Meet The Participants

Children’s Preschool and Enrichment Center (CPEC) provides early care and education for 3 and 4 year olds and can be found at 39 Main St. in Essex Junction.  CPEC signed up as a sponsor for the Apprenticeship Program “…in order to provide an excellent professional development opportunity to the teachers which include college level work.” 

Apprentice Andrea Thorpe joined the program in April of 2008.  She has her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and started working at the Children’s Preschool and Enrichment Center in the fall of 2002.  She has always wanted to obtain a higher degree of education and feels that the Apprenticeship Program allows her to financially do so while simultaneously working.  Andrea writes, “I think this Program will help me feel more confident in my work because I will have the classes and can use the information immediately in my work.” 

Owner/Mentor Karen Gray has earned her Master’s in Education from UVM in the Spring of 2009; she holds a BA in Health Education as well as a license to teach Early Childhood Education.  Karen has been the owner and director of the Children’s Preschool and Enrichment Center since 1987.  Karen is mentoring Andrea and supports the Apprenticeship Program writing, “Children and families will benefit from the growth that both the teacher and the mentor will experience over the time of the apprenticeship. Improvements in relationships and in current practices are two examples of such growth.”