Last month Arielle Frangipane and Jess Jarvis, two veteran FJECC teachers, were part of the first graduating class of Early Childhood Registered Apprentices in the nation. Supported by Neighborhood Villages and The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD), this year-long program targeted emerging leaders in the field of Early Childhood Education to receive free training and support in Leadership, Family Outreach, Instruction + Curriculum, Child Care Administration, Business Practices and Technology Assistance. (1)

Frangipane reflected on the experience, saying, “I’m so glad to have been a part of Neighborhood Villages’ Emerging Leaders program training. The mentorship model was so supportive and inspiring. Neighborhood Villages is doing very important work in making leadership training available to people who otherwise might not have had the opportunity and I am so grateful that it has been part of my early childhood education journey.”

A recent article from Mass.gov toted the apprenticeship model as a ‘key part of strengthening the early education and care profession – supporting people to earn while they learn. “We have been working with the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and early childhood leaders across the state over the past year to promote and expand apprenticeship opportunities as a key strategy to build the pipeline of new staff joining the field,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw.’ (2)

**L-R: Arielle Frangipane, Mentor Linda Echt, Jess Jarvis**

When asked about her experience with Neighborhood Villages, Jarvis commented on the variety of support that was received. “It was interesting to gain a deeper scope of the business of Early Childhood Education, and what it means to be a leader in the field. Gaining clarity in observation, feedback, teacher empowerment and professional development, I feel supported in doing the work that supports teachers.”

With the guidance of mentor Linda Echt, who’s independent consulting firm works with leaders by “Helping Your Leadership Grow: Vision and Heart,” Frangipane and Jarvis navigated opportunities and challenges. They explored deeply the value and necessity of building trust as a foundation of effective and impactful leadership. There are the day to day tasks that leaders are responsible for and there is vision, relationship building and creating community that has its organization’s mission at the core. Through the lens of a fresh perspective, they worked to challenge assumptions as well as to get constructive feedback to aid in personal and professional growth. Mentors can help leaders develop key skills such as communication, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence, ultimately enhancing their leadership capacity. By having a mentor, leaders can also build a strong support system, gain access to valuable networks, and increase their self-awareness, leading to greater success in their roles.

Echt said, “To be working with Jess and Arielle is a gift. When two people work with such intention, the possibilities are endless. Although there were defined benchmarks to work on as set by Neighborhood Villages and EEC, we took advantage of our time together to dive deep into what it means to take on leadership roles and what it means to be a leader– or more accurately, what it means to be in positions to empower others to do their best work.”

Amy Bolotin, FJECC Executive Director says, “FJECC is so proud of Jess and Arielle's work! As a Director, it is comforting and exciting to know my staff has access to professional training and support outside of what we can provide. Neighborhood Villages' work to lift up emerging leaders is the key to the future of our field. The most important beneficiaries of this will be the children and families served by programs.”

Nominations for the next cohort of Early Childhood Emerging Leaders opens in Summer 2024 on the Neighborhood Villages website.

Sources:

Remarkable Moments

Neighborhood Villages Emerging Leaders