EEC Professional Development Centers

EEC’s Professional Development Centers (PDCs) support early education and out-of-school time programs and educators with professional development opportunities and support services such as training, professional learning communities (PLCs), technical assistance, and coaching. The services provided by the PDCs are designed to meet the needs of educators and programs regionally, align with EEC licensing requirements and support continuous quality improvement.   

To register for an upcoming professional development opportunity please visit EEC’s Online Professional Development System/Learning Management System. To learn more about PDC coaching opportunities, contact the PDC in your region. 

There are five regional PDCs, together these entities work to provide professional development opportunities and support services at the local, regional, and statewide level.  

1. Western MA Professional Development Center 
   Holyoke Community College serves as the Western MA Professional Development Center. For additional information on the Western MA PDC or to inquire about coaching services, contact westernpdc@hcc.edu or contact a Western MA PDC staff member.   
   
   Kimm Quinlan, Director of Early Childhood Initiatives, KQuinlan@HCC.edu or 413-552-2215 
   Amanda Thayer, Early Childhood Initiatives Program Administrator, AThayer@HCC.edu or 413-552-2594 
   Liz Charland-Tait, Lead Coach, ECharlandTait@HCC.edu or 413-552-2591 
2. Central MA Professional Development Center 
   Connected Beginnings at The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Donahue Institute serves as the Central MA Professional Development Center. For additional information on the Central MA PDC or to inquire about coaching services, contact:  
   
   Mary Watson Avery, Coordinator, MWatsonAvery@umass.edu or 617-448-9729 
3. Northeast MA Professional Development Center 
   The Community Group serves as the Northeast MA Professional Development Center. For additional information on the Northeast MA PDC or to inquire about coaching services, contact:  
   
   Luisana Lizardo, Program Coordinator, llizardo@thecommunitygroupinc.org or 978-722-2505  
4. Southeast MA Professional Development Center 
   Child Development and Education, Inc. serves as the Southeast MA Professional Development Center. For additional information on the Southeast MA PDC or to inquire about coaching services, contact: 
   
   Nicole Miles, Program Coordinator, Southeastpdc@cdedu.co or 781-870-7009 
5. Metro Boston Professional Development Center 
   The Institute for Early Education Leadership & Innovation at the University of Massachusetts Boston serves as the Metro Boston Professional Development Center. For additional information on the Metro Boston PDC or to inquire about coaching services, contact: 617-287-4383 
   
   Deb Johnston-Malden, Metro Boston PDC Coordinator, debra.johnstonmalden@umb.edu 
   Eric Burkes, Metro Boston Training Coordinator, eric.burkes@umb.edu 
   Maria Teixeira, Metro Boston Lead Coach, maria.teixeira@umb.edu  

The Academy is responsible for providing high-quality professional development opportunities to educators across EEC’s mixed delivery system that focus on EEC priority areas. The Academy is responsible for the recruitment of new early education coaches and facilitators/trainers while also supporting coaches and facilitators/trainers that are currently supporting early education and care programs, educators, and administrators through EEC initiatives.   

To register for an upcoming professional development opportunity please visit EEC’s Online Professional Development System/Learning Management System.  

The Institute for Early Education Leadership & Innovation at the University of Massachusetts Boston serves as the Statewide Professional Development Academy. To learn more about EEC’s Statewide Professional Development Academy or learn more about becoming a coach or facilitator/trainer, contact the Academy.  

• Teddy Kokoros, Academy Project Director, theodore.kokoros@umb.edu    
• Caroline Yoder Blackman, Academy Leadership Coaching Manager, caroline.blackman@umb.edu  
• Becky DelVecchio, Academy Project Coordinator, becky.delvecchio001@umb.edu   

PDCs and the Academy offer access to an array of training topics designed to support continuous quality improvement and build educator knowledge and skills. This includes training and professional learning communities (PLCs) that are provided in person, online, or through a hybrid or blended model. All opportunities are facilitated by early education and care expert facilitator. Participants are expected to complete the professional development opportunity to receive credit. Learning opportunities are currently available in Cantonese, English, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Spanish. 

To register for an upcoming professional development opportunity please visit EEC’s Online Professional Development System/Learning Management System.  

PDCs and the Academy may bundle professional development services to best support educators in obtaining knowledge and skills and implementing strategies learned.   

PDCs provide coaching and technical assistance to program administrators/directors and other professionals in their designated EEC region. PDC services are designed to support continuous program quality improvement efforts in alignment with EEC domains of quality, licensing requirements, and program’s continuous quality improvement plans (CQIP). Across the Commonwealth PDC coaching services are available in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Spanish.   

PDC coaching is designed to support program leaders across all licensed setting types including family child care (FCC), group child care (GCC), and out-of-school time (OST) programs with continuous quality improvement (CQI) efforts. It is a relationship-based model that supports collaboration and builds trust with program leaders. The model is designed to effectively implement coaching supports that are culturally responsive and individualized, taking into account the needs of the program as well as the experience and expertise of the program leader. PDC services are designed to support continuous program quality improvement efforts in alignment with EEC domains of quality, licensing requirements, and program’s continuous quality improvement plans (CQIP).  

To learn more about coaching opportunities, contact the PDC in your region.