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April 20, 2023Capital Region BOCES Addresses National Childcare and Teacher Shortage
The demand for childcare workers and teachers has never been greater and Capital Region BOCES through its new Early Childhood Education program is helping to address the workforce needs of childcare providers—and on a long-term basis—schools.
Launched in September, several students have already found employment as childcare providers in local preschools and related programs. Among them are juniors Jazmin Lawson and Rachel Hammond, who work at Schools Out in Bethlehem, Kaitlyn Rose, who works at Little Scholars Learning Center Inc. in Rotterdam, and Skyllar Fleming, who works at the Guilderland YMCA.
“I love it. I love interacting with the kids,” said Lawson, who, along with Hammond, attends BOCES from Bethlehem High School.
Capital Region BOCES helped arrange the jobs for the students, who say these work-based opportunities, provide valuable practical experience and will help them achieve certification as childcare providers.
“It’s really nice, because we are working with kids and all of the hours go towards our national certification,” said Rose, who attends BOCES from Schalmont High School.
“I love working with the kids and gaining the experience that will help me in the future,” added Fleming.
Launched at the start of the 2022-23 school year, the Capital Region BOCES Early Childhood Education teaches high school juniors and seniors the basics and methodology of child development and early childhood education while giving them a solid foundation in classroom arrangement and management. Students also learn curriculum development for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and young children, as well as how to communicate and collaborate with parents/guardians and staff in an educational environment.
The majority of students in the new BOCES program plan to become educators, while others aspire to careers as childcare providers.
“I ultimately want to become a special education teacher and help those who need it most,” said Hammond.
Teacher Jessica Quackenbush, who previously owned her own childcare facility, said there is a dire need for educated, high-quality childcare providers, early childhood educators, and teaching assistants.
“I am very proud to be part of this program and of the drive my scholars are exhibiting to be an essential piece of the solution in combating the current provider/teacher shortage our country continues to face,” she added.
