Early Connections pre-apprenticeship sponsor designation marks promising future for early childhood education training

People from various Early Childhood Education support programs visited Corry’s ECE classroom this week to deliver new textbooks and supplies to the program.

The conventional path to getting a job is nonexistent. Some people believe education should be four years in a university, while others believe a degree is obsolete or think trade school is a better route for any needed higher education.

At the age of 18 or even 16, it can be a daunting decision to make. What was once very cut and dry is now becoming fluid, though. For Corry Area School District, students in the school’s Career and Technical Education Center’s (CTEC) Early Childhood Education (ECE) classroom are able to gain enough experience to receive certification upon graduation to enter a variety of childcare jobs. 

At CTEC, students are able to take a three-year Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved program of study for early childhood education. From grades 10 to 12, students get hands-on experiences with young children in a laboratory per-school setting.

Read the full article in the Corry Journal

Celebrating National Pre-Apprenticeship Day

Tuesday, November 16th, was National Pre-Apprenticeship Day and we are celebrating!
Early Connections is now an official Registered Early Childhood (EC) Pre-Apprenticeship Sponsor by the PA Department of Labor & Industry. The NW Regional EC Apprenticeship Intermediary team is equipped to provide support to high schools and vocational programs offering EC Pre-Apprenticeship Programming in our region. L-R Kim Kuehl, Workforce Coordinator; Jestina Klink, Associate Executive Director; Michelle Harkins, Executive Director; Kim Beers, Intermediary Supervisor.

Kiwanis District Convention

We are grateful for the presentation and panel discussion at the Kiwanis District Convention to address the child care staffing crisis. The presenters from left to right: Kimberly Beers, Early Connections; Chris Marsh, Erie Insurance and Erie Chamber Board Chair: Robin Howell, PennWest Edinboro, Kimberly Early, PennAEYC, and Michael Plazony, MVP Advisory Group and ELIC Commissioner.
We are grateful for the presentation and panel discussion at the Kiwanis District Convention to address the child care staffing crisis. The presenters from left to right: Kimberly Beers, Early Connections; Chris Marsh, Erie Insurance and Erie Chamber Board Chair: Robin Howell, PennWest Edinboro, Kimberly Early, PennAEYC, and Michael Plazony, MVP Advisory Group and ELIC Commissioner.

2022 Pre-K Graduation!

🎈 Oh, the places our preschoolers will go! 🎈

Our 2022 pre-k classrooms had the opportunity to celebrate their graduation this week! 🎓 We are so proud of all of their hard work and we will never forget all of the art they created, the songs they sang, and the dance moves they busted out every day.

Thank you to all of our teachers who made this graduation possible!! ❤️ Our kiddos would not be who they are without your kindness, love, and support.

At Early Connections, Pre-K COUNTS!!! 🤩

Early Explorers Still Enrolling!

Our Early Explorers summer program starts next week and spots are still available!

This program funded graciously by Erie Insurance encourages focus on language, literacy, STEM, and social/emotional skills while enjoying safe and quality learning, all while preparing for kindergarten in the fall!

In addition, the class will complete a Passport listing the summer’s learning based field trips. Contact Carrisa or Daryl at 814-456-4576 today for more information.

Early Explorers!

🎉 Our City Center location is happy to announce our new Early Explorers summer program! 🎉

☀️ This program funded graciously by Erie Insurance encourages focus on language, literacy, STEM, and social/emotional skills while enjoying safe and quality learning, all while preparing for kindergarten in the fall! 🧬📖

In addition, the class will complete a Passport listing the summer’s learning based field trips. Contact Carrisa or Daryl at 814-456-4576 today for more information 😊