Meet The Participants

Congratulations!

January 2010
Amanda Kavanaugh and Bethany Caruso have both successfully completed all training requirements and earned their Certificates of Completion from the VT Department of Labor for the trade of Child Care Development Specialist!

Nadeau’s Playschool Joins the Family of
Registered Apprenticeship in October 2006!

Nadeau’s Playschool is located at 907 Marshall Avenue in Williston and is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 am to 6 pm. The program serves children ages 6 weeks to 5 years.

Nadeau’s Philosophy is as follows: “Children need a child-friendly environment that is safe, caring and comfortable and will promote equally all areas of a child’s development: Physical, social, emotional and intellectual. Children should be provided balance, a variety of activities,` and types of involvement that takes into consideration all the different learning styles. There must be enough flexibility within these planned offerings to spontaneously accommodate group or individual needs, unexpected circumstances, or parental visits. Opportunities to learn how to function effectively within a group setting and become aware of the needs of others, while at the same time being accepted as an individual, are also important to a young child’s development.”

Apprentice Karin Gamelin joins the family of registered apprenticeship in February 2010 and brings with her experience from other child care centers in the area. Karin started classes in Burlington at Community College of VT with the Infant Toddler Development and Care course in January and will complete her Related Instruction in December 2012. When asked why the apprenticeship program appealed to her, Karin writes, “It will help match up my years of experience with formal education and professional development.”

Mentor Mandi Kavanaugh returns to the Program to help guide Karin through her 4,000 of on the job training at Nadeau’s Playschool. Having recently completed the training program, Mandi is an excellent candidate to guide another apprentice through the process. When asked what skills she wanted to share with an apprentice, Mandi writes, “I would like to share my interest in an open ended play based curriculum, as well as how to make everyday tasks fun for children, as well as for yourself. This Program gives us all an opportunity to set and reach new goals that bring us all to a higher quality.”

Apprentice Rebecca Haselton earned her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential in November of 2008. She has been working in Early Childhood Education for over 6 years and has held a variety of positions including both assistant and head teacher roles. She is currently working at Nadeau’s in the Toddler Room as the head teacher. Rebecca joined the Apprenticeship in November of 2008. She sees the Program as full of opportunities; Rebecca writes, “I hope to gain new knowledge that will help me grow as a teacher. I am always looking to learn things that I can bring into the classroom.”

Apprentice Paula Nadeau made the commitment to the Child Care Apprenticeship Program in December of 2007. She writes about the benefits to her through this program, “I thought it would be a good experience for me to work with a mentor whom I can communicate with and am familiar with in my workplace setting. I also like that the classes are taken at local colleges and will provide me with some starting credits towards an Associates degree.”

Director/Mentor Judy Bergeron will be guiding Paula and Rebecca through their 4,000 hours of on-the-job training. Judy earned her Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Champlain College in 1984 and has worked in the field of child care since her graduation. Judy continues her education through workshops, conferences and college courses offered in her community and is currently working to complete her Director’s Credential for Early Childhood and Afterschool Professionals.

Judy writes, “The Apprenticeship Program is a wonderful way for someone like my self, who has many years of experience in the field of Early Childhood Education, to be able to pass on experiences and knowledge that I have obtained through the years. It is a wonderful opportunity to support others in their professional goals. I have many leadership skills that I look forward to role modeling and sharing with others, so that they too may have the experience and knowledge of a leader when they are ready to step into that role.”