06/17/2026
🎉 Exciting News from Colonial Heights United Methodist Preschool! 🎉
We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with Northeast State Community College through the Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Program!
For more than 30 years, our educators and administrators benefited from opportunities through TECTA to continue their education at Northeast State and ETSU. When federal funding cuts to Tennessee's Child Care Development Fund in 2025 led to the closure of TECTA, child care programs across our state were left searching for ways to continue investing in the professionals who care for and educate our youngest learners.
Today, we are excited to be part of a solution.
Through this apprenticeship program and the grants associated with it, our employees will have an affordable and attainable pathway to earn their Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential, Technical Certificate in Early Childhood, and ultimately an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education. Whether an educator is beginning their higher education journey or transitioning into the field from another career, this opportunity opens doors for professional growth and advancement.
At Colonial Heights United Methodist Preschool, we believe that the quality of our educators is the number one factor influencing the quality of care we provide to children and families. By investing in our teachers, we are investing in the future of our community.
This partnership will help us:
✨ Strengthen and retain our dedicated teaching staff.
✨ Provide greater consistency and quality care for working families.
✨ Expand access to higher education opportunities for educators of all backgrounds.
✨ Continue building a strong foundation for lifelong learning during the critical years from birth to age five.
Thank you to Northeast State Community College for partnering with us to invest in educators, strengthen families, and support the children who will shape tomorrow.
