On November 16th, Child Care Services Association and Durham Tech hosted a celebration to recognize over 40 early childhood educators and their 20 mentors who have joined the inaugural cohort of the Durham Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship. With 13 partnering employers engaged in the program (and counting), the Durham program is the largest Registered Apprenticeship Program for Early Childhood Education in North Carolina.
Governor Roy Cooper shared this message with attendees in support of all of the apprentices, mentors, employers and partners engaged in Durham’s Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Program.
With over 100 guests in attendance, the event brought together the families, friends, and colleagues of our inaugural group of participants alongside a powerful network of partners collaborating to make this program possible. State leaders from Building Bright Futures and ApprenticeshipNC are key partners in the apprenticeship program, making early childhood educator apprenticeships possible in Durham and across North Carolina. Representatives from Building Bright Futures and ApprenticeshipNC joined CCSA, Durham Tech, and Durham PreK in celebrating this group of educators.
We are so grateful to the 43 apprentices who have joined the pilot of the Durham Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship for the commitment they are making to teach and care for young children. We look forward to supporting them all along their journey towards a debt-free college degree, higher pay, and a rewarding career as an early childhood educator.