Durham Early Educator Apprenticeships

Your path to better pay and a free degree

How can an apprenticeship support me in my early childhood career?

Who can participate?

Current early childhood educators: Earn your Associate or Bachelor's Degree while working

New/Aspiring early educators: Professionals new to the early childhood field can earn certificates and degrees while working

Current high school students: Earn high school and college credit, and participate in work-based learning
Experienced educators with higher degrees: Receive stipends to serve as a mentor for apprentices

What apprenticeship opportunities are available in Durham?

Pre-Apprenticeship

Who can participate? Current high school students age 16+

Program Components:

Coursework: Pre-apprentices enroll in early childhood coursework through their high school’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program by taking FE11, or enroll in EDU 119 at Durham Tech through the Career and College Promise (CCP) program. Tuition is free for the college course at Durham Tech, and textbooks are covered by the Pre-Apprenticeship program.

Work-based learning: Complete work-based learning in a high-quality child care setting, with opportunities to learn from experienced early childhood educators, build professional connections for future employment in the field, and build work-based experience on your resume.

Stipends and support: Pre-apprentices receive stipends for performance, transportation, and completion in order to provide financial support for successful participation in work-based learning. Pre-apprentices also receive free basic certifications that are immediately transferable to the early childhood field, free professional development, and career development opportunities.

What are the benefits of participating in a pre-apprenticeship?

Receive US Department of Labor Certificate upon completion
Receive NC Early Childhood Credential upon completion
Free tuition and textbooks for related instruction at community college
Eligible for tuition waivers for early childhood degree tracks in community college after graduating high school, leading to a tuition-free Associate Degree

Associate Degree Apprenticeship

Who can participate? Individuals age 18+ with a High School Diploma/ Equivalent. Must either already be working 30+ hours per week in licensed child care setting, or able to be hired 30+ hours per week by licensed child care provider

Program Components:

Learn: Apprentices learn through a combination of structured on-the-job learning and related college instruction.

Enroll in a minimum of 9 credits per academic year to make progress towards your Associate Degree. All early childhood courses are available in a fully-online and flexible format. Tuition and textbooks for related instruction are 100% covered for apprentices by T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Scholarships!
Complete on-the-job learning and document skills that you are practicing and mastering in your work as an early educator.
Receive 3 hours per week of paid release time during each academic semester to offer additional time to complete coursework and/or to meet with your mentor teacher.

Grow: Apprentices are paired with a mentor teacher to provide peer support, encouragement, and career development guidance. Apprentices also receive free professional development opportunities and additional career support based on their personal goals.

Earn:

Earn increased wages from your employer as you achieve milestones.
Earn completion bonuses for completing academic coursework.
Maximize your financial aid by applying for FAFSA/Financial Aid to supplement scholarships.

Plus: Flexible Resources:

Receive stipends for transportation, internet, child care, or other needs to support your success
Receive a computer for online coursework, if needed.

Achieve:

Receive US Department of Labor Certificate upon completion
Earn college credits/college degree which can transfer towards a Bachelor’s Degree
Higher wages for higher-level work
Greater opportunities for advancement through continued employment growth in the early childhood field

(Coming soon) Bachelor’s Degree Apprenticeship

Complete this interest form and our team will follow up with you about next steps to connect with partnering programs based on your interests and goals!

Interest Form

Learn more about apprenticeship opportunities by viewing a recording of our Apprenticeship Info Session.

Information for Employers:

How can apprenticeships support my program/business and my workforce?

Salary match of 50% of wages for apprentices through Building Bright Futures (i.e. Reimbursed for 50% of wages paid to apprentices) (*This resource not available for Bachelor’s Degree Apprenticeships)
Improved pathways for teacher recruitment and retention
Increased opportunities for staff for advancement and leadership development
Reimbursed for paid release time by T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood®
Stipends and free professional development for mentors (mentors may be experienced educators on your staff or may be the site director, depending on your center staffing and capacity to supervise on-the-job learning)
Free professional development opportunities for partnering apprentices, mentors, and directors

What are my options as an employer to participate in a registered apprenticeship program?

Become a Partnering Employer with Child Care Services Association’s Registered Apprenticeship Programs: Child Care Services Association (CCSA) will be acting as a sponsoring organization for Registered Apprenticeship Programs in early childhood education in Durham, and employers may choose to partner with this registered apprenticeship program in order to support apprenticeships at your site(s). As the sponsor, CCSA’s goal is to reduce the need for partnering child care centers to take on too much additional paperwork, and to standardize some elements of program design so that we can collectively recruit for and promote the program to prospective apprentices, mentors, and centers. For partnering employers, CCSA will manage paperwork associated with registering each apprentice and documenting their progress towards completion. Contact: Maggie West, maggiew@childcareservices.org
Sponsor your own Registered Apprenticeship Program through ApprenticeshipNC: Centers can also choose to sponsor your own Registered Apprenticeship Program, building a program to specifically meet your needs and capacity and maintaining apprenticeship documentation in-house. Contact the ApprenticeshipNC consultant for the Durham area to get started: Tony McKnight, mcknightt@nccommunitycolleges.edu
Centers can also choose to host Pre-Apprentice (Current high school students participating in a registered pre-apprenticeship program). Pre-Apprentices may be paid or unpaid, depending on the center, and have fewer work-based learning hours required than apprentices. Pre-Apprentices can be an excellent method to grow your own talent and workforce if you have current high school students in your community who would be interested in free community college courses, and tuition waivers to complete their Associate Degree in early childhood education. Contact the Apprenticeship Coordinator at Durham Technical Community College to learn more: Dr. Norman Collins, collinsn@durhamtech.edu

Complete this interest form and our team will follow up with you about next steps to connect with partnering programs based on your interests and goals!

Interest Form

Information for Interested Mentors:

The apprenticeship program is currently recruiting experienced early childhood educators to serve as mentors for apprentices. Details of the expectations, qualifications, and compensation for mentors is included below and in this Mentor Role Description.

Goals of Mentors in Apprenticeship Program

The mentor-apprentice relationship is the foundation for a successful apprenticeship program, as the mentor plays a crucial role in facilitating meaningful on-the-job learning, reflection, and professional growth with the apprentice. A positive mentoring relationship also increases the likelihood that an apprentice will feel supported, listened to, and cared for in the midst of a very demanding profession - hopefully supporting greater longevity and growth in the early childhood field. Goals include:

Promote reflective practice and professional growth of early childhood apprentices by pairing apprentices with experienced, high-quality educators willing to share their expertise
Promote leadership skills and career development opportunities of early childhood mentors by providing meaningful training and professional support to mentors

Based on the scope of the apprenticeship program in the pilot year, CCSA will be supporting apprentices and mentors using two models, depending on the needs and capacity of the partnering employers:

On-site mentors are qualified staff working at the apprentice(s)’s place of employment who are interested in serving as mentors and recommended by their Director for this role.
Cohort mentors are experienced educators working in a different center than the apprentice(s) with whom they are assigned as mentors. When a qualified mentor is not available at the apprentice’s place of employment, a cohort mentor will be engaged to provide professional mentorship to the apprentice, in coordination with on-site supervisory feedback.

Expectations & Commitments of Mentors:

Promote reflective practice, professional growth, and on-the-job learning with early childhood apprentice(s) as either a:
- On-Site Mentor through modeling, observation, clear objectives, reflective conversations, constructive feedback, and regular review of/completion of an On-the-Job learning checklist with apprentice.
- Cohort Mentor through goal-setting, clear objectives, reflective conversations, constructive feedback, and regular review of an On-the-Job learning checklist completed by on-site supervisor.
Build a supportive, growth-oriented relationship with apprentice(s) by providing ongoing communication and support. Mentors are expected to meet at least once per week with apprentice(s) to check in, review progress/questions, and offer guidance/support. For mentors serving apprentices at multiple sites, expectation is to meet at least 2 times per month in person, and to connect by phone/virtually in alternate weeks.
Ensure apprentice(s) have the support and resources they need to succeed by lifting up any concerns, challenges, or barriers they may be experiencing to program staff to request additional support
Attend required initial on-boarding for mentors and participate in virtual monthly Communities of Practice sessions to share resources and discuss best practices
Complete mentoring log and submit to CCSA monthly
Communicate with CCSA about any issues or concerns
Uphold confidentiality agreements and respect the privacy of apprentice(s)

Qualifications of Mentors

At least a Bachelor’s degree in child development, early childhood education, or related field (according to DCDEE guidelines), and/or Birth-Kindergarten Licensure
At least 3 years of experience working as an early childhood educator (infant/toddler or preschool teacher)
Experience demonstrating a broad repertoire of developmentally appropriate, culturally and linguistically responsive, anti-bias, evidence based teaching skills and strategies.
Enthusiasm to mentor, coach, and support new or earlier-career early childhood educators
Bilingual candidates encouraged to apply

Compensation, Professional Development & Support for Mentors

CCSA provides mentors with:

Stipend of $400 per apprentice, per semester the apprentice is enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program (pro-rated for shortened summer semester)
Leadership development through training and professional support to grow leadership skills and capacity
Initial training for all new mentors, including training in cultural competency and skills related to practice-based coaching
Receive free professional development through CCSA in topics of your choice
Monthly virtual Communities of Practice session with apprenticeship program mentors (both in Durham and statewide)
Personal career development support from the CCSA team for you as a mentor - aligning your engagement in this program with your professional goals and aspirations
NAEYC/NCAEYC Digital Membership
Opportunity to apply for professional development grants to attend conferences, courses, trainings, etc.

Complete the application form, available here. Email completed application and a copy of your resume to maggiew@childcareservices.org.

With any questions, please contact Maggie West, Durham PreK Workforce Support Program Manager for Child Care Services Association at maggiew@childcareservices.org or 919-403-6950 ext. 6853.

Mentor Application