“First – congratulations to each of the graduates! This is an important day in your journey as an early educator,” Amy O’Leary, Strategies for Children’s executive director, said earlier this month in the keynote speech she delivered at the Pinning Ceremony honoring 19 Seniors who were graduating from Worcester Technical High School’s (WTHS) Early Childhood program.

Worcester Tech is a vocational high school with WTHS Classes and Programs in everything from English literature to welding to hospitality management to computer programming.

The school’s Early Childhood program teaches students about the theory and practice of early education and gives them the opportunity to work with young children in the high school’s preschool program.

For students, it’s a deep dive into the work of educational theorists such as Eirk Erikson, Maria Montessori, Jean Piaget, and Lev Vygotsky. The program is also a deep dive into planning and implementing curriculum in a lively early childhood classroom that serves children with diverse learning styles.

Students also complete assignments that ask them to reflect on their own educational theories and what kind of teachers they see themselves becoming. 

“I want our students to be prepared teachers,” Shelese Johnson says. She’s the Early Childhood program’s department head. “I want students to be ready. I want them to excel, if they decide to stay in education. I want them to be the best version of themselves, and I want them to have really good experiences in the classroom, and be ready for real world classroom experiences.”

“I don’t do this work alone,” Johnson adds. She works with a team of shop instructors—Allison Chery, Rubaly Colon, who is also a program graduate, Christine Porth, and preschool teacher Christine Grudoff —who collaborate to teach classroom practices that include understanding curriculum, planning and implementing activities, and taking responsibility for running the preschool classroom.

After students graduate, they are eligible to receive teacher certification from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. Worcester Tech also has an articulation agreement with Quinsigamond Community College. Based on the strength of Worcester Tech’s program, students who enroll in Quinsigamond’s Early Childhood Education program are granted six college credits and do not have to take two entry level early childhood courses. 

For Johnson, one of the best parts of the program is how it creates a legacy of early educators supporting each other.

“I started with a really strong foundation in early childhood education. It was my passion. I took it very seriously. And I learned as much as I could. Now, I’m able to share those experiences and learning opportunities with my students. And I see that reflected in the work that they do with each other in our preschool. Older students help underclassmen through modeling, showing them how to interact with children or what to do if a child needs more help. I really enjoy that part, seeing students put what they’ve learned into action and helping each other.”

The Pinning ceremony, where Strategies for Children’s Amy O’Leary spoke, is a way to honor students’ progress, hard work, and commitment. And for the last three ceremonies, students recite an oath, its promises drawn from years of students’ reflections. 

O’Leary called on the graduating seniors to use everything they’ve learned and recognize themselves as early education leaders. 

“You can change the world. All of the skills, gifts and talents you use to support young children can be used where you are sitting right now to lead,” O’Leary said. 

“The most important piece is that you have to believe. 

“We are the ones we have been waiting for.

“You are smart, powerful leaders for children and families!”

“I believe It is critical that we find new, innovative, and meaningful ways to support educators and expand access to early education here in Worcester and across the state of Massachusetts.”

O’Leary called on Worcester Tech’s graduates to find their voices and build relationships; to find mentors and to be mentors; to work as volunteers on political campaigns; to hold elected officials accountable; and to run for office themselves. 

“Finally,” O’Leary said, “the last thing I want to tell you—and all the early educators just like you—is that the future holds so many possibilities, even if you can’t imagine them right now. 

“There are so many people passionate about helping each and every child get the high-quality education they deserve. There are so many opportunities to stand up and fight for change, around the world and right where you are.”

“Best wishes for an incredible future.”