“Our child care workforce is an essential component of the New River Valley, since they allow parents to focus on their careers, knowing their children are being educated in a safe and healthy environment. The investment we put into this profession has a positive ripple effect across the community,” said Kim Thomason, program manager for Early Childhood Education Initiatives.
The organizers were inspired to create this career day in order to develop an education pipeline for the local early childhood workforce, ensuring that new professionals are able to engage in the work with confidence and with the right tools.
“High quality care hinges on the adults that care for them, and requires education, skills, and knowledge that make the difference between just providing a service to setting the stage for children to thrive,” said Margaret Hurst, program coordinator for First Steps.
It has become a part of Early Childhood Education Initiatives’ larger strategy to work with community, business, and governmental partners to strengthen the early child care industry in the region. This not only means developing future educators, but providing development opportunities that support today’s workforce.