5/31/2010 9:55:00 AM
Gaye Roberts is always on her feet, whether it be running her seven childcare centres or running marathons, she rarely has spare time.
After punching 10 years as a nurse, Roberts was looking for a career change and making a livelihood in early childhood education appealed to her.
“It was the best decision for me - I love my work,” she exclaims. “I believe it is the most meaningful and rewarding career there is. Early childhood education is so important; we can enhance children’s development. I tell my staff that it’s a very important thing. We get to be really creative, and really, we get to play with children all day long. You can’t get much better than that!”
She opened her first centre in Glenwood in 1996 and has since opened centres in Springdale, Lewisporte, Torbay and three in Gander. Through an active lifestyle and marathon training, Roberts has incorporated a strong focus of healthy living and physical activity at all her centres. She somehow finds time to keep on top of administrative and bookkeeping duties, parent/teacher and monthly staff meetings.
“I have an abundance of energy and I don’t like sitting at a desk all day long,” states Roberts.
Roberts is a graduate of College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Early Childhood Education program (ECE). The ECE program provides students with a knowledge base of child growth and development. This helps to support their work with children from birth to age 12, using not only a classroom setting, but incorporating an on-campus demonstration child care centre into the curriculum. Graduates of the ECE program have a great chance at landing a job placement in Newfoundland and Labrador, across Canada and around the globe.
The Department of Child, Youth and Family Services also provides a bursary of $5,000 to graduates who agree to work in regulated child care for two years upon graduation. Recipients are not required to have an existing student loan in order to be eligible, and the funds are available for those working in a child care centre or providing regulated family child care.
The provincial government also provides $1,200 bursaries to assist students enrolled in the distance program who are attending summer field placements at CNA child care centres or are providing family child care. Graduates who remain in the province as early childhood educators are eligible to receive up to $6,660 per year through income supplement grants.
“Their education is affordable,” says Bernard Stratton, campus administrator for Corner Brook campus who oversees the ECE program.
“There is financial support through the Early Learning and Child Care Supplement and the Early Childhood Education Bursary Program, and direct credit transfer for degree programs. Our graduates have the skills and knowledge to be able to make a positive contribution to the province through the services they provide to young children and their families.”
Stratton is quite proud of Roberts’ accomplishments and says she sets an example for students looking for a fulfilling career choice.
“She can’t see herself retiring because she will always want to be a part of it. Down the road she’s hoping to put managers at each location,” Stratton says.
Judy Smith was Roberts’ instructor in 1995 when she attended the ECE program as a mature student.
“I owe my success to the best instructor in Canada, Judy,” says Roberts. “Judy treated all students equally and understood that it was difficult for me and the other mature students to go back to school after years in the work force. She was patient and encouraged me to overcome my shyness.”
ECE instructors are trained and experienced educators who are involved with the students throughout their fieldwork placements, which can lead to careers as early childhood educators with the opportunity to advance as a manager or owner.
Roberts has received strong support from parents and people living in the rural areas where she has opened her childcare centres. Not only do the centres provide job opportunities and a viable service for residents, but they help to keep young families in smaller areas of Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Media Contact:
Colleen Connors
Public Relations Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709 643-6408
colleen.connors@cna.nl.ca