Ivy Tech alumna taps Ivy Tech’s early childhood students for employment

Jennifer Wycoff, a graduate of Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington’s Early Childhood Education program is now interviewing other Early Childhood Education students and alumni to fill positions at the newly established Rainbow Child Care Center of Bloomington, located off Sare Road on the east side.

Wycoff graduated from Ivy Tech Bloomington with an associate degree in Early Childhood Education in 2013. She became involved with Rainbow Child Care Center of Greenwood through her practicum.

“I was told to pick a quality center with a good reputation,” Wycoff said. “I worked as a volunteer for two semesters, and as my time volunteering drew to a close, Rainbow offered me a position.”

Wycoff was hired as the assistant director of Rainbow Child Care Center of Greenwood after she received her degree, and was promoted to program director in July 2013. Along with being program director, she also works as the mentor director for Indiana’s Rainbow Child Care Centers, a position that is responsible for training new program directors.

It’s not just Wycoff that found work immediately after graduation. Marjie Risen, Early Childhood Education program chair at Ivy Tech Bloomington, says that most quality early childcare facilities in our area can boast of hiring many Ivy Tech graduates. “All of our graduates have been able to find work in their field,” she said. “It is predicted there will be 4,000 job openings in the child care field in the next two years in Indiana.”

Wycoff plans to hire at least 13 staff members either before or shortly after opening the child care center, and will continue to hire employees as enrollment increases. “A full center needs at least 21 staff members,” she said. “There will be many opportunities for Bloomington teachers for the foreseeable future.”

Ivy Tech Bloomington’s Early Childhood Education Program is a multidisciplinary, competency-based program that focuses on early child growth and development including adult-child relationships. Emphasis is placed on the development of skills and techniques for providing an appropriate environment and care for young children. Instruction is provided in the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive areas of early childhood. The program offers two certificates and two associate degrees. For more information about the program, visit www.ivytech.edu/early-childhood.