**Apply to the Early Childhood Emerging Leaders Apprenticeship here!**
Apprenticeship Programs
Supporting Early Childhood Educators and Administrators through Apprenticeship
Neighborhood Villages operates cost-free registered apprenticeship programs that invest in early educators’ professional development and ongoing advancement in the field.
Early Childhood Emerging Leaders (ECEL) Registered Apprenticeship Program
Program Information
Our Early Childhood Emerging Leaders (ECEL) Registered Apprenticeship Program creates a structured, co-supported pathway for a lead teacher to become director-qualified while providing the center director with an in-office apprentice for a full year.
How It Works
It starts off with a conversation between the director and their lead teacher, with the support of the Neighborhood Villages team, who can be called upon to answer questions and provide clarity.
The lead teacher then enrolls in the state-registered ECEL Program. To start off, they will take a weekly evening course in Childcare Administration and Infant/Toddler Curriculum (fully funded by Neighborhood Villages), while continuing to teach in the classroom. Once they earn their EEC Director 1 credential, they will join you their director in the office as an assistant director or administrator for a one-year internship. For this, they will earn cost-free PDs in director-level topics under their director’s mentorship.
What’s in it for the apprentice
A paid path to directorship with regular wage increases
Cost-free coursework in Business, Reflective Supervision, Licensing, and more
Flexible, remote evening classes, one night per week
Wrap-around support and tech assistance
VIP access to Neighborhood Villages’ services and events
What’s in it for the director
• Apply and receive a $4,200 Massachusetts tax credit for every apprentice hosted, to offset the cost of the wage bump given to the apprentice
• $1,000 mentor stipend per apprentice (for the director or another qualified administrator)
• Director-level college credits and PDs for the lead teacher, at no cost to the program
• Ready-made leadership pipeline and office support
• VIP access to Neighborhood Villages’ services and events.
[The ECEL Program] has given me great supports to be able to work with my families better, talk to them and put myself in a different position and just feel more confident in my role.”
- ECEL Program Participant
In partnership with Boston's Office of Early Childhood as part of the Growing the Workforce Grant
With special thanks to:
View Neighborhood Villages' commitment to Equal Employment Opportunities here.