Specialized pathways for coaches and trainers.
The Texas ITSN Specialist Program has two pathways. The first pathway is for specialists and directors who want to increase their knowledge and skills to support infant and toddler teachers and gain access to quality improvement resources. This is the Specialist Program and it is the first step to joining the network. The second pathway is the Certification Program. This pathway is for specialists who formally mentor (coach/train) infant and toddler teachers and administrators. Those who qualify for this pathway will complete a program to earn their ITSN Certification. There are requirements to participate in the ITSN Certification program, so please read the criteria below before applying for our next cohort.
Specialists
Are you an early childhood specialist wanting to expand your expertise in supporting infant and toddler teachers? We invite specialists, those who support infant-toddler teachers, to join our network to access exclusive content and earn professional development hours.
There are many resources on the Texas ITSN and on the CLI Engage websites that you can use immediately to build your knowledge and skills and to support infant and toddler teachers. Participants who join have opportunities to learn strategies for supporting child development, the Texas Infant, Toddler, and Three-Year-Old Early Learning Guidelines (ITELGs), and quality improvement resources.
Specialists will receive:
- Free professional development through CLI Engage
- Clock hours for continued education
- Access to Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) for training, support, and networking opportunities
- Unlimited access to webinars and self-paced courses which are prerequisites to the various training and coaching PLCs
Note: Specific access to ITSN is required to view webinars and courses on the CLI Engage. Please click the button below to join the ITSN Specialist Program. After you have been approved and your account is set up, you’ll be able to access the ITSN content.
Would you like to talk to someone one-on-one? Check out our Office Hours Guide below to see when we have teams available to chat with you online. No appointment is necessary.
Certification Program
We are recruiting a select group of specialists to become part of the Texas ITSN Certification Program. If you are a specialist who has requested to join the Specialist Program and your primary role is mentoring infant and toddler teachers and administrators, then you may be eligible to apply for the Certification Program. To be eligible you must be currently mentoring teachers and providing a minimum of 10 coaching/contact hours a month and be able to complete the program requirements by providing a minimum of 5 approved ITSN trainings to infant and toddler teachers that you support. You must also be or become a registered trainer on Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System (TECPDS).
Members of the Certified Program receive:
- Free professional development courses through CLI Engage
- Clock hours for continued education
- Access to Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) for training, support, and networking opportunities
- Unlimited access to webinars and self-paced courses which are prerequisites to the various training and coaching PLCs
- Additional advance-track PLCs, support, and networking events
- Recognized by on the ITSN and TECPDS websites
- A free account on the Trainer Registry with NO fees
- Access to Teacher Training facilitator guides, PowerPoints, and many other resources to enhance training and coaching sessions
- Trainings and coaching facilitated by you will be documented through TECPDS
Examples of specialists participating in the ITSN Certification Program are Texas Rising Star mentors, Texas School Ready Comp Coaches, Work at Education Service Centers, are specialists with Early Head Start or similar agencies. Space is limited in this program so signing a letter of commitment is required to participate. Once members are accepted into the Certification Program they complete a series of online courses, webinars, and PLCs (small group trainings) to increase their knowledge and skills, network, and gain access to resources. These resources include Certified Texas ITSN training content (Teacher Facilitation Guides and PowerPoints) that specialists can use in their own trainings. All certification members must be on the Texas Trainer Registry and must use Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System (TECPDS) to document all ITSN training and coaching events that are delivered.
Important! Before you apply to the ITSN Certification Program you need to have requested to join the ITSN Specialist Program.
APPLY TO THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Would you like to talk to someone one-on-one? Check out our Office Hours Guide below to see when we have teams available to chat with you online. No appointment is necessary.
If you have questions ,feel free to contact us or join Office Hours.