Meet Early Childhood Education Faculty Member: Thelma Amaya (Andersen)
Contact Information:
Email: Tamaya@yccd.edu
Phone: 530-344-3143
Office: Hours and locations vary, see syllabus for current information
Education/Credentials:
Infant-Parent Mental Health Postgraduate Fellowship, University of Massachusetts Boston
Master of Social Work, Sacramento State University
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Sacramento State University
Associate of Science-Early Childhood Education, Yuba Community College
Early Childhood Careers ROP, Marysville High School, Marysville CA
Things I like to do outside of work:
I enjoy travel and I am currently working on visiting all 50 states. I am especially fond of the ocean and spending time with my daughters in the bay area, I relax by working on mixed media paper and wood crafts. I also enjoy home decorating, thrift store shopping, supporting social justice issues especially in the area of LGBTQIQ and immigration rights. Most recently I have been building sand castles and creating “long dog” clothes for my rescue Corgi mix “Dug”.
Experience:
I started my career in early childhood education through the Marysville High School ROP program. I went on to attend community college while working and raising my children and I am a proud alum of the Yuba College Early Childhood Education Program. I then transferred to Sacramento State where I earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in Social Work.
Throughout all of my career my focus and experience has been primarily with children age 0-5 and their families. My experience includes preschool classrooms, 0-5 parent child interaction programs, K-5 schools, foster care agencies, school readiness programs, clinical counseling, home visiting, family resource centers, family advocacy programs, and early childhood mental health.
For the past eleven years I have successfully implemented the Child Development Behavioral Consultation Program through the Yuba County Office of Education. This has been a dream come true for me as I am passionate about healthy social/emotional development.
Why Early Childhood Education is a great career option:
Why do you feel this is a great career field to pursue?
Through a foundation in Early Childhood Education you will open many doors of opportunity. The knowledge and skills that you will learn through your ongoing studies in the field of ECE will be an excellent foundation for your experiences serving children and families in varied early care and education settings. Being an early childhood professional allows you to make a difference in the lives of children and families, it’s a career that grows with you and allows you the opportunity to find the settings where you excel.
Advice:
- We are here to support you, communicate with your professors, go to office hours, share your concerns as well as your knowledge and questions. and we will all learn in relationship with each other.
- You don’t have to know the exact answer to “What do you want to do?”, Keep learning, stay open to possibilities, do what you love and love what you do and the answers will evolve along with you.
- Many of your ECE colleagues will be with you throughout your career take the time to get to know them support each other and build strong relationships. The richest learning and happiest careers are all based on healthy connections.