Thanks to a small group of dedicated individuals, the Early Childhood Pathway that was inactive at the Windham Regional Career Center will be restarted this week. The program now has an advisory board, an updated curriculum (including a new course on The Art and Science of Teaching from Melissa Mroz-Gaskill), and a group of students who are excited to jump into the world of early childhood education. Two courses will be offered during the fall semester; Foundations of Early Childhood, and Early Childhood Development.
“This program allowed me real field experience as a volunteer, which turned into a job right out of high school. The same program I am at now, where I will be promoted next year!” ~Emmalee Waite, WRCC & CCV graduate
Back in December, Emmalee Waite, Nancy Weise, and Chloe Learey sat down to talk about the multi-disciplinary pathway, the importance of the first 5 years, wages and affordability, and how play is so much more than ‘just play’.
Emmalee Waite is an Early Childhood Educator and graduate of the EC pathway. Nancy Weise is the Interim Director of the Windham Regional Career Center. Chloe Learey is the Executive Director of the Winston Prouty Center, Chair of the Child Care Counts Coalition, and Private Co-Chair of the BBF State Advisory Council.
The whole conversation is wonderful, but if you only have a few minutes, here are some highlights:
- Summary
- The importance of play
- Wages, affordability, and valuing early childhood
- Multidisciplinary approach
- Early Care and Education as a launching point
- How to make the case for investment
For more information about the Pathway, please contact Joyce Rathbun: jrathbun@wsesdvt.org or 802-451-3900.
Thank you to the group who brought this vision into reality:
Tom Yahn, Nancy Weise, Melissa Mroz-Gaskill, Leigh Marthe, Chloe Learey, and the full Child Care Counts Coalition.
We are excited to have this piece of the puzzle in place to support the recruitment and retention of a highly qualified and excited early care and education workforce.
