Wyoming’s youngest citizens, including infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, hold incredible
potential, and the UW Trustees Education Initiative (TEI) is committed to fostering
early childhood education and strengthening relationships among early childhood educators
statewide. Through the Wyoming Early Childhood Outreach Network (WYECON), TEI aims
to connect school systems, Head Start centers, home-based child care providers, and
early childhood development centers. WYECON provides professional development opportunities
and elevates early childhood education by integrating fieldwork and professional development
activities, enhancing accessibility through distance delivery of courses, and placing
early childhood educator candidates in diverse learning environments.
Building Foundations for Early Learning
WYECON aims to strengthen ties and facilitate collaboration among school systems,
Head Start centers, home-based child care providers, and early childhood development
centers throughout Wyoming.
The network delivers professional development opportunities to elevate early childhood
education.
The College of Education offers three early childhood certificates/endorsements: Birth-5,
Birth-8, and Early Childhood Special Education.
All programs require internships and/or residencies, providing hands-on experience
in real-world settings.
A university task force is exploring the potential launch of Wyoming’s first early
childhood education (ECE) bachelor’s degree program.
Early childhood educator candidates receive clinical training and expert faculty guidance
through the Trustees Education Initiative.
Candidates engage in rigorous and relevant coursework that allows them to demonstrate
and apply key competencies.
WYECON integrates fieldwork and professional development, creating a partnership and
reciprocal benefit between the university and early childhood professionals.
Distance delivery of courses and professional development activities increases accessibility
for candidates across the state.
WYECON provides specialized professional development for kindergarten teachers to
support children's successful transition to kindergarten.
WYECON partners with state agencies to deliver free professional development through
the Wyoming Early Childhood Professional Learning Collaborative. https://www.wyecplc.org/
WYECON’s fieldwork placement system places candidates in settings such as Head Start
centers, childhood development centers, licensed home-based early childhood learning
environments, and mobile early childhood classrooms.
Candidates can choose sites close to home, reducing housing barriers and supporting
their community systems.
With dedicated practitioners and communities linked to new talent development and
the resources of the university, Wyoming is making a significant investment in its
workforce and youngest populations.
Have a question about the Wyoming Early Childhood Outreach Network?
