A meaningful and productive preschool experience is more important than ever when it comes to setting children on a course for success in their K-12 educational journey. With this in mind, Early Years continues to strengthen the necessary support to ensure that early childhood educators receive the best preparation possible.

The Durham Early Childhood Apprenticeship program, a partnership with Durham Technical Community College, began in 2023 to support Durham’s universal preschool initiative, Durham PreK. It offers work-based training for those interested in becoming early childhood educators and has already proven successful in preparing and certifying early educators in Durham. It was created to support and build capacity for Durham's early education workforce.

As a result, the need for highly credentialed early childhood educators is at an all-time high. To meet this need, Early Years has launched the Durham County Early Educator Academy, a partnership with Durham Tech, with support from Duke University.

The Academy is a free, six-week program through which participants can earn the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential (NCECC), required for lead teachers in child care centers across the state. It also offers an extra layer of preparation for those who will enter the apprenticeship program.

Maggie West is the Durham PreK Workforce Support Program Manager for Early Years. She is coordinating the program along with Durham Tech officials. Interest is high among those who seek to be credentialed in early childhood education in the Durham area.

“We’re excited,” said West. “We have only been advertising for a couple of weeks (as of mid-May) and already have more than 90 applications.” West added that the Academy is offered in both English and Spanish.

Important certifications and opportunities for apprenticeships and further education

In addition to the NCECC, the Academy offers five certifications required for early childhood educators:

• CPR/First Aid
• ITS-SIDS Safe Sleep Training
• NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development
• Trauma Informed Care Training, and
• Child Abuse Prevention Training.

Upon successful completion of the Academy, newly credentialed educators will be eligible to pursue an associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Durham Tech.

“If the educators decide to go on for their associate degree, they can apply and go through the enrollment process (at Durham Tech),” said West. “We’ll be helping all the participants apply for scholarships and college aid to try to make it at no cost to the student.”

West added that those graduates of the Academy who are specifically hired as an apprentice at a Durham PreK provider will automatically receive a scholarship for the associate degree program at Durham Tech.

‘A community of educators’

Duke University’s “Doing Good” employee giving campaign is helping to fund the Academy with a $10,000 grant. The grant covers Academy tuition for participants, provides interpreters for Academy participants for whom English is not their first language, and also provides stipends for child care and transportation for participants.

“(The grant) also allows us to have two peer tutors,” said West. “These are individuals who graduated from the apprenticeship program who can provide peer support to the Academy students.”

West said that there has been a great level of interest in the program among many young people who are looking to make early education their chosen professional career, and to be part of an effort that benefits so many Durham children and families.

“People are interested and want to work in this field,” said West. “I think it’s showing the excitement in our community to work in the field if they are getting the right support - knowing you’re part of a community of educators and feeling confident you’ve had the training and support when you set foot in class for the first time.”

The Durham County Early Educator Academy class began its inaugural session on June 9. For information regarding upcoming opportunities, contact Maggie West at maggiew@earlyyearsnc.org.