A fresh coat of paint. Polished floors. New cubbies, new tables, new books. Summer days were spent sprucing up WCAC's Head Start Center located at 25 Cole Avenue in Southbridge, in anticipation of welcoming students back to school this week.

Special thanks to Ivan Quinones, parent of one of our students who volunteerered his time and talent in adding colorful murals to the walls at Cole Ave! Parent engagement is a critical component of the Head Start model. Parents are encouraged to become involved by attending trainings and workshops, volunteering in their children’s classrooms and becoming members of parent-center committees and policy council.

During Summer 2019, the Family Services of Central Massachusetts' Center for Childcare Careers, an affiliate of the Seven Hills Foundation, received a grant from the MA Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) to develop an apprenticeship program for early childhood education entry level staff working in child care centers. Under the initiative known as Project Flourish, apprentices, paid workers-in-training, participate in classroom and "on-the-job" training with the support of a mentor over a 12-18 month period. Modeled after apprenticeships in traditional trades, the program supports the advancement of early career professionals through a combination of classroom instruction, mentoring, professional networking, pay increases when benchmarks are reached, and, upon graduation, professional certifications.  

An inaugural class of 11 apprentices began its journey on June 23rd. WCAC is fortunate to have members of its early education and care team participating in the first apprenticeship cohort. Amanda Santiago-Morales and Maria Monserrate worked previously as kitchen aides at WCAC's Head Start Center but as Project Flourish participants will be transitioning into classroom assistants this fall as they continue to work toward earning their certifications for teaching.

Graduates will receive an EOLWD Apprenticeship Certificate and become eligible for Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care Teacher licensure. Additionally, they will earn required professional development hours towards Lead Teacher licensure as well as the nationally recognized Child Development Associate certification from the Council for Professional Recognition. Graduates can also earn up to six credits in pursuit of a higher education degree. Recruitment is underway for the next cohort of apprentices. Learn more here.

Readying Educators And Developing Young Children for Great Outcomes (READYGO) is a research study and workforce development partnership of the Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP), generously supported by The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts. The goal is to maximize the early education and care/head Start experiences and number of children receiving services through staff development, by providing education and training in adverse childhood experiences, creating trauma-informed learning environments and behavioral management skills to successfully address challenging behaviors in young children.

MASSCAP is working in partnership with the early childhood education and care programs at Making Opportunity Count (MOC), Worcester Community Action Council (WCAC), and the YMCA of Central MA. Educators at selected sites of those centers will have the opportunity to take a two-course sequence, which has been specifically designed for the goal of READYGO. The courses were developed jointly by faculty at Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) and Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC). Once the project is concluded, the courses will be open to all, but the study is specifically focused on the pre-K/preschool age group.

"There was no coursework like this when I completed my degree," noted Jenn Courtney, a Head Start teacher at WCAC for 17 years. "But in today's world given all that we've experienced with COVID, every person has trauma." Noting that for a young child 'trauma' can manifest itself in a divorce, a death, a new sibling, a relocation to a new community, not just in things many people instinctively think of as a traumatic experience. "I'm excited to be part of this research in developing the coursework that will help future teachers be more aware of what they'll face when they walk in the door."

Sissy Busold, WCAC Head Start teacher for 13 years, the last six of which as co-teacher with Jenn, agreed saying "I'm excited to learn something new that I know I will immediately be able to apply in our classroom." Jenn & Sissy are two of seven staff members from WCAC's Head Start team participating in the project.

Meet Carmen Altiery, Site Supervisor for WCAC's Head Start Center in Southbridge

From her earliest days as one of nine children and the oldest daughter growing up in Puerto Rico, Carmen Altiery has always been around children. A second mother to her younger siblings she continued caring for little ones throughout her youth even babysitting frequently for other families throughout her teen years.

Shortly after graduation, a whirlwind romance found her married and moving to the United States. When three children of her own followed in rapid succession, she found herself struggling, in a new country, isolated by her limited English and facing mounting medical expenses given the family’s lack of health insurance (something her self-employed husband didn’t have).

Eventually she took various second shift jobs at the former American Optic and Schott’s Fiber Optics – juggling care of her three young children with the assistance of her in-laws in to provide health insurance for the family. When her children entered school, Carmen found her true passion when she began first as a teacher’s aide at Helping Hands Preschool, a part of Southbridge Public Schools. She took a Child Growth & Development course at Worcester State College and eventually found her way to WCAC’s Head Start program where she began working as a teacher’s aide making $7.50 per hour.

At the time there were minimal educational requirements needed to work in a classroom but as those requirements changed and became more rigorous, Carmen became the first from the Head Start program to get an EEC scholarship to enroll at Bay Path College, first completing her Associates degree in 2007 followed by her bachelor’s degree in 2011. She fondly recalls her English professor’s support in helping her find a tutor to help with her writing proficiency, particularly for a challenging American history class. She proudly graduated with a 3.5 GPA despite never enrolling in a formal ESL class.

Throughout her 26-year tenure at WCAC, Carmen has worked in roles as a teacher’s assistant, lead teacher and now site supervisor moving and growing with the program as it relocated from McKinnon, Pleasant Street, Marcy Street, eventually settling at its current location in the former Southbridge High School at Cole Avenue in 2012. She thrives on seeing the children under WCAC’s care flourish and learn new skills – particularly those who enter with program with no second language, a challenge she can well empathize.

She likewise relishes the relationships she’s able to build with parents – encouraging their engagement with the Head Start program and seeing them grow just as their children. “I enjoy helping others and see myself as a bridge to help both our parents and teachers,” she says.

“I know what I’ve been thru, and I use my background to help others,” she says, citing a Spanish phrase she professes regularly to parents, coworkers, and the children including her own – “Querer es Poder! - if you want to do it, you have the power to do it!”

Read full profile here.

WCAC's Job & Education Center will be hosting the second of two (virtual) Career Workshops tomorrow, Thursday, September 16th from 2-4 p.m. Career pathway and interview support as well as resume building. Pre-register here or email paperwork@wcac.net for additional info.

Then next week, bring those newly polished resumes to our in-person Talent Showcase & Job Fair at Polar Park on Wednesday, September 22nd from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. The event is open to all ages and will feature the opportunity to meet face to face with a variety of local employers including: 2 Gether We Eat, Worcester Boys & Girls Club, WPI, City of Worcester, Notre Dame Health System, Imperial Distributors, Chick-Fil-A, MOhawk Fence, Open Sky Community Services and Worcester Jobs Fund , among many others! Enjoy raffles, prizes and more! Pre-register for a special prize when you attend.