Winona Area Center for Early Childhood Professional Development

The Winona Area Center for Early Childhood Professional Development represents a regional partnership between:

The center offers educational and training opportunities for all providers regardless of their background, experience and setting:

  • Family, Friend and Neighbor
  • Private In-Home
  • Center-Based
  • School Sites

We believe that having a place to meet and learn with friends and colleagues supports the often isolating work of early childhood providers. Good conversation and strong relationships are the core of a responsive early learning and care system in Minnesota.

The Achieve-Minnesota Center for Professional Development (MCPD) authorizes training, tracks professional development, and maintains the Career Lattice Step registry. This is a voluntary statewide program to document and recognize the professional achievements of people who work in the early childhood education and school-age care professions. Trainings recorded in DEVELOP also meet Minnesota teacher licensing requirements and may be submitted for approval.

Their Career Lattice recognizes the hours of training, formal education and credentials of early childhood professionals by detailing 12 steps providers can take to increase their knowledge about teaching and caring for young children. For a full description of the Minnesota Career Lattice 12 Steps and how to register, visit the Minnesota Center for Professional Development website.

Programs at the Winona Professional Development Center are registered with the MnCPD and/or offer continuing education unites (CEUs) to meet DHS and MDE teacher licensure requirements.

The WSU Children’s Center’s Curriculum Lab is currently closed during the remodeling and construction of the Education Village.

The Center offers a variety of monthly workshops. Sessions range from required DHS trainings (e.g. first aid/CPR, car seat training, etc.) to interest-based topics such as behavior guidance, creating curriculum for multiple age groups and identifying children with special needs. Current class and training information can be viewed on the Winona Schools website.

  • Enroll in workshops through the Families First of Minnesota registration system. Visit the Families First website under the "I am a Provider" tab for more information.
  • Meet colleagues to share resources.

Direct your questions to the WSU Children’s Center or Winona Area Public Schools.