Orientation to the field of early education is essential for all early educators. As you go about your daily routines, being able to provide a safe, high quality care environment while understanding the basics of child development will make your job easier.

Newly employed early educators are required to be trained on certain topics in the first 2 weeks of employment. Participants in this learning event will describe ways to provide adequate supervision of children in both indoor and outdoor environments, list ways to prevent shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma, write a statement describing the importance of preventing and managing infectious diseases, including immunizations and list the necessary precautions in transporting children. In addition, early educators will need to learn the specific policies and procedures of their employer by working directly with an administrator outside of this learning event. This learning event will also instruct new early educators on how to access the required course for recognizing, responding to, and reporting child abuse, neglect, or maltreatment.

Participants will read handouts, view videos, complete online assignments, attend time required, and pass a post knowledge assessment with a score of 90% or higher in order to earn the course certificate. The post knowledge assessment may be taken multiple times to ensure success.

Registration always open!

Click on Registration button

If you've registered in the past, log in to your account, and add the course you wish to attend. Click on 'click here to checkout'.

If it's your first time, you'll need to click 'create new account'-then complete the registration form and click on 'click here to checkout'.

After the system processes your payment (just a few short minutes), you'll receive an email with a link assigned to your unique email address. (email addresses can not be shared by participants).

Please keep this link/email so that you can return to the course as often as you need.

Karen’s personal information:

Family demographics: Originally from West Virginia, has 1 sister, lives in Kings Mountain.  Recently had a very small, private wedding ceremony and married Jeff Presnell, but kept the name Karen Darby, on Tuesday, 2-22-2022.  Karen has no children of her own but enjoys spending time with Jeff’s grown children and grandchildren.

Hobbies: Swimming, hiking, biking, flower gardening, painting, willing to try anything outdoors at least once.

Outside interests: Teaches an adult swimming class for the City of Shelby, Certified Aqua Fitness Instructor, Volunteers in the community and senior center

Future plans/aspirations: An on-going goal is to be a published author (of more than just an article or blogpost), bring the on-demand learning platform/courses to the level of recognition of a statewide project/be viewed as a statewide project director or advance to a higher position in SW, if applicable and available. 

Contact Karen at darby.karen@swcdcinc.org