Winona Area Center for Early Childhood Professional Development
The Winona Area Center for Early Childhood Professional Development represents a regional partnership between:
- Winona State University
- WSU Children’s Center
- Winona Area Public Schools-Community Education
- Families First of Minnesota - Rochester
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.
Minnesota Professional Career Lattice & CEU
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.
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
The Curriculum Lab
Training Opportunities
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.
How to Use the Center
- 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.