Meet The Participants

Home Away From Home is located at 108 Equinox Terrace Rd. in Manchester Center and is licensed for 37 children from ages 6 weeks to 10 years old. Director Deb Wyman writes about why the Apprenticeship Program is fitting for the center. “The Vermont Child Care Apprenticeship Program is another means of showing Home Away From Home’s commitment to professionalism.  The program not only appeals to me (teaching director) but to my early care and education providers because it is an opportunity to continue to build upon the framework of further enhancing the overall quality of the early learning programs we offer.” Home Away From Home currently has one mentor/apprentice team.

Apprentice Angelia King has been working at Home Away From Home since 1998.  Earning her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential in 2007, Angelia obtained her training hours through college level courses in early childhood education and care.  Angelia joined the Registered Apprenticeship Program in April of 2009.  Working towards a goal to develop a better understanding involving program management, curriculum development, and leadership, Angelia writes, “When I have completed this program I will be able to help implement better learning programs that are age appropriate.”

Mentor/Director Deb Wyman hopes to “gain a better understanding of formal assessments and observations (through the Mentor experience with the Program).  I also would like the opportunity to inspire others to be the best they can be, which inevitably will enhance the overall quality of the program.”  Deb is coaching Apprentice Angelia and is excited to share with her some of the many experiences and that she has obtained through years and years of direct service providing with children.  She has attended countless workshops and trainings to help her along her journey of owning a registered family child care home, and now a licensed child care center.

On the Job (OJT) Trainee Amanda Jones joined the training program in 2009 after graduating from high school.  The OJT program follows the pattern of Registered Apprenticeship, with a total of 1,000 hours of supervised on-the-job training combined with 55 hours of Related Instruction. Amanda has attended the 45-hour Fundamentals course to fulfill her training needs.