For Angela Carroll, the path back to early childhood education began with courage and encouragement. After two decades away from school, she never imagined she would be completing college courses, mentoring others, and finding renewed purpose in the classroom. But when District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund invited her to join their Registered Apprenticeship Program, everything changed.
“I started my CDA in 2021,” Angela recalls. “Kim reached out and told me about the program, and I immediately said yes. It gave me the support, the structure, and the people I needed to succeed.” That support network, including her coach Kim Kuehl and a team of apprenticeship mentors, helped Angela stay confident and focused. “It was like having an army behind me,” she says. “They wanted me to reach my goals as much as I did.”
From Learner to Leader
Through the apprenticeship, Angela earned her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and quickly advanced from assistant teacher to lead teacher. The program’s on-the-job training model gave her the confidence to apply new skills in real time. “The apprenticeship gave me hands-on experience with children at every stage of development,” she says. “That experience made me a better educator and a stronger leader.”
Today, Angela’s growth continues to inspire others. After completing her associate degree in early childhood education in May, she began pursuing her bachelor’s degree this fall. Even more meaningful, she now serves as a coach to other apprentices, helping them achieve the same goals she once set for herself. “It’s come full circle,” Angela says. “Someone coached me and believed in me, and now I get to do that for others.”
A Support System That Lasts
Angela’s experience illustrates the power of support within the apprenticeship model. “Kim still checks on me,” she says with a smile. “Even years after finishing the program, I know she’s there if I need help.” That ongoing mentorship and the sense of belonging it creates have been key to Angela’s confidence and success. “We’re a family,” she says. “We stick together. If someone struggles, we lift them up.”
Now, as she coaches new apprentices at Building Blocks Child Center, Angela continues to see the program’s impact. “It’s a great feeling to know where the apprenticeship started and where it is now,” she reflects. “Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
A New Chapter
Angela’s journey from apprentice to educator, mentor, and lifelong learner embodies what apprenticeship is all about: opportunity, confidence, and connection. “It was a huge stepping stone for me,” she says. “I needed the support to get my feet wet again after 20 years, and the apprenticeship gave me everything I needed. They were there from day one.”
“It was a huge stepping stone for me. I needed the support to get my feet wet again after 20 years, and the apprenticeship gave me everything I needed. They were there from day one.”
— Angela Carroll
Back to all Registered Apprenticeship Success Stories