The Community Foundation of the NRV 25-26 Annual Report

Continuing Professional Development & Recruitment Programs In recent years, we’ve partnered with others to offer free professional development for early educators and to introduce high school and college students to careers in early childhood education. These efforts will remain central to our regional approach. One key example is the Igniting Connections Symposium, a free annual conference for NRV early educators hosted by Early Childhood Education Initiatives (ECEI) at Virginia Tech. The symposium features hands-on sessions, tours of model facilities, and opportunities for educators to connect with peers. We’ll also continue supporting pathways into the field, including apprenticeships and job-shadowing opportunities. In addition, we will continue to offer the “Those Who Can, Teach Career Day,” sponsored by ECEI at Virginia Tech, New River Community College (NRCC), and First Steps. A key part of the ARPA grant gave childcare directors flexible funds for retention strategies tailored to their centers. Many used the funding to send educators to curriculum-specific conferences or to provide bonuses after staff completed professional development programs. These investments boosted retention and morale. As one director shared, “Professional development, classroom materials, and additional investment in our school community has helped us with morale, teacher sense of efficacy, and administrative confidence that teachers and families can be supported.” In response, we are launching an ongoing Early Educator Professional Development Fund. Both childcare centers and NRV high schools offering early childhood education classes can apply for funds to attend conferences, purchase curriculum-specific materials, or incentivize ongoing training. As we continue investing in early educators, we also recognize that low wages make it difficult to enter and stay in the field. But increasing pay requires higher tuition, putting directors in a difficult position. WHAT’S NEXT

2025 Those Who Can, Teach Career Day

Each year at this event, more than 50 high school students gather at NRCC to explore early childhood development careers. Childcare directors lead interactive sessions, and partners share information and scholarship opportunities to pursue credentials or degrees.

While state and federal programs subsidize care for some income-qualifying families, many households earn too much to qualify yet still cannot afford tuition. To help close this gap, we are developing a Family Scholarship Fund to offset costs for eligible NRV families and enable centers to set tuition that reflects the true cost of high-quality care. Finally, with ECEI at Virginia Tech and NRCC, we are piloting a paid teacher training program. The four-week course covers licensing requirements, child development, resume and interview preparation, and visits to childcare centers. Through our partner network, participants will also receive support accessing resources like affordable housing and food assistance. The goal is for each participant to leave with at least one job offer from an NRV childcare center. These and other First Steps programs are made possible through strong partnerships and dedicated staff support. The ARPA grant funded the hiring of First Steps Program Coordinator Margaret Hurst, who will remain a permanent member of the CFNRV team after the grant ends.

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