Apprenticeship addresses critical shortage of early childhood educators in Cheshire and Sullivan Counties
Keene, NH (September 29, 2025 ) – ApprenticeshipNH, a workforce training program of the Community College System of NH (CCSNH), and River Valley Community College (RVCC) have collaborated with Southwestern Community Services (SCS) Head Start to create a two-year Early Childhood Education Teacher’s Assistant/Associate Teacher Registered Apprenticeship. The Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) launched September 2025 and is open for enrollment on a rolling basis throughout the year.
The new RAP blends 4,000 hours of paid on-the-job training at SCS Head Start with online and classroom instruction leading to an associate degree in Early Childhood Education from RVCC. Participants may be eligible for scholarships available through ApprenticeshipNH to offset tuition costs.
“New Hampshire is experiencing a critical shortage of early childhood educators and childcare providers. The SCS Head Start RAP will help address this shortage by creating a career path for individuals looking to gain practical experience while continuing their education,” said Michael Piaseczny, ApprenticeshipNH’s Apprenticeship Building America (ABA) Hub Developer for western New Hampshire.
Operated by Southwestern Community Services and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), SCS Head Start offers a federally funded early childhood education program for income-eligible children in Cheshire and Sullivan counties. Each of the five SCS Head Start centers in Claremont, Jaffrey, Keene, Newport and Swanzey delivers comprehensive services including quality education, family support, and nutrition and health services.
The part-time Teacher’s Assistant RAP is currently offered at SCS Head Start’s Claremont location and the full-time Associate Teacher RAP is offered at the Claremont, Keene and Newport locations.
“We believe that investing in people is the most powerful way to build a stronger, more resilient workforce in early childhood education. We created the Registered Apprenticeship Program to provide a structured, supportive pathway for individuals, especially those from our own communities, to gain the knowledge, skills, experience, and credentials needed to thrive in early childhood education careers,” said Valery Cavadini, operations manager for SCS Head Start.
The associate degree program in Early Childhood Education at RVCC integrates seamlessly with on-the-job learning at SCS Head Start. Courses combine theory with direct work with children to teach how young children develop and how their optimal development can be promoted through quality care and education. Classroom education is offered online or at RVCC’s Claremont, Keene, and Lebanon campuses.
The RAP at SCS Head Start is open for applications now. For more information, please visit apprenticeshipnh.com/associate-teacher-teaching-assistant-scs-head-start
