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HEATHER FIDLER is Director of Partners in Learning (PIL), a child care center in Salisbury, NC that recently signed on to the BBF initiative. Heather offers a unique perspective as both a center director and a parent of an apprentice. Her daughter, Haileigh, is an early childhood apprentice at Partners in Learning! Heather shared with us how beneficial apprenticeship and the BBF initiative has been, and will be, to PIL and her family. |
Partners in Learning has participated in apprenticeship programs in the past, and recently started them again. As Director, what impact have you seen from apprenticeships?
It has been a huge benefit! I have been able to hire young, enthusiastic staff ready to begin a career without the stress of college tuition and other costs, instilling a solid foundation for this generation of educators. Financially, the wage reimbursement allowed me to get back to focusing on education and building a highly qualified staff after the pandemic. Early education is in a tough spot with quality programs finding the qualified staff we need for accreditations and rating scales. The apprenticeship program has really brought back the opportunity to build our own.
Tell us how Haileigh came to be an apprentice at Partners in Learning.
Haileigh has grown up in this setting, as I became an administrator when she was four years old. She loves children and as she grew up with a mom running a center, Haileigh was able to see the ins and outs of early childhood leadership and the expectations of the field. At 13, she became a volunteer after school and did so until she was able to be employed with Partners in Learning. We had a unique opportunity at her high school with early childhood classes and an internship. She received such good feedback, that she decided this was the career for her. Haileigh was the perfect apprenticeship candidate at PIL! She had almost finished taking EDU 119 through the community college and had registered for four more early childhood college courses for her senior year. It is the perfect situation for her and us as a family!
In terms of BBF support for Partners in Learning, what so far has been most valuable?
Having the financial support from BBF has encouraged several of my staff to go back to school. The resources BBF has to assist with purchasing materials, equipment, or even fuel, are all things needed to be successful in school. We use other programs to help with tuition and books, and the additional ‘extras’ BBF can support will help us tremendously.
From a parent’s viewpoint, share with us how being a part of BBF will benefit your family.
The day I met with BBF to discuss its benefits for my staff, my eyes filled with tears as I thought about my daughter’s candidacy. I am a divorced mom of 3, and Haileigh is a wonderful student and a fabulous young teacher. The thought of college costs is something that has been a weight on my shoulders as she gets closer to high school graduation. I wasn’t sure how I was going to afford the tuition, fees, books, technology, and the cost of transportation. Upon listening about the BBF initiative, I was overjoyed at the possibility of this program blessing not only my daughter, but so many others like her. My daughter will be able to work in her chosen career while going to college with limited concerns of cost. Thanks to BBF, the weight on my shoulders has been lifted and is no longer a concern.
What are Haileigh’s current career and education goals?
Haileigh has a strong desire to remain in the education field. She wants to start with a strong foundation in early childhood that she can take with her no matter her path. She would like to attend NC State University and eventually earn a doctorate in education and leadership.
August 2023 Newsletter Article