About 130 people from throughout Los Angeles County attended a Graduation Recognition Event on July 25 to celebrate preschool teachers who recently attained their Associate, Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees from area colleges and universities.

Many of these teachers obtained their college degrees thanks to financial assistance provided by LAUP, which spent $209,000 on such stipends during the 2008-09 fiscal year. LAUP hosted the event, which was held at Esther Snyder Community Center in Baldwin Park.

LAUP Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Gary Mangiofico and Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Celia C. Ayala, addressed the recent graduates by congratulating them and reiterating the importance of an educated Early Childhood workforce in Los Angeles County, an important priority of LAUP.

One LAUP teacher graduate, Joy Cyprian, who teaches preschool in La Puente and recently earned her Master’s degree, addressed her fellow graduates and said she could not be more proud of her accomplishment.

“Having this degree really means a lot because you are able not to just preach what education is or just say, ‘education, education’ – you are actually doing it!” she explained. “The kids saw me in my cap and gown – the little ones as well as my nieces and nephews - and it encouraged them. And they all, especially the older ones, told me they know they can do anything!”

LAUP stipends issued to preschool teachers taking coursework and working toward degrees varied from $800 and $1,600 per person. Overall, LAUP issued 154 stipends countywide last fiscal year to preschool teachers throughout the LAUP network.

According to a 2006 report, only 6 percent of assistant teachers and 26 percent of teachers who teach preschool in Los Angeles County hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher.

“As an organization committed to making high-quality preschool education available to all four-year-olds in Los Angeles County, LAUP is working hard to ensure that a skilled and stable workforce is in place to educate young children,” said Dr. Randi Wolfe, LAUP’s Director of Workforce and Professional Development. “LAUP recognizes that a concentration in college-level, early childhood coursework improves teachers’ abilities to provide high-quality experiences for children.”

For more information about LAUP’s stipend program, please call Tara Henriquez at 213-416-1933.