Action Research Fellowship

Meet Our Apprenticeship Leaders

Meet the 18 early childhood apprenticeship leaders from nine states across the United States who hold roles at various programs, higher education institutions, community organizations, and other intermediaries and are working toward creating more equitable and high-quality early childhood systems. Teams from these programs were selected through an application process designed to identify the leaders with the most promising ideas for change aligned with Bank Street’s values and approaches to educator preparation. Through this fellowship, the Learning Starts At Birth team hopes to inspire and also learn alongside these leadership teams as they innovate to strengthen the opportunities they are providing early childhood educators to learn and grow.

Arizona Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Pathway

Arizona Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Pathway provides a structured pathway for an individual to obtain foundational professional development and education that leads to the completion of the Federal Child Care Development Specialist credential. The two-year pathway is a partnership between Central Arizona College and the Arizona Department of Economic Security Division of Child Care. Central Arizona College also works with surrounding community colleges across the state to get our apprentices enrolled in their coursework.

Abby Cole

Abby Cole is the Program Development Specialist from the State of Arizona Department of Economic Security – Division of Childcare. She works in partnership with Central Arizona Community College to run the Arizona Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Pathway. Originally from Nebraska, she moved in May of 2022 to take on this new role in the state of Arizona.

Abby Cole

Avery Covington

Avery Covington works for Central Arizona College as the program coordinator for the Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Pathway Program. She started her ECE career with the Department of the Army, where she spent 10 years starting as a summer hire,  working her way up to assistant director.

Avery Covington

Colorado Department of Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program

CO’s Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) currently funds apprenticeship placements through four partnership organizations that act as sponsors of federally registered apprenticeship programs. The models include a BA/teacher licensure, an AA/ Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) credential or director’s credential, Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, and other Colorado-specific teacher credentials. They also work closely with Colorado’s Department of Labor and Office of the Future of Work, as well as the Department of Education and the Department of Higher Education.

Jessica Bernett

Jessica Bernett is the apprenticeship program manager for the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, where she supports stimulus-funded apprenticeship pathways across the state and advocates for the early childhood workforce. Prior to joining the state team, Bernett worked on the county, school district, and charter school levels in administering and empowering early childhood educators and their teams.

Jessica Bernett

CMU Tech Early Childhood Teacher Apprenticeship Program (CO)

Colorado Mesa University (CMU)/Western Colorado Community College Campus (WCCC) Early Childhood Education (EDEC) offers an early childhood educator apprenticeship program. The apprenticeship program partners with over 16 different government agencies, colleges, and other private businesses.

T. Vail Shoultz-McCole

T. Vail Shoultz-McCole, MAEd, is a Technical Instructor of Early Childhood Education at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Tech and the Primary Investigator for the Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program grant. Previously, she owned a Family Child Care Home and worked for School District 51. Vail is a certified early childhood Coach/Mentor, CLASS Observer, CDA Observer/Instructor, and sits on the Colorado Department of Early Childhood Rules Advisory Council.

T. Vail Shoultz-McCole

Mindy Guitierrez

Mindy Guitierrez works in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program, assisting with outreach, recruitment, and many other tasks in support of growing the program. She has 17 years of experience in early childhood education as a certified ECE teacher and director and she has a Preschool Bilingual Child Development credential.

Mindy Gutierrez

Delaware Community College & First Up (PA)

First Up has worked with Delaware County Community College to create and expand the early childhood apprenticeship program in Pennsylvania. The apprenticeship program provides a path for ECE teachers to receive enhanced instruction and on-the-job training, culminating in an associate degree. As a leader in this work, First Up was a part of the design and development of the statewide

Jean Allison

Dr. Jean Allison is an associate professor of early childhood education at Delaware County Community College located in Media, Pennsylvania. Jean has been teaching at the college level for over 30 years with 17 of those years as full-time faculty. She was also instrumental in establishing the apprenticeship pathway at her college and removing barriers for students along the way.

Jean Allison

Caroline Campana

Caroline Campana is the director of workforce and professional development for First Up, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her responsibilities include designing and overseeing the apprenticeship work that First Up provides, managing all professional development opportunities, planning the annual conference, and managing a team of early childhood consultants. Additionally, she is a member of the executive team at First Up.

Caroline Campana

Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network

Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network (MRTQ PDN) is the Intermediary and the Sponsor of the Maine ECE Registered Apprenticeship Program. The credential level awards include a choice of the Maine Infant Toddler Credential, Youth Development Credential, Family Child Care Credential, or Preschool CDA. The program partners with Kennebec Valley Community Action Program/Educare Central Maine.

Lori Moses

Lori Moses is the Coordinator of Apprenticeship and Credential Programs at Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network. She has spent many years as a child care center administrator, advocate, and educator. She received her Master in Public Administration from San Francisco State University and her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Salem State University.

Lori Moses

Marnie Morneault

Marnie Morneault is a Research Associate II-Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access Consultant for the Center for Community Inclusion Disabilities Studies at the University of Maine, Orono. Her current work includes both a systemic and individual focus on equity for people who are new to Maine either currently working or seeking to work in the early care and out-of-school-time fields.

Marnie Morneault

Project Flourish (MA)

Project Flourish assists entry-level early childhood workers in preparing for the CDA, which qualifies them to become classroom teachers in Massachusetts (MA).They serve both group child care educators and family child care educators. Project Flourish partners with the MA Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, United Way of Central MA, SEIU Education and Support Fund, Quinsigamond and Mount Wachusett Community Colleges, MassHire Regional Employment Board, Webster 5 Foundation, City of Worcester, and SEUI Collaborative.

Leslie Baker

Leslie Baker is the program director for the Center for Childcare Careers at Family Services of Central MA, an affiliate of the Seven Hills Foundation. She began implementation for Project Flourish, the first registered apprenticeship in early childhood education in MA. She is a former early childhood educator/program owner and trainer, and has 20 years experience in adult basic education.

Leslie Baker

Pathways to Early Learning (NC)

Pathways to Early Learning is a program created and implemented by Southwestern Child Development Commission, Inc., directly supporting the ApprenticeshipNC model administered by the North Carolina (NC) Community College System and the Department of Labor. Pathways to Early Learning removes barriers for individuals who wish to explore and grow professionally in the early education field. ApprenticeshipNC provides professional opportunities for individuals as young as high school students (pre-apprentices), as well as those who are entering the workforce later in life (apprentices) through on-the-job training while completing their educational journey.

Deidre McMahon

Deidre McMahon is the assistant director for Southwestern and serves alongside executive leadership to oversee overall agency management. She developed and implemented Southwestern’s Workforce Development Unit. Within this unit, she oversees additional regional workforce projects, including the recruitment of new early educators, supporting professional development and higher education opportunities while implementing competitive compensation plans.

Deidre McMahon

Jennifer Fouts

Jennifer Fouts oversees the Southwestern Child Development Commission Pathways to Early Learning Apprenticeship Program, alongside partners including the NC Community College System, ApprenticeshipNC, Regional Public-School Systems, and a variety of early care and learning programs.

Jennifer Fouts

SproutFive (OH)

After an initial pilot program of an in-service Child Development Associate (CDA) partnership with the University of Cincinnati, SproutFive, including SproutFive Schools, the NUDL Institute for Professional Learning, and the Center for Early Childhood Innovation developed a CDA program that leverages staff professional development days and teacher-guided coaching to better serve in-service educators. The modified CDA program within SproutFive leverages a job-embedded curriculum and coaching format to engage all teachers within their child care centers.

Colin Page McGinnis

Colin Page McGinnis is the CEO of SproutFive, an early childhood non-profit working to ensure every child benefits from high-quality early learning. After attending The Ohio State University and completing his bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences with Research Distinction in Teaching and Learning, Colin pursued his graduate studies at the University of Nebraska. In 2017, he earned his master’s degree in Educational Psychology and is currently finishing his PhD from The Ohio State University in Human Development and Family Science.

Colin Page McGinnis

Jaclyn M. Dynia

Jaclyn M. Dynia is the executive director of SproutFive’s Center for Early Childhood Innovation. She has guided the research and writing of its White Papers series, which led to groundbreaking research on food insecurities experienced by one in three preschool teachers. Before joining SproutFive, Dynia received her PhD from The Ohio State University and was a senior research specialist at the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy.

Jaclyn Dynia

The Childcare Assistant Apprenticeship Program Day Care Council of New York

The Childcare Assistant Apprenticeship Program (CAAP) is a partnership between Bronx Community College and Day Care Council of New York (DCCNY) to develop an apprenticeship program in the Bronx. Under CAAP, staff working in child care programs in the Bronx earn their CDA and receive coaching at the same time at Bronx Community College. DCCNY is currently working with the Department of Labor to make the program a state certified apprenticeship program.

Gregory Brender

Gregory Brender is the chief policy and innovation officer at the Day Care Council of New York, the membership organization of New York City’s early childhood education and care provider organizations. Gregory also leads the development of new innovations to support the early childhood sector. These include programs to support and develop the early childhood workforce.

Gregory Brender

Gisselle Terrero

Gisselle Terrero is a member services specialist at the Day Care Council of New York. She graduated from John Jay College and obtained a master’s degree in Public Administration. Before joining the Day Care Council, Gisselle worked at the New York Botanical Garden. She was responsible for member engagement, recruitment, and retention.

Gisselle Terrero

Vermont Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship Program

Brenda Schramm

Brenda Schramm is the director for ECE career advancement at the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC). She has 32 years of experience in various settings in the field of early childhood in Vermont. Her roles have included toddler and preschool teacher, family child care program owner, consultant, mentor, instructor, Environmental Rating Scales (ERS) Assessor, strengthening families trainer, adjunct faculty member, and director for ECE career advancement.

Brenda Schram

Paula Nadeau

Paula Nadeau is the ECE career advancement Programs manager at the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC). She has 20 years of experience in ECE in a variety of roles, including owning a licensed center-based child care program in VT. As a young adult, she started as a substitute teacher, worked through her own apprenticeship, and eventually obtained her bachelor’s degree.

Paula Nadeau