The William L. Clay Sr. Early Childhood Development/Parenting Education Center at Harris-Stowe State University recently gained national accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). NAEYC accreditation is a voluntary accreditation system that has set professional standards for early childhood programs and has helped families identify superior programs for their young children.
Since opening in August 2009, the William L. Clay Sr. Early Childhood Development/Parenting Education Center has become a vital resource to the St. Louis community as well as a hands-on laboratory school for Early Childhood majors at Harris-Stowe. The 50,000-square foot state-of-the-art building serves the needs of young children, parents, early childhood professionals and students aspiring to be teachers. All educators at the center are certified, degreed professionals.
“This accreditation represents the combined efforts of the center’s staff and parents who worked tirelessly over the past two years to meet this milestone,” said Dr. Patricia Johnson, center director. “Our parents knew the significance of accreditation and many were quite involved in the process. The center has always been a safe and nurturing learning environment and having achieved accreditation from the largest and most respected early childhood professional organization allows us to show others our program’s recognition as one of high-quality. We are all proud of this achievement and will continue all efforts to deliver the best services to our children and families.”
The Clay Center is a safe, comprehensive child development facility providing full-day, year-round learning experiences for children 6 weeks to 5 years of age. It continues to be recognized as a world-renown center for educational training, based on its various collaborations with national, regional and local organizations, and its focus on early childhood theory, leadership and best practices.
Many have taken notice of the center and its accomplishments, which include earning Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. It is constructed from more than 20 percent recycled materials and contains highly energy-efficient mechanical systems with an energy wheel. The facility also received the 2010 Project of the Year award at the Associated General Contractors of St. Louis’ Keystone Awards; the Best of 2010 Award of Merit by Midwest Construction; the 2010 Regional Excellence Innovation Award by St. Louis Construction News & Real Estate and the 2009 Quality Concrete Award by the Concrete Council. The center was recognized internationally by Architectural Digest in Argentina and Korea.
This week, the Clay Center will celebrate the Week of the Young Child, during which the children will learn about and honor a few chosen professionals who contribute greatly to the quality of life in our community, including construction and utility workers, fire fighters and law enforcement officers, military personnel, chefs and health professionals. The Week of the Young Child is a national effort that will be celebrated by early childhood organizations around the country.