Northeast State, Greater Kingsport Family YMCA forge early childcare apprenticeship

Northeast State Community College and the Greater Kingsport Family YMCA have forged a new apprenticeship pathway for early childhood education.

Northeast State President Dr. Jeff McCord and Steve Shives, president and CEO of the Greater Kingsport Family YMCA, signed the agreement at Wayne G. Basler Library on April 28.

“We really appreciate the partnership with Northeast in creating the flexibility for staff and their education,” said Rochelle Wilking, vice president of Childcare Services at the Greater Kingsport YMCA. “We are super excited to keep staff retained with high training for them.”

As part of this collaboration, Northeast State will provide educational support and professional training for educators. This support includes academic advising, program guidance, and ongoing assistance to help students and educators successfully navigate their educational and career pathways. Northeast State administers the new Early Childhood and School Age Educator Apprenticeship program through the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Apprentice candidates completing their requirements will earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Northeast State.

McCord emphasized the apprenticeship model as a valuable teaching methodology across many professions. The model’s flexibility has attracted apprenticeship partnerships from manufacturing, health care, and education to Northeast State.

“The apprenticeship model includes ongoing employment, a mentor, and the relevant education necessary to be successful.” said McCord. “We are very proud and excited to be a part of making this partnership available and helping to address quality childcare needs in our region.”

The Greater Kingsport Family YMCA currently provides childcare to more than 850 children at 22 locations in the Kingsport region, Wilking said. The new apprenticeship agreement represents an exciting new opportunity to educate childcare professionals—a segment of the workforce critical to working families and adult college students.

Shives noted that YMCAs collectively in the state of Tennessee are the largest providers of childcare, with a need that continues to grow regionally and nationally. He mentioned that the YMCA plans to begin construction this summer on a $6.1 million renovation and expansion of its facility, including a childcare center.

“We need to be able to staff our childcare center with very high-quality individuals. We are excited about our partnership with Northeast, and we are excited about growing that,” said Shives. “Childcare is a desperate need in this region, and we need to get people into the workforce.”