Rigero named early childhood career advisor

This new position was implemented as part of a $343,905 state grant to the Careers in Early Education Coalition from the Workforce Competitive Trust Fund. The lead fiscal agent of the grant is the YWCA of Central Massachusetts. As a partner in the Coalition, the Consortium will facilitate the advisor position in a joint workforce development initiative to create a pool of qualified early childhood teachers within the industry.

Rigero will provide educational support and case management services for early childcare providers to ensure successful enrollment in post-secondary education opportunities appropriate to their educational and career goals. Advisors in the Consortium's Educational Opportunity Center will also offer assistance with the college application and financial aid process.

In order for local early education and care centers to continue meeting accreditation standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Universal Pre-K program, early childhood teachers will be required to have an associate's or bachelor's degree by 2010 and 2015 respectively.

The employers involved in the project are the YWCA of Central Massachusetts, Guild of St. Agnes, Worcester Comprehensive Child Care Services, and Rainbow Child Development Center. Other partners are Edward Street Child Services, Worcester Community Action Council, Anna Maria College, Becker College, Quinsigamond Community College, and Worcester State College.

Rigero has 28 years of experience in the field of early childhood education. For the past four years, she served as director of the childcare program at UMass Memorial Health Care. She holds a master's degree in education from Cambridge College, a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and an associate's degree in early childhood education from Quinsigamond Community College.