Early Care & Education: All Things Workforce

Early Care & Education Pathways to Success

Welcome to "Early Care & Education: All Things Workforce" - presented by Early Care & Education Pathways to Success (ECEPTS). In discussing a variety of issues around ECE apprenticeships and challenges facing the ECE industry, our aim is to be solution-oriented and forward-thinking, while unapologetically committed to the professional development and economic well-being of the ECE workforce. Randi Wolfe, Ph.D., Executive Director of ECEPTS, guides the conversations with her unique vision, wide-ranging experience, and values-based leadership.

  1. 11/17/2025

    E18: Bringing a U.K. Lens to U.S. Apprenticeship: A Conversation with Harry Leech, Vice President of Apprenticeships for America

    In this conversation, Randi Wolfe and Harry Leech unpack the promise of apprenticeship, systemic reforms needed to unlock its full potential, the hurdles to aligning apprenticeships with college coursework and degrees, and why building the capacity of intermediaries is essential to expand U.S. apprenticeships to the scale, reach, and impact seen in the U.K. and other nations.

    36 min

  2. 07/22/2025

    E17: John Ladd on the Future of Apprenticeship: A Conversation from the 2025 ECEPTS Conference

    What happens when one of the nation's top apprenticeship leaders sits down with one of ECE's boldest innovators? A lot! In this episode, John Ladd, who led the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship for 17 years, joins ECEPTS Executive Director Randi Wolfe to discuss the national apprenticeship system, recent Executive Orders, and what it takes to build successful apprenticeship pathways for early educators and care providers.

    33 min

  3. 04/07/2025

    E16: Neighborhood Villages: Building ECE Apprenticeships and a Statewide Apprenticeship Network in Massachusetts

    Neighborhood Villages (NV) in Massachusetts is widely recognized as an early adopter and highly successful ECE apprenticeship leader. In this interview, Chief Program Officer, Binal Patel, traces NV's journey from developing their first registered apprenticeship to leading a statewide network of organizations that may differ in structure and focus, but share a commitment to working collaboratively on behalf of building and strengthening the ECE workforce.

    31 min

  4. 10/20/2024

    E15: Institute for American Apprenticeships: A National Resource and Mentor for ECE Apprenticeships

    Since 2000, Institute for American Apprenticeships (IAA) has delivered education and technical assistance to trade associations, employers and government agencies to expand the reach of apprenticeship as a workforce solution. Listen and learn from Matt McKenney, IAA President and CEO, as he shares his wisdom and experience with ECE apprenticeships, the apprenticeship system, how to get started and where to get help.

    26 min

  5. 08/24/2024

    E14: Stackable, Accessible, Equitable: ECE Apprenticeships in Texas

    Since launching the state's first ECE Apprenticeship in 2019, Camp Fire First Texas has engaged more than 200 incumbent workers in three stackable apprenticeships. In this episode, Program Director Yolanda Willis discusses the evolution of their Registered Apprenticeship programs, highlighting the program design and how it honors the strengths of the ECE workforce and addresses widespread challenges.

    22 min

  6. 01/08/2024

    E13: Keynote from the 2023 ECEPTS National Conference: Brent Parton, Acting Assistant Secretary, ETA / US-DOL

    This episode is a recording of Brent Parton's keynote presentation at the 2023 ECEPTS National Conference. Currently the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Employment and Training Administration for the U.S. Department of Labor, Brent has been stalwart in his support of ECE apprenticeships from the beginning. In sharing his wisdom, insight, and encouragement, he reminds us of the significance of the ECE workforce and ECE Apprenticeships.

    40 min

  7. 11/07/2023

    E12:The Role of Philanthropy in Funding and Encouraging the Development of ECE Registered Apprenticeships

    In 2019, a planning grant from the James Irvine Foundation led to the launch of ECEPTS, reflecting the Foundation's commitment to ensuring that low-income workers have the power to advance economically. Learn from Sabrina Singh Kansara, Senior Program Officer, as she discusses the critical significance of the ECE industry and the role of philanthropy in supporting and advocating for ECE Apprenticeships.

    34 min

  8. 09/29/2023

    E11: Expanding Intermediary Resources and ECE Apprenticeship Opportunities: The T.E.A.C.H. National Apprenticeship Pilot Program

    In 2022, T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® National Center launched a 6-state apprenticeship pilot program. In this episode, Megan Burk, Director of Workforce Initiatives, explains why T.E.A.C.H. decided to develop ECE apprenticeships, provides an update on the initiative, and shares invaluable experience and insights about the promise of ECE apprenticeships and the role of intermediaries.

    41 min
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About

Welcome to "Early Care & Education: All Things Workforce" - presented by Early Care & Education Pathways to Success (ECEPTS). In discussing a variety of issues around ECE apprenticeships and challenges facing the ECE industry, our aim is to be solution-oriented and forward-thinking, while unapologetically committed to the professional development and economic well-being of the ECE workforce. Randi Wolfe, Ph.D., Executive Director of ECEPTS, guides the conversations with her unique vision, wide-ranging experience, and values-based leadership.

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