WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst & Katelyn Disbro
You’re staring, bleary-eyed, at a spreadsheet, and the numbers still don’t add up. You’re on hold with the insurance company (again). Your inbox just hit triple digits, and your laundry pile rivals Mt. Everest. Somewhere between rush-hour traffic and remembering to defrost the chicken, life starts to feel like one long to-do list that never ends.
But occasionally, amidst all the ‘adulting,’ you get to sit down with a small child.
“Wanna see the unicorn I drew?” she asks, holding up a sticky paper. “She’s also a firefighter.” Or maybe she announces, “I’m going to be a dinosaur doctor when I grow up.” Suddenly, your heart expands, and you smile like you haven’t in months.
Spending time with children reminds weary adults that imagination and unfiltered honesty still exist. Who can hear about firefighting unicorns and dinosaur doctors and not feel their stress fade, at least briefly? And while those moments might feel like a breath of fresh air for you, they’re doing serious work for the child, too. Through conversation and attentive play, adults help kids grow confident. Interactions like these build the focus and communication they’ll need as they begin school and move through life.
For some lucky people, engaging with children isn’t a break from their day. It is their day, and they get paid for it.
For anyone who has ever found joy in kids’ blunt honesty, creative wonder, and boundless energy, there’s a program for you. Through the Early Childhood Education Pre-Apprenticeship Program at Manatee Technical College (MTC), you can pursue a meaningful career and make a lasting impact on society’s youngest and, arguably, most interesting population.
Why take this course?
At MTC, this 15-week, part-time program trains future early educators in everything from child development and safety to classroom management and lesson planning. Students complete 45 hours of state-required DCF training and, with guidance from instructors, gain hands-on experience working with real kids (and possibly unicorns) in real classrooms.
Beyond coursework, students practice resume writing, learn interview techniques, and visit local child care centers to see how different learning environments work. Inside MTC’s model classroom, they take turns leading story time, practice routines like calendar and weather charts, and test the same tools they’ll later use on the job.
Here are more reasons to consider enrolling:
The ELC covers the costs.
Children’s brains develop fastest in the first five years; this window shapes how they learn and see the world. To help give every child the strongest start, the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC) funds MTC’s Pre-Apprenticeship Program to build up a skilled early learning workforce. This support helps local child care centers find caring, qualified educators to nurture children at this critical age.
The estimated cost is $502 (including tuition, fees, and a uniform), but most students pay little or nothing thanks to ELC’s sponsorship. While not Pell-Grant-eligible due to its length, the program stays affordable and accessible.
Details:
- Location: MTC Main Campus, Bradenton
- Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- Start Dates: January 2026 and August 2026
- Length: 15 weeks (300 hours)
Job Upon Completion
Another benefit is that the program is a direct bridge from training to employment. Many graduates step right into jobs at local child care centers and continue learning through the Level I Apprenticeship. Some even go on to earn the Director Credential and acquire leadership roles.
MTC’s program is also part of Florida’s Apprenticeship System, and it supports the state’s goal of becoming a national leader in workforce education by 2030. The curriculum aligns with Florida’s Education & Training career cluster. It gives students the chance to join organizations like SkillsUSA or HOSA, building leadership skills while strengthening their professional network.
Alexis’s Story
Alexis Hall, a local mother of four and recent program graduate, shows what’s possible when determination meets opportunity. She works with energetic two-year-olds at A Readiness Learning Academy in Bradenton, in a classroom full of busy minds and bright personalities.
“Children make me happy, and I’ve always wanted to work with them,” Alexis says. “I was the neighborhood babysitter at 10. Everyone trusted me with their kids, and I loved it.”
Before stepping into early childhood education, Alexis worked in hospitality and senior care, then stayed home to raise her children. For her, returning to work outside the home felt daunting.
“I was a stay-at-home mom for three years. As I contemplated starting this career, I wondered, ‘How am I going to balance all of this?’ But I did it, and it was a good decision.”
Once she began working at the center, Alexis decided to strengthen her skills further. The MTC program deepened her understanding of how a child care center runs. Nothing substitutes for experience, but the course raised her confidence and helped her be prepared for anything the classroom might bring. She has even shared her newfound knowledge with coworkers who haven’t completed their training yet.
Watch Alexis at work, and it’s immediately clear why she loves what she does. She’s engaged, energetic, and instills the perfect mix of routine and fun. If the kids are dancing and banging instruments, it’s because they’re following Alexis’s lead. They imitate her in other ways, too.
“One day, I was wiping the table, and one of them was sitting on the carpet pretending to be me, saying to another child, ‘Sit here on this square! What color is the square?’ It’s so funny,” she laughs, “but it shows they’re always watching and learning.”
Her dedication recently earned her runner-up for the Pam Parmenter Early Educator of the Year award at the ELC’s Stand for Children Gala. Named for a beloved early learning leader, this award honors teachers who go above and beyond for toddlers and families. Each year’s honoree is selected from toddler educators who earn top scores on the CLASS assessment (Classroom Assessment Scoring System), a research-backed observation tool that captures the quality of teacher–child interactions during the pivotal 18–36-month window. Are teachers fostering connection? Offering encouragement? Creating moments that invite curiosity and exploration? CLASS observes all of this, and in Alexis’s classroom, the answer was clear.
“Sometimes you wonder if what you’re doing is enough,” Alexis says, “but being recognized as Runner-Up was another confidence booster. It showed me I really am doing what I’m meant to do.”
Alexis plans to continue training and earn her Director Credential, another step toward her lifelong dream of wanting to open her own daycare. “It’ll be called ‘It Takes a Village,'” she says, “because raising little ones—and setting them up for a great future—involves the whole community.”
For now, Alexis is cultivating her own little village. Her journey has expanded what family means to her.
“I was home with my own kids, but it feels like my family has grown, now that I’m caring for other people’s children, too. These little friends are part of my circle.”
Learning’s Legacy
At some point, that young aspiring dinosaur doctor will learn that she will not be providing medical assistance to a brachiosaurus when she grows up. But one thing is sure: as that little girl moves through her educational journey, many teachers and role models like Alexis will offer her encouragement and guidance, steering her towards a future where she can use her skills to benefit others.
Maybe one day, when she herself needs a break from being a grown-up, she’ll sit down with a young child, peer into a world of budding imagination, and smile.
To apply for MTC’s Early Childhood Education Pre-Apprenticeship Program, visit www.manateetech.edu or call (941) 751-7900 for more information.
