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Simone Scano Continues to excel after SDCE, at UC San Diego Early Childhood Education Center

April 2, 2019

San Diego Continuing Education Graduate Simone ScanoSimone Scano traveled to the United States from a small town near Venice, Italy following his husband’s career as a biomedical researcher. The emotional relocation pushed Scano toward his dream job. Remembering his experience teaching Italian language to youth in Germany inspired him to explore a career path in child development.

Scano completed the free Child Development Certificate program at San Diego Continuing Education (SDCE) in January 2019 while taking English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.

“My want to become a preschool teacher was misunderstood because in Italy it’s a job exclusively for women. Here in San Diego, I finally have the opportunity to study and work in early education,” said Scano. He explained he was bullied in high school for being different. “It is important for young children to have a positive male role model in their lives.”

SDCE is California’s largest noncredit institution and the adult education division of the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD). SDCE students can transition to San Diego City, Mesa or Miramar colleges with up to 3 college credits earned toward an Associate Degree.

“The pursuit of higher education for employers should be about more than just closing the skills gap,” said Carlos O. Turner Cortez, Ph.D., president of SDCE.  “Forward thinking companies encourage gender diversity in the workplace.”

SDCE offers waivers for transportation, textbooks and equipment to students enrolled in a nontraditional area of study through the institutions’ New Horizons/Gender Equity center.

Following the completion of SDCE’s Child Development Certificate Programs, Scano was hired as a Preschool Assistant for the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) Early Childhood Education Center in La Jolla. “The child development courses at SDCE were a great tool for attaining knowledge, skills, and practice to become an early childhood educator,” said Scano. He assists UC San Diego’s Early Childhood Education Center with lesson planning, circle time, storytelling, and art projects--a mirror image to SDCE’s curriculum.

(Photo Courtesy of Rhett S. Miller/U C Regents) SDCE Graduate Simone Scano leads outdoor activities with UC San Diego Early Childhood Education Center

SDCE’s Child Development Certificate programs provide students opportunities to learn about the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of children at varying stages of life. Specialty classrooms are equipped with outdoor play areas and real-world learning environments (such as an elementary school classroom or child care facility) to prepare graduates for hands-on careers in education, child development, and family services.

Scano plans to advance his career by achieving an Associate of Science Degree in Child Development at San Diego Mesa College. His long-term goal is to become a preschool teacher with a specialty in teaching children Italian through music and dance.

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of preschool teachers is projected to grow 10 percent by 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. Growth is expected due to a continued focus on the importance of early childhood education.

Free Child Development Certificate Program classes and Parent Education classes are scheduled mornings, evenings and weekends SDCE campuses located across San Diego communities from Barrio Logan to Miramar.

For interviews contact, Allura Garis at agaris@sdccd.edu or 619-319-0209.

Allura Garis
619-319-0209
alluragaris@gmail.com