Iowa Western child care provider touches lives of parents, children

Angela Thomas is a team player.

As a teacher associate at the Early Childhood Education Center on the Council Bluffs main campus of Iowa Western Community College, Thomas works with different age groups, from infants to preschool-aged children, as a child care provider.

"I like to go where I'm needed," Thomas said.

Growing up in Council Bluffs, Thomas didn't always know she wanted to work with children, though. Prior to becoming a teacher associate, she worked as a travel agent for many years.

She was laid off from her job after AAA closed their Council Bluffs office in 2009. Shortly after that, a conversation with a friend ultimately was what inspired her to consider a job in child care.

"One day at church, a friend of mine had asked me what the favorite part of my day was," Thomas said. "I said, 'being with the kids on Sunday morning.'"

That's when she decided she needed to make a career change.

Thomas enrolled at Iowa Western in 2009 to pursue an associate's degree in early childhood education. During that time, Mike Stiehl, an education professor at the college, helped Thomas realize what kind of teacher she wanted to be.

"He taught me how to share my experiences with children and how to wear many hats," Thomas said. "He taught me how to build relationships with them and about inquiry-based education and about lesson planning."

After she completed her degree in 2011, she was hired at the college to work full time as a classroom teacher associate.

Today, the center serves roughly 60 children in two infant rooms, one toddler room and two preschool rooms. Each room has a lead teacher with a four-year degree and a teacher associate with a two-year degree.

Thomas is currently pursuing a four-year degree through Buena Vista University to make the transition from teacher associate to lead teacher.

Earning that new title would mean Thomas would be responsible for curriculum taught in the classroom, and she would get to interact with the Iowa Western college students enrolled in early childhood education courses.

"I'd like to be able to provide students an atmosphere on showing them how to handle different situations," Thomas said. "They're learning from us to be future educators and it doesn't get any better than that."

Program Director Jean Stiehl said Thomas' "gentleness and kindness" with both parents and children are what make her a great child care provider.

"She's very equipped in those things that come naturally," Stiehl said. "Then you add in education, and it makes the whole perfect person that you want to clone."

As a teacher associate, Thomas models what is being taught in the classroom and provides additional support to the lead teacher in guidance and curriculum, Stiehl said.

"She's educated and trained, which speaks volumes on what kind of care can be given to a child," Stiehl said. "Through her education and natural tendencies, it just takes her to a higher level of care and, with the two coming together, makes a very strong individual in child care."

Thomas is expected to graduate with a bachelor's degree this year. While she doesn't know yet if she will land a job as a lead teacher, she is sure that all of the children are her favorite.

"I like that children can make you smile," Thomas said. "They are so excited when they've been trying to accomplish something, and it's a rewarding honor to be around them and to watch them grow, especially if you see them come into our infant room and continue to our toddler and then into our preschool room."