<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><item href="/news/next-generation-early-childhood-educators.html" dsn="blogs"><featured>true</featured><category>graduation, child development, ceremony</category><pubDate>03/15/2025</pubDate><title>Training the Next Generation of Early Childhood Educators</title><author>Benjamin Demers</author><description>A new group of early childhood educators is preparing to make a difference in classrooms across Santa Clara County, thanks to the Santa Clara County Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship Program. Over the past 18 months, 25 dedicated students have worked toward earning their Associate Teacher permit while gaining valuable, paid experience in early learning settings.</description><image><img src="/news/images/cd-1.png" alt="Smiling students at graduation"/></image><tags><tag>Graduation</tag><tag>child development</tag></tags></item>