Vermont Child Care Apprenticeship Program
News

What is working well?

For apprentices:

Learning in our classes, and applying in our classrooms


Evaluations have been helpful, I have learned a lot


Quickness of ‘after action’ reviews


Discussions (in class)

Increased discussions between staff


Looking at day according to criteria


Learning from your apprentice (supervisor)


Realizing areas to focus on


Work closer as a team


Professionalism


Salary


Networking

For Supervisors:

Through observing apprentices, I am learning a lot


Self-assessment by observing apprentice


Concept of mentoring-someone actually learning mentoring skills


Look at day according to criteria


Having apprentice evaluate me


Applied a lot that Jack taught in class


Working more closely as a team-kids have noticed!


Professionalism


Salary increase


Networking

For Programs:

Increase staff discussions


Mentoring skills


Smoother training transition


Looking at criteria on a daily basis


Fine tuning program


On-going process


Tracking progress through paperwork


What is working well? (Continued)


Strengthening teaching bond


Advertising the Apprenticeship Program


Improving the quality


Value of the team work approach on the children


Increases professional recognition


Amazing press!


Networking

What needs improving?

For apprentices:

Lot of work


Time commitment


Time for supervisor/apprentice


More consistent guidelines


More explanation "who to talk to?"


Sample paperwork


Better explanation


Policy on having taken class already


Previos training

For supervisors:

Time for observations


Standards vs. competencies-continually needs improving


Time commitment


Time together Explanation of paperwork-samples

For programs:

Standards (consistency among centers)


Coordinating among staff to cover meeting times


Communication circle (email addresses)


Posting information on the web site


Providing CDA booklet before 1st meeting


A plan for what will happen when someone drops out


Procedure for previous education/training

Links between Apprentice and Supervisor classes and centers

Pros:

• Some spontaneous sharing
  
• Use course projects in class
  
• Working together/share information
  

What Needs Improving:

• Time-way to talk to other staff about information
  
• Director connected to process
  

Ideas for improvement

Share apprenticeship information on bulletin boards and in newsletters


hang new plaques


allow supervisors to demonstrate new skills


use staff meetings (standard agenda item)

Directors–What is your role in terms of communication?

• Time: Be more aware of setting aside time for supervisor and apprentice to meet on a regular basis. Another thought was to have them spend some time discussing the classes that the apprentice is taking so there will be implementation of the class work
  
• No clearly defined role as director
  
• Examples of filled out paperwork
  
• Copies of syllabus for directors for each class
  
• Directors should get a copy of the red notebook
  
• Each program should have a CDA book
  
• Directors orientation, directors taking the course, or both
  
• It’s going to be easier/better next time around
  

How to promote and link the Apprenticeship Program within your center:

• Allow time at staff meetings (agenda) for Supervisors and apprentices to share
  
• Time for just supervisors to meet with the directors-time to ask questions and to find out what is happening in the class work and the classroom time
  
• Time for just the apprentices to meet with the directors- time to ask questions and to find out what is happening in the class work and the classroom time
  
• Include in the newsletter what’s happening in the Apprenticeship Program. We need parents support and involvement to get the word to businesses.
  
• Having process to ‘work out the kinks’, like tonight’s meeting
  
• Directors should ask more questions of the supervisor and apprentice, like May I see you log? Checking out the "red" book. Asking about the class work. Making sure that the apprentice and supervisor are feeling supported. etc.
  
• Directors doing observations (1-2 times per month) to see if there is improvement and implementation of class work
  
• Knowing more about what happens in the classroom, both in the worksite and related instruction.
• Directors need to be involved so that this is not isolated program
  
• Classroom team times
  
• Doing work sampling-using assessments to look at child’s development as well as apprentice development