Meet The Participants

Turtle Island Children’s Center is located at 659 Elm Street and serves up to 90 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. They began participation in the Apprenticeship Program since its development and implementation in 2001. They continue their sponsorship of apprenticeship in the fall of 2008.

Apprentice Maureen Coffrin comes to early care and education after earning her Certified Nurse’s Aide credential and a Para -educator Certificate. She has worked as an Aide in a Head Start/ Kindergarten and a 4th grade classroom in Connecticut. She writes, “The Apprenticeship Program appeals to me for a number of reasons. Most importantly is the fact that I will be working towards a degree in education. That is something that I had thought would be unobtainable for me. Through my participation in the program I can take full advantage of the course work being offered to me at this time.”

Mentor Donna Petterssen, who has been working at Turtle Island since 2001, is currently coaching Apprentice Maureen Coffrin. Donna has earned her MS in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College in Boston and a BS in Recreational Therapy from Boston University. She shares her thoughts on the Apprenticeship Program, “Families will observe Turtle Island’s commitment to staff development when they learn that Maureen is enrolled in a program that will directly benefit their children.”

David Lagala (Vt. Dept. of Employment & Training), Ben Reed (Apprentice), Valerie Ouimet (Supervising Teacher), Meg Baird (Director) at the Williston Quality Assement Meeting.