At Buckeye Hills Career Center, preparing students for meaningful careers often begins with something simple—but powerful: making a difference in the lives of others.

For senior Jasmine Fairchild, that impact is already taking shape.

A student in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program, Jasmine—whose home school is Gallia Academy High School—is currently completing her clinical hours in the Head Start program at Rio Grande Elementary. During a recent federal review, an evaluator observed Jasmine working in the classroom and came away impressed—not only with her understanding of early childhood concepts and professional terminology, but also with her natural ability to connect with young learners.

It was a moment that affirmed what Buckeye Hills educators see every day.

Learning by Doing

The Early Childhood Education program at Buckeye Hills Career Center is designed as a two-year, hands-on experience that blends classroom instruction with real-world application. Students begin visiting classrooms early in the program. At the start of their junior year, they are participating in weekly clinical placements—essentially stepping into the role of student teachers.

Through these experiences, students log more than 480 hours working directly with children in a variety of settings, including preschools, childcare centers, and elementary classrooms. They also have the unique opportunity to complete clinical hours on campus at Little Buckeyes Early Learning Center, which serves children ages 18 months to 5 years.

“This program not only prepares students for careers in education, but also gives them the background knowledge that other students coming straight out of a traditional high school would not have,” said Carrie Williamson, BHCC ECE instructor. “This program is built not only to enable students to start working in the field right after graduating, but also to be a stepping stone into a college degree in education.”

Students in the program work toward earning their Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™, a nationally recognized certification that opens doors to immediate employment and can also translate into college credit.

A Workforce That Matters

The demand for skilled early childhood professionals continues to grow, and programs like Buckeye Hills Career Center’s Early Childhood Education pathway are helping meet that need locally.“As an administrator in the early childhood field, I am more certain than ever before that this program is creating employable adults ready to step into a workforce that needs them now more than ever,” said Dawn Hall, Director of Head Start/Early Head Start for the Athens-Meigs Educational Service Center and facilitator of Little Buckeyes Early Learning Center.

More Than a Classroom

Inside the ECE program, students learn far more than lesson planning and classroom management. Courses cover topics such as child and adolescent development, health and safety, and curriculum design—many offering opportunities for college credit.

But just as important are the personal qualities students develop along the way.

“People in this field have to be organized and resourceful, but more importantly, they need patience, empathy, flexibility, and consistency,” Williamson said. “Working with children is incredibly rewarding, but it also challenges you. Our students learn to see the bigger picture and understand the impact they’re making—even on the hard days.”

For Jasmine, those lessons have already left a lasting impression.

“One thing that inspires in Early Childhood Education is being able to watch children grow and see who they will become in years to come,” she said. “This program has helped me understand that all children are different, and it has opened doors for me and shown me who I can become.”

Preparing for What’s Next

Whether students choose to enter the workforce immediately after graduation or continue their education, the ECE program equips them with the tools to succeed.

Through partnerships with local schools, childcare centers, and on-campus learning labs like Little Buckeyes, students gain firsthand experience that builds both confidence and competence.

Moments like Jasmine’s—being recognized during a federal review—are a reflection of that preparation.

They are also a reminder of the broader mission behind career and technical education: not just to teach skills, but to shape futures.

At Buckeye Hills Career Center, that future is already taking root—one classroom, one student, and one child at a time.