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Featured photo: Gracelyn Robinson pictured at a local playground. Photo courtesy of Erin Rogers.
By Michele Handy, Transylvania County Campus
This spring, Blue Ridge Community College celebrates the scholastic achievements of Gracelyn Robinson, a dual-enrolled student who will graduate from Brevard High School, as well as earn an Infant/Toddler Care Certificate through Blue Ridge’s Early Childhood Education program. Robinson is the first student from Transylvania County to achieve this impressive academic milestone.
Robinson, a student who “loves kids, and wants [her] career to be something with kids,” participated in the Blue Ridge Career and College Promise Program (CCP) as a dual-enrolled student. These students fulfill requirements for high school graduation and complete college curriculum coursework towards valuable credentials, such as an early childhood teaching certificate.
Students can begin the early childhood education pathway with a high school based course in child development, and then take EDU 119 – Introduction to Early Childhood Education at Blue Ridge Community College as part of the dual enrollment program. The five courses for the certificate can stack for a student to work towards additional certifications or an associate degree.
Robinson started the pathway during her junior year. After taking EDU 119, she felt excited to continue studying early childhood coursework. Robinson has taken advantage of opportunities within the community to further her knowledge and skills in the field by participating in internship and part-time employment opportunities.
“I wanted to follow in my mom’s footsteps, and found out I can go ahead and get a headstart with my career and take some EDU classes,” said Robinson, whose mother is a recent graduate of Blue Ridge’s early childhood program teaching in an NC Pre-K classroom.
As a dual enrolled student, Robinson said, “I really enjoyed the trainings I completed with fellow peers, and made friendships too. I enjoyed learning about different ways a child acts when they are upset. I also enjoyed getting to know families as well as their kids.”
Robinson, as part of the program, did additional training through the Children and Family Resource Center to be qualified to work as a substitute teacher in a child care center. The graduate’s resumé now includes valuable training like CPR, SIDS, and Robinson has undergone a background check.
Future plans for Robinson include taking more classes at Blue Ridge in the early childhood education program of study and working in a child care facility.
Robinson advises other students considering a pathway such as early childhood education: “I would say go through with it, it is very worth it, and definitely worth the wait. And if you think about giving up, don’t, trust me. Turn in your schoolwork on time, have good communication with your professors, and of course, love and care about the kids!”
Dr. Lisa Fletcher, superintendent of Transylvania County Schools said, “I am incredibly proud of this young lady for becoming the first student in our district to earn the Infant/Toddler Care Certificate through Blue Ridge Community College. This is a special accomplishment for her personally, but it is also an exciting milestone for our district. Our partnership with Blue Ridge is helping us create real opportunities for students to explore careers in early childhood education and gain valuable experience while still in high school. As we work to build an early childhood pathway, we are also planting the seeds to ‘grow our own’ future workforce — one that can support our Pre-K classrooms, a future childcare center for employees, and the needs of our community for years to come.”
Beginning Fall 2026, a collaboration between Transylvania County Schools and Blue Ridge allows students to begin an Early Childhood Education Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway. Students can begin with a child development course taught at the high school their sophomore year. They continue the pathway by taking Blue Ridge Community College early childhood courses their junior year, allowing for both high school CTE pathway completion and participation in Blue Ridge courses as a dual enrolled student.
Students interested in pursuing dual enrollment opportunities through Blue Ridge’s College and Career Promise program are encouraged to express their interest as soon as possible while planning for the upcoming school year. Students and families can contact their school counselor, schedule an appointment with a Blue Ridge Career Coach, or request further information at www.blueridge.edu/ccp. Students with a specific interest in the early childhood education or teaching career pathways may contact Erin Rogers at e.rogers@blueridge.edu or learn more about the program at www.blueridge.edu/education