Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC)

On November 15th, we had the pleasure of hosting an Early Childhood Workforce Innovation Summit in Montpelier. This event brought together a diverse group of workforce leaders, advocates, and state representatives, including Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak. Participants spent the day addressing the pressing issues facing Vermont’s early childhood educators and discussing solutions for the future.

Happy National Apprenticeship Week! VTAEYC and the?Vermont Department of Labor?collaborate to offer the Vermont Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship Program for individuals seeking education and experience in the field. Learn more about how apprenticeships are shaping the future and how you can get involved:?https://lnkd.in/ezTkPYNK

Every year at our Annual Conference, VTAEYC presents awards that recognize excellence and advocacy among individuals at all career stages working within and in support of early childhood education. Meet this year's awardees! Early Childhood Educator of the Year: Kent Huntoon of Milton, Lund’s Early Childhood Education Program Distinguished Service: LouAnn Beninati of Essex, Senior Program Director of Let’s Grow Kids Early Childhood Education Student of the Year: Haley Harrington of Bennington, recent graduate of the Community College of Vermont and early childhood educator at The Learning Tree Emerging Leader: Alora Zargo of Brookline, senior at Brattleboro Union High School and the Windham Regional Career Center and a youth apprentice in early childhood education Outstanding Members: Billie Slade of East Dummerston, director of Wonder in the Woods Laura Butler of Milton, who runs the registered family child care home program Imagination Island

And that’s a wrap! ?? Thank you to everyone who attended our Annual Conference. We’re still buzzing with energy and smiles from these incredible two days! It was wonderful to connect and reconnect with so many of you, engage in well-crafted sessions, and celebrate our workforce leaders. The future of Early Childhood Educators is looking bright!

Early childhood educators with family child care home programs have helped shape recommendations for the future. Learn more at vtaeyc.org/profession

Center directors: Your questions helped shape recommendations for an early childhood education profession that works for all of us. See the FAQs at https://lnkd.in/gpzfUhDJ.

Family child care home early childhood educators: Your questions helped shape recommendations for an early childhood education profession that works for all of us. See the FAQs at https://lnkd.in/gpzfUhDJ.

?Rising star!? In today's VTDigger, Windham Regional Career Center student Alora Zargo talks about her passion for early childhood education and how, as a Youth Apprentice, she'll graduate high school with qualifications and college credits. https://lnkd.in/eT6YkKUT Visit vtaeyc.org to learn more about Youth Apprenticeship, administered by VTAEYC in collaboration with the Vermont Department for Children and Families, CDD

#EarlyChildhoodEducation leader Jen Olson in VTDigger! "We see ourselves for who and what we are: trained educators who carefully design developmentally appropriate, play-based learning opportunities for young children, and who continue our professional development and learning throughout our careers. That’s why we call ourselves early childhood educators." https://lnkd.in/eYybTW8s

In VTDigger: a great explanation of how Act 76 funding impacts #EarlyChildhoodEducation programs, featuring the voices of field leaders Tammie Hazlett, Nicole Walker, Savannah McKenzie, Julie Koehler. VTAEYC's focus: addressing the critical need for workforce recruitment and retention, while supporting quality improvement across all programs. https://lnkd.in/ejHuQDsM