WTCS Fire Service Education Director Angie White was recently sworn in as the first woman President of the North American Fire Training Directors (NAFTD).

NAFTD members serve as the primary point of contact for fire training and education conducted throughout the U. S. and Canada. Each year, the NAFTD members provide training to more than 940,000 firefighters and emergency responders, ranging from basic firefighting instruction to professional development courses for chief fire officers.

WTCS Education Directors Nancy Nakkoul and Katie Roberts were key partners in the development of DWD's Early Childcare Educator apprenticeship program, which allows its apprentices to earn wages while learning industry skills.

Initial work to develop the program with local employers was supported by a U. S. Department of Labor Grant focused on creating apprenticeships in nontraditional areas, like IT and Childcare. DWD partnered with Employ Milwaukee, Milwaukee County’s Workforce Development Board, to bring in the first cohort of Early Childcare Educator apprentices and partially fund the program through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

Apprentices work full-time in a childcare setting as co-teacher and are mentored by experienced teachers. The 4,000-hour, two-year apprenticeship includes 432 hours of paid, related instruction at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC).