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TECTA at Tennessee State University

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TECTA Orientation • TECTA Services • TSU TECTA Staff • Location

About the Program

The Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA) is a statewide program that provides free training and academic tuition support to childcare providers and administrators. The program offers a free 30-hour Orientation with instruction in five areas: Center-Based child care, Infant/Toddler care, Family Child Care, School-Age child care, and Administrator training. After completing the Orientation, participants are eligible to receive tuition assistance for coursework at any public higher education institution. Participation is open to any staff employed in a licensed child care facility in Tennessee.

Our service area includes the following counties:

TSU TECTA Service Area Davidson; Rutherford; Williamson; Sumner; Wilson; Cheatham; Robertson; Trousdale; Marshall; Bedford; Giles; Lincoln; Moore

Lauren Andru
Child Care Program Director and TECTA-supported Student

"I am Lauren Andru, Director at Generations Connected. I have been in child care for 14 years now. I am not a traditional person in that I went to college got married and had kids. I went to college got engaged, and had my first son. I went to the TECTA orientation while going back to college at MTSU, and working at a childcare facility. But then life happened and I got married and had two more children. In which I stayed in childcare to be with them at my facility. At this time I completed my CDA coursework, and continued working and raising my family. But it had always loomed over me to complete my CDA. TECTA has always been there for me when I was ready. They were there ready to help where I had left off without judgement or questions of why didn’t I finish, or how come it took you so long? I have now obtained my CDA, and currently enrolled for my Associates degree. I feel that TECTA has played a huge support role, and is always a phone call away. Everyone’s quick responses and helpful tips, and guidance of what the next step is, have kept the positive ball rolling. It made the task seem not so large and unobtainable, That looming feeling has been lifted, because I have completed my CDA and I am compelled to keep going! Thank you TECTA for being there for me!"

TECTA Orientation

TECTA Orientations are free. You must attend all Orientation classes in order to receive your DHS Approved 30-hour Certificate of Completion. You are allowed to miss two Orientation classes; however, they must be completed within 18 months in order to receive your Certificate of Completion.

This is a tentative schedule, subject to change based on funding and student enrollment. Each Orientation is 30 hours of free, TDHS-approved training.

Fall I 2025 Orientation Schedule

TECTA Fall I 2025 Orientation Schedule (Printable PDF)

TECTA Fall I 2025 Orientation Enrollment Form (Fillable PDF)

TYPE	LOCATION	DATES	TIMES	REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Infant and Toddler (Birth-3 years) 92230	(In-Person) The Community Day School 115 Centre St. Pleasant View, TN 37146	July 19, Aug 2,16,30 Sept 13	In-Person: 8am-2:30pm	Registration Deadline: In-Person July 17 (or capacity)
Infant and Toddler (Birth-3 Years) 92238	Hybrid	July 7 through September 2	Zoom: (July 7 & Sept 2) 6:00-9:00pm Online via eLearn Platform: Modules 2-9 July 8 – Aug 26 Online Modules, Tuesday through Monday	Registration Deadline: July 1
Center-Based (3-5 years) 92231	TSU Avon Williams Campus 330 10th Ave. N Nashville, TN 37203	July 26, Aug 2,16, 23 Sept 6	In-Person: 8:00am-2:30pm	Registration Deadline: July 24 (or capacity)
School-Age (Educators who provide care for children in Before and After School Programs) 92232	Online	July 1 through Sept 15	Tuesday through Monday Educators will have (1) week to complete each Module.	Registration Deadline: June 27
Administrator (Owners, Directors/ Asst. Directors) 92233	Hybrid	July 7 through September 9	Zoom: (July 7 & Sept 9) 6:00-9:00pm Online via eLearn Platform: Modules 2-9 July 8 – Sept 8 Online Modules, Tuesday through Monday	Please email if interested: Uylondia Gordon@ ugordon@tnstate.edu

TECTA Forms

TECTA Student Information Form

TECTA Application for Academic Tuition Assistance

To download the forms, right-click on the links above and select 'Save Page As' or 'Save Link As' to save a copy of the form. Open the PDF file, complete the form, and be sure to save a copy to send to your TECTA site. Click here for more detailed instructions on how to open and save a PDF file.

Quanasa Smith
TECTA-Supported Student Pursuing an Associates Degree

"Thank you TECTA for all you do! Not just for me but all students who come through your program. I am forever grateful!”

TECTA Services

Child Development Associate™ (CDA) Credential

There are four academic Early Childhood Education courses applicable for CDA^® requirements. TECTA can provide assistance for CDA candidates in the following ways:

Tuition Assistance for the four Academic Courses
Textbooks for Academic Courses
TECTA Professional Development Specialist
CDA Competency Standards Book
Professional Portfolio Support
Verification Visit
Application Assistance
Scholarship Application Fee

Tuition Assistance

TECTA provides tuition assistance for Associates, Bachelors, and Masters degrees at Tennessee colleges and universities. Registration for the Summer 2020 semester will take place during April of 2020.

Services for Family Child Care

TECTA provides Orientation, tuition assistance, accreditation support, mentoring, and in-home technical assistance for family child care programs through the TECTA Family Child Care Network.

If you work in the TSU TECTA service area, contact Analyn Borthick, Family Child Care Specialist, at aborthic@tnstate.edu or 615-277-1694.

TSU TECTA Staff


	Jamie Dalbec TECTA Orientation Specialist jfarrel1@tnstate.edu	Donita Flippin TECTA Data Specialist dflippi1@tnstate.edu
Uylondia Gordon TSU TECTA Program Manager ugordon@tnstate.edu
	Lisa Jackson TECTA Coordinator TSU TECTA ljacks81@tnstate.edu	Denise McKell TECTA Orientation Specialist dmckell@tnstate.edu

Cynthia Wright
First-time TECTA-Supported Student pursuing a CDA

Mrs. Gordon,

I am fully registered and ready to go to Volunteer State starting May 18th. Thank you so much for teaching TECTA and making me excited to go get my CDA! I can't thank you enough. Mrs.Wilson helped me get all the documents and registered with my classes! I'm so blessed to have met you!

Many Thanks,

Cynthia Wright

Location

Tennessee State University - Main Campus
Research and Sponsored Programs Building - Suite 1B - map
Center of Excellence for Learning Sciences

3500 John A. Merritt Blvd., Box 9500
Nashville, TN 37209
Phone: 615-277-1697
Fax: 615-277-1670

Directions to building >> (or enter this address into your GPS app or device: 1100 37^th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37209.)

This Project is funded by the Center of Excellence of Learning Sciences at Tennessee State University through a contract with the Tennessee Department of Human Services.