Specialized pathways for coaches and trainers.
The Texas ITSN Specialist Program has two pathways. The first pathway is the Specialist Program. The specialist program is a professional development program for those who support infant and toddler teachers. It is also a good fit for specialists and directors who want to increase their knowledge and skills to support infant and toddler teachers and access quality improvement resources. The second pathway is the Certification Program for specialists who formally mentor (coach/train) infant and toddler teachers and administrators. The Certification Program pathway will allow specialists to gain access to and train on certified ITSN content. There is an application process for the ITSN Certification program; please see below for more details.
Specialists
Are you an early childhood specialist wanting to expand your expertise in supporting infant and toddler teachers? We invite specialists who support infant-toddler teachers to join our network to access exclusive content and earn professional development hours.
The resources found on the Texas ITSN and CLI Engage websites can be used immediately to build your knowledge and skills and support infant and toddler teachers. Participants who join have opportunities to learn strategies for supporting child development and become more familiar with 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 ITSN access is required to view webinars and courses on 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 can access the ITSN content.
Need one-on-one support? Check out our Office Hours Guide below. No appointment is necessary.
Certification Program
Qualified specialists are invited to apply to become part of the Texas ITSN Certification Program. To be eligible, you must mentor and train infant and toddler teachers or administrators. You must provide a minimum of ten coaching/contact hours a month, become a registered trainer on the Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System (TECPDS), and deliver a minimum of five approved ITSN trainings to infant and toddler teachers that you support.
Members of the Certification 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
- Recognition on the Texas ITSN and TECPDS websites
- A free account on the Trainer Registry with fees waived
- Access to certified ITSN Teacher Training facilitator guides, PowerPoints, and other resources to enhance training and coaching sessions.
Once certified, access to the ITSN logo on certificates issued via TECPDS. Examples of specialists participating in the ITSN Certification Program are Texas Rising Star mentors, Texas School Ready Comprehensive Coaches, and specialists who work at Education Service Centers like Early Head Start or similar agencies.
The 2024 Certification Program cohorts are full. New cohorts will begin in the 2024-2025 program year.
Once accepted into the Certification Program, specialists will complete 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 trainings.
APPLY TO THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Would you like to talk to someone one-on-one about the Certification Program? Check out our Office Hours Guide. No appointment is necessary.
If you have questions , please email us at ITSNSpecialistProgram@uth.tmc.edu or join us during Office Hours.