DACC Early Childhood Education Gets Big Time Assist from State Grant

(ABOVE) DACC Early Childhood Education instructor Kelly Alvarez and student Rebecca Balla talk about the benefits of the ECACE state grant.

Less than two years ago, Danville Area Community College learned that the state was offering a major grant for Early Childhood Education programs.  During this past Thursday evening’s (May 25th) DACC Board of Trustees meeting, Assistant Vice-President for Academic Affairs Dr. Penny McConnell admitted that it seemed too good to be true.

Looking at the results, it turned out that it was very true AND very good.  During Thursday’s meeting, the DACC Board also heard from Child Development Center Director Melissa Hollingsworth; in addition to Instructor Kelly Alvarez, and students Rebecca Balla and Joel Juarez

Those who complete the program at DACC can become not only Pre-K teachers, but kindergarten through 2nd grade as well.  And right now, as Alvarez reminds us, that new pipeline of teachers is needed.

AUDIO: There definitely is a shortage in Illinois.  So this is going to bring out teachers who are qualified into our daycare centers, into our school districts.

Instructor Kelly Alvarez (back) and DACC Childhood Development Center Director Melissa Hollingsworth (front) hear student Joel Juarez talk about how the ECACE grant has benefitted his teacher education.

For Program Director Hollingsworth, this ECACE grant has been a new beginning; as the state simply realized, “we need this Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity program.

AUDIO: I’ve never seen the state give out so much money.  They’re giving students laptops, paying past due bills, giving them money for supplies.  Of all the years I’ve been here they’ve never paid for their internship, which is 400 hours; and the students are getting paid to do their internship.

(First Picture) DACC Instructor Kelly Alvarez and Child Development Center Director Melissa Hollingsworth address Board of Trustees, (Second Picture) Vice-President for Academic Affairs Dr. Penny McConnell talks about how amazingly large the state ECACE grant seemed when it first came out.

In addition, this is helping students of all kinds.  Rebecca Balla has raised a family and has a youngster almost ready for college.  And when she was able to receive the paid internship, that kept her in the program.

AUDIO: I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, but I worked in the medical field for 20 years.  I started going back to school when I moved here in 2019.  Ms Kelly has been my teacher through all of it; my instructor, excuse me.  It’s been great!

Meanwhile, Joe1 Juarez was at Danville High School just a hop, stick, and jump ago.  He knew he wanted to be a teacher, but this grant is helping him do what he really wants.  It all changed when he took a class with Kelly Alvarez.

AUDIO: I never knew what early childhood was until I signed up for her class back in 2018 when I was in high school.  It changed my life.  “You know what, this is the path where I want to go.”  And with the grant and stuff, it’s helping me.  So, by January, I will do my internship.

Google “DACC, Early Childhood Education” for more.