May 2024 Newsletter
Building Bright Futures Presents at Annual Smart Start Annual Conference
The BBF team was honored to recently present at the 2024 Annual Smart Start Conference for the second year in a row. Our session, “Building Bright Futures: Early Childhood Education Apprenticeships in NC,” provided an overview of the ECE apprenticeship structure in North Carolina, a program update on Building Bright Futures, and details on BBF’s technical assistance, resources, and financial support for registered apprentices, pre-apprentices, and employers. We also brought along some special guests to discuss how apprenticeships in ECE are working for them.
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Spotlight: Jocelyn Shelton, ECE Pre-Apprentice at Buncombe County Schools
Jocelyn is one of several ECE pre-apprentices in Buncombe County Schools (BCS) this spring semester. In Buncombe County, pre-apprentices complete their work-based learning either at a local child care center or at BCS Learning Labs, a preschool program serving 3- and 4-year olds at four of Buncombe County's high schools. Jocelyn has been a pre-apprentice at Evolve Early Learning Center and is poised to move into apprenticeship upon high school graduation in June 2024. Learn more about Jocelyn’s experience and what a pre-apprenticeship in early childhood education has meant to her.
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Save the Date!
Our next M.A.P.P. Community of Practice Webinar for BBF mentors will be held June 11 at 1pm. Join us and our partners at CCSA for a webinar on observation! For more information on the M.A.P.P. program and to register for the webinar, BBF participants can visit the Mentoring section of the Participants Access page.
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BBF Participants: The Financial Request Tutorial is Now Available on Our Website!
Earlier this month, the BBF team hosted a webinar tutorial on the reimbursement request process and the types of financial support BBF can provide. If you are a participant of BBF, you can view the webinar and slide presentation by going to the password-protected Participants Access page and clicking the Wage and Expense Reimbursement tab. For any questions on reimbursement requests, email lindley.hille@nc.gov or christina.hutchinson@nc.gov.
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T.E.A.C.H. Apprenticeship Scholarship
Did you know there is a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship program exclusively for apprentices? If you are already utilizing a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship and are a new apprentice pursuing an Associate's Degree, the Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Scholarship may be a better fit! To learn more, contact Amy Duffy, Senior Program Manager of the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® North Carolina Scholarship Program at amyd@childcareservices.org.