March 31, 2026

R-CCC Celebrates Second Cohort of Child Care Academy Graduates

 

                                                                       

AHOSKIE, NC–– Roanoke-Chowan Community College celebrated three graduates of its Child Care Academy during a certificate ceremony held March 27 on campus. The event recognized the accomplishments of the program’s second cohort: Larquavia Bynum, Keyuantie Lyons and Talisha Speight.
 
The accelerated two‑week academy, created in partnership with the N.C. Division of Child Development and Early Education, equips students with industry‑recognized credentials and the essential training required for employment in child care facilities. The fully funded program provides all learning materials and includes more than 16 required training courses including infant/toddler safe sleep practices, medication administration in child care, emergency preparedness and response, CPR/First Aid, playground safety, shaken baby syndrome prevention and the Foundations of Early Learning and Development. Graduates also built professional résumés, strengthened workplace skills and produced a career portfolio to share with prospective employers.
 
Dean of Academic Affairs Charmaine Smith welcomed graduates, families and child care partners to the ceremony, emphasizing the program’s theme, “Grow Where You Are Planted.”
 
“Today is not just about completing a program,” Smith said during the event. “It’s about recognizing the dedication, the late nights, the learning and the determination it took to get you here. As you grow, you help children grow — and that is powerful work.”
 
Child Care Academy Program Coordinator Marquita Moore‑Raynor, who guided the cohort through each phase of the program, highlighted the academy’s role in addressing workforce shortages in early childhood education across North Carolina. She praised the graduates for completing all state-required trainings and achieving 100 percent background‑check clearance — a key milestone for employment readiness.
 
“The Child Care Academy is more than a training program. It’s workforce development in action,” Moore‑Raynor said. “These graduates are prepared to step directly into early childhood settings and make a difference in our communities.”
 
R-CCC President Dr. Murray J. Williams commended the graduates for their commitment to serving local families and child care centers.
 
“Our Child Care Academy continues to strengthen the early childhood workforce in our region,” Williams said. “By completing this rigorous, hands-on program, these graduates are entering the field with both the knowledge and the heart needed to support our youngest learners. We are proud of their achievement and grateful for the impact they will have on children and families across our community.”
 
The R-CCC Child Care Academy is funded through a grant from the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), utilizing funds from the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5). It is designed to respond to community workforce needs while opening doors for individuals beginning careers in early childhood care.
 
The next academy is slated to begin in June. For more information, visit https://www.roanokechowan.edu/child-care-academy.

Roanoke-Chowan Community College’s Mission

Roanoke-Chowan Community College, a member of the North Carolina Community College System and located in Hertford County, is a public, two-year institution of higher education offering associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, college and career readiness, and customized business and industry training in a variety of delivery modes promoting public service, transfer, and workforce development for a diverse student body, leading them to contribute to the vitality of an increasingly global community. www.roanokechowan.edu #DiscoverRCCC “Where community and careers connect”

Media Contact: Melanie Temple, Director of Marketing & Recruitment/PIO, metemple7181@roanokechowan.edu, 252-862-1243