Halifax Community College Adds ECE as its First Sponsored Apprenticeship Program

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Building Bright Futures recently attended a signing event at Halifax Community College (HCC) as the college officially added Early Childhood Education as its first sponsored apprenticeship program! This sponsorship allows HCC, local child care programs, and other key stakeholders to address the needs of the community, with the common goal of boosting the county’s early child care workforce. Those interested in starting or advancing a career in early childhood can do so through taking coursework at Halifax CC while receiving paid on-the-job training and mentorship at a child care program. Building Bright Futures will provide participating employers and apprentices with technical assistance, resources, and financial support for wages, enrichment opportunities, and wraparound services.

The first employer to sign on to this sponsored apprenticeship agreement was the Choanoke Area Development Association of NC, Inc. (CADA), which oversees the county’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Dianne Bynum, Head Start/Early Head Start Director, stated, “We at CADA are excited about the recent addition of ECE to Halifax Community College’s apprenticeship portfolio. Having ECE apprenticeships will impact local centers and I anticipate more students will show interest in pursuing a career in the early childhood field as a result. Having more credentialed and well-trained staff helps ensure children’s school readiness and provides them with a safe and nurturing learning environment.”

The culminating event is the result of a collaboration among local and statewide organizations, including ApprenticeshipNC, the North Carolina Business Committee for Education’s Building Bright Futures initiative, Halifax Community College, CADA, Turning Point Workforce Development Board, NC Commerce, and Halifax County Schools.  

Duna Long, Special Projects Outreach Coordinator for Turning Point Workforce Development Board, spoke to the significance of this sponsorship, adding, “Early Childhood Education apprenticeships provide our community members a chance to ‘earn while they learn’. For many job seekers in our Tier One communities, the only way to continue their education is to work and go to school. This apprenticeship program provides that and, with Building Bright Futures’ resources, our local businesses like CADA, can afford to try this new program.”