Durham PreK celebrated apprentices in the Durham Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Program on Thursday, November 13, 2025 during the Apprenticeship Graduation & Signing Ceremony. The ceremony celebrated recent graduates, recognized progress of returning apprentices, and welcomed the newest cohort of early childhood educators to the program.

Through a partnership with Durham Tech, apprentices receive a full scholarship and support from a mentor teacher to build knowledge and skills in early childhood education while earning a Certificate and/or Associate Degree. As apprentices make progress towards these milestones, they receive incremental bumps in their wages to earn higher compensation to recognize their higher education and growth in teaching practices.

This fall, we welcomed 14 new apprentices into the program, celebrated 2 new graduates of the Associate Degree Apprenticeship, 6 new graduates of the Certificate Apprenticeship, and recognized 21 apprentices who have already earned 1 or more Certificates in early childhood from Durham Tech (one or more of the Infant/Toddler, Preschool, or Administration Certificates).

We were so grateful for the opportunity to celebrate this inspiring group of early childhood educators, as they take this big step forward in their professional journeys and commit to enhancing the ways in which they care for and teach Durham’s youngest children.

Durham PreK is continuously supporting individuals interested in starting or growing their career in early childhood education to enroll in the apprenticeship program or other higher education opportunities. For more information and to connect about higher education or employment opportunities in early childhood, read more here or contact apprenticeship@earlyyearsnc.org.