, I I was on my way to step out the door and I found her on Facebook and I and I told her that when I when I met her in Baltimore, I said you have you made a difference. And so, you know, just being able to talk to someone. 1:16:32.190 --> 1:16:40.260 Andrew Davis Paige, can you can, can you say more about that? Like, when you say you were about to step out the door and say more about that. 1:16:40.620 --> 1:17:3.610 Paige Catt (Guest) OK. Well I think it all happened when the computers they they had the maintenance on the computers. I filled out one verification visit. I probably did it four times and that's a lot of work. And and it wasn't just that one that I did four times, I did several. It was during the busy, busy time and I was I was ready to give up. 1:17:7.330 --> 1:17:7.670 Andrew Davis Yeah. 1:17:4.860 --> 1:17:30.330 Paige Catt (Guest) It was just not worth it to me and so, but even you know, today I've learned several things just from the conversations that I've seen or I've heard from everybody else. I'm not sure, you know, I'm in my own world head start world. I really have it made. And you know, I've I've ventured out to a couple of centers that, you know, it hadn't. It hadn't been the best. And I think, well, they need to be in head start but. 1:17:31.610 --> 1:17:43.690 Paige Catt (Guest) And there's a whole new world out there and I'm probably need to be out there and and listening to other people also. So I love this idea of regional or, you know, just this today was amazing. 1:17:44.640 --> 1:17:45.420 Andrew Davis Thank you, Paige. 1:17:50.130 --> 1:17:51.930 Washington, Salina Oh, I think I never read muted. 1:17:52.270 --> 1:17:53.170 Andrew Davis OK. 1:17:54.990 --> 1:18:3.200 Andrew Davis But well, the did you have well still still open to everyone? There's the question of how we can be more helpful if you all have any additional thoughts. 1:18:5.990 --> 1:18:8.700 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Well, I would emphasize the word more. 1:18:9.270 --> 1:18:10.150 Andrew Davis Umm OK. 1:18:9.590 --> 1:18:13.20 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) And in the context of quality improvement cause I. 1:18:13.980 --> 1:18:18.150 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) And more than satisfied with what is so. 1:18:19.890 --> 1:18:20.940 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) One thought. 1:18:23.140 --> 1:18:30.400 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) So I now realize I was at the first leadership, whatever that it was called. 1:18:31.880 --> 1:18:35.50 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) And there was an intentional effort to set-up. 1:18:35.770 --> 1:18:41.820 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) PD specialist as a community of practice and I remember at that. 1:18:42.610 --> 1:18:48.980 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Three day event there was a day spent by everyone there. 1:18:50.600 --> 1:18:51.470 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Giving. 1:18:53.150 --> 1:18:58.720 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Are best for what that would look like and then it disappeared. 1:18:59.420 --> 1:19:0.510 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Umm so. 1:19:1.880 --> 1:19:14.360 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I would I I was very excited about it because I find as a a consultant and working with adults. There's for me very little professional development. 1:19:15.360 --> 1:19:16.260 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) About. 1:19:17.10 --> 1:19:18.820 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) How I can improve? 1:19:19.950 --> 1:19:21.20 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) In my practice. 1:19:22.360 --> 1:19:23.690 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) In adult learning. 1:19:25.100 --> 1:19:25.640 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Umm. 1:19:26.490 --> 1:19:31.900 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) And from this conversation I would say perhaps. 1:19:33.310 --> 1:19:34.500 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Looking at. 1:19:37.330 --> 1:19:41.260 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) In the context of raising what the stipend is. 1:19:42.0 --> 1:19:47.980 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Mid perhaps making it like a compensation package. So maybe the leadership. 1:19:48.820 --> 1:19:51.470 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Umm event that happens? 1:19:52.10 --> 1:19:56.810 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Umm, again, I don't know the finances, but there would be a definite. 1:19:59.70 --> 1:20:4.160 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Special rate acknowledging the PD specialist are. 1:20:15.440 --> 1:20:15.720 Andrew Davis Yep. 1:20:5.490 --> 1:20:21.590 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) That the Council could not compensate PD specialist at the rate that's respectable, which I think is important in our field. And so as a result of that has put together this package that. 1:20:22.550 --> 1:20:25.600 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Is financially possible. 1:20:26.480 --> 1:20:26.810 Andrew Davis Got it. 1:20:29.820 --> 1:20:30.520 Andrew Davis Thank you, Robert. 1:20:36.450 --> 1:20:49.480 Charvella McKaye I don't know if this has been mentioned already, but I'm just the recruitment effort for more PD specialists I know sometimes in my area I have students that really have a hard time getting a PD specialist. 1:20:53.560 --> 1:20:54.100 Andrew Davis Mm-hmm. 1:20:58.870 --> 1:20:59.440 Andrew Davis Thank you. 1:21:0.410 --> 1:21:30.760 Andrew Davis Yeah, I think one one thing that's you know, we're trying to balance is the need for where there are qualified PD specialists and where there are some who is. Marjorie was saying before might not be, you know, operating at a level that of quality that we would all you know feel good about. And that's one of those things that we're trying to get to that. 1:21:30.820 --> 1:21:33.830 Andrew Davis That right number in in our. 1:21:34.900 --> 1:21:43.310 Andrew Davis Yeah. So that's one of those active conversations that we're having and it's directly related to the compensation in conversation as well. So yeah. 1:21:44.150 --> 1:21:46.720 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Well, Andrew, I want I love. 1:21:47.430 --> 1:21:48.880 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Doing virtual visits. 1:21:51.170 --> 1:21:56.920 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Sometimes I think from for the Council, it's been the best kept secret. 1:21:58.390 --> 1:22:21.640 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) So how you to help improve? I would be marketing it heavily. I'm because to me that takes care of what we need PD specialists. I love that I do virtual verification visits across the whole East Coast and and that's professionally stimulating that in increases. 1:22:30.640 --> 1:22:40.390 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Umm, otherwise and and it it enriches my ability to to contribute to my local early childhood. 1:22:42.40 --> 1:22:45.900 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Community and its cost effective so. 1:22:47.430 --> 1:22:51.670 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) I I guess for me it's becoming at least for me, clear this package. 1:22:53.120 --> 1:22:54.220 Robert Gundling, Ed.D. (Guest) Making sense? 1:22:55.160 --> 1:22:56.900 Andrew Davis Yes, well. 1:22:57.60 --> 1:23:29.980 Andrew Davis Ohh it's I I I wanna say everyone. Thank you so much for your time, for your candor, for your contributions. I wanna be respectful of everyone's time. And so as we're we're wrapping up this has been incredibly helpful and enlightening for me and I want to in the chat I'm just gonna put my e-mail there so that in the event that there are things that you can think of for me or that other thoughts that you have along the way or things that you. 1:23:30.70 --> 1:23:30.480 Andrew Davis Umm. 1:23:31.970 --> 1:23:32.410 Andrew Davis Just. 1:23:33.490 --> 1:23:46.710 Andrew Davis One to share or things that might be a good idea. Feel free to send me an e-mail or reach out to me because I'm I'm really eager to learn. I don't know if my camera's messing up here. 1:23:47.920 --> 1:23:50.430 Abena Ocran-Jackson Andrew Dom Charvella had her hand up. 1:23:50.570 --> 1:23:52.920 Andrew Davis OK. Yes, thank you, charvella. 1:23:53.290 --> 1:24:8.620 Charvella McKaye Yes, I just wanted to know, I see it. I will being recorded. Is it possible to receive a copy? I feel like I came in on on such the end that I wanna see if there's questions I could contribute to. And I do have some thoughts. But I didn't wanna repeat what was already said so. 1:24:10.300 --> 1:24:39.970 Andrew Davis Sure, yes. And chonda chonda is going to follow up with everyone and sharing the recording and and if there are things that come out of that is is she shares that with all of you or thoughts that you wanted to, you know, go a little deeper on or ask questions, feel free to do that. And I really invite that we want this to be, you know we see this as a very reciprocal relationship where we wanna develop the systems that help you do your work really well. And we also want to leverage your visibility to things that we just can't see. 1:24:40.650 --> 1:24:55.530 Andrew Davis From from where we sit? So, but thank you for your your contributions today, very, very meaningful to me. And I'm I'm really what I wasn't anticipating that I was really struck by is just how. 1:24:57.280 --> 1:24:58.220 Andrew Davis Just. 1:24:59.110 --> 1:25:13.830 Andrew Davis Not not the commitment, because that's true throughout early childhood. But but it's the the passion through this energy of people together through a shared experience, that that comes through. There's like a joy. And I think Margery. 1:25:14.870 --> 1:25:40.110 Andrew Davis You know you you talked about who can't remember who said joy, but like there. But it's like a part of it being fun and just enjoying the camaraderie and being together in this very, very meaningful work. So thank you again for helping me with my learning and consider my door open. And if you can not, if you can't reach them. But even if you have things that are specifically for me, feel free to reach. Reach out. So thank you all so much. 1:25:43.480 --> 1:25:43.760 Andrew Davis Right. 1:25:43.710 --> 1:25:46.600 Chonda Walden Thank you everyone. Have a great Thursday. 1:25:49.350 --> 1:25:50.280 Larissa Norris Thank you. 1:25:48.410 --> 1:25:50.460 Sebawit Yirsaw Thank you. Have a great Thursday. 1:25:50.940 --> 1:25:51.700 Chonda Walden Bye bye. 1:25:51.150 --> 1:25:52.730 Andrew Davis You're six. Save travels everywhere. 1:25:51.880 --> 1:25:53.210 Marjorie (Guest) Thank you. Bye. 1:25:54.400 --> 1:25:54.940 Sebawit Yirsaw Thank you. 1:25:51.920 --> 1:25:55.240 Teresa McKay Thanks. Thank you, Andrew, pleasure to meet you. 1:25:55.190 --> 1:25:58.270 Andrew Davis Please to meet you as well. Hope I see some of you guys in Florida. 1:25:59.200 --> 1:26:0.90 Teresa McKay Ohh you will. 1:26:0.310 --> 1:26:1.290 Andrew Davis Yeah. 1:26:2.110 --> 1:26:3.20 Teresa McKay Bye everybody. 1:26:2.420 --> 1:26:9.490 Marjorie (Guest) Andrew bye. I just. I just stayed a little longer. Just show off or like, I don't know how the. 1:26:10.540 --> 1:26:18.810 Marjorie (Guest) How the logistics for having a test in Portuguese, but I'll be more than happy to cooperate with that because I think the. 1:26:20.540 --> 1:26:40.670 Marjorie (Guest) That what I was saying about the paper and pen. So I think having the test, the digital test and making it fair could be a big help for that matter too. So I'll be help happy to help with translating questions in Portuguese or whatever I could help with. 1:26:42.870 --> 1:26:43.520 Marjorie (Guest) OK. 1:26:41.660 --> 1:26:45.60 Andrew Davis Thank you so much, Marjorie. That that's very helpful, yes. 1:26:43.380 --> 1:26:45.270 Chonda Walden That's awesome. Thanks, madre. 1:26:45.510 --> 1:26:48.350 Marjorie (Guest) Yes. Yes, thank you. Bye. 1:26:49.0 --> 1:26:49.320 Andrew Davis Bye bye. 1:26:48.840 --> 1:26:49.460 Chonda Walden Bye bye. 1:26:51.680 --> 1:26:52.410 Chonda Walden All right. 1:26:54.620 --> 1:26:56.430 Chonda Walden In every one hang on for a little bit. 1:26:56.870 --> 1:26:57.200 Andrew Davis Yep.