California Early Childhood Mentor Program

10/30/2026

A promotional video featuring the California Early Childhood Mentor Program (CECMP) logo and branded graphics encouraging early childhood professionals to get involved in mentoring.

10/26/2026

10/24/2026

Day 2 of the CECMP Annual Institute!

Good morning from San Diego!

We’re excited to welcome another inspiring day of learning, collaboration, and connection at the California Early Childhood Mentor Program (CECMP) Annual Institute! 💙

Today, we celebrate the dedicated mentor teachers, program coordinators, and early childhood education professionals from across California who are committed to supporting the next generation of early childhood educators.

Ann Hentschel will again walk us through reflection, self-awareness, and shared experiences, as we strengthen our ability to lead, mentor, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of educators, children, and families. Because great mentoring goes beyond sharing knowledge, it’s about building relationships, encouraging growth, and learning from one another.

Here’s to a wonderful Day 2 filled with new ideas, meaningful conversations, and connections that will continue long after the Institute ends!

Together, we grow stronger mentors and a stronger early childhood education community!

10/23/2026

Growing Together. Leading Together. Making a Difference.

Great leadership in early childhood education starts with a commitment to learning, reflection, and supporting others; and that’s exactly what we are doing in San Diego!

The California Early Childhood Mentor Program (CECMP) values the dedicated educators, mentors, and program leaders who invest in their own professional growth while helping others thrive.

Ann Hentschel is taking us trough professional development, collaboration, and meaningful mentorship, as we strengthen the early childhood workforce and create opportunities for educators to learn from one another. We are sharing experiences, building community, and growing as leaders.

✨ Together, we’re building a stronger early childhood education community, one relationship at a time.

Learn more about CECMP at www.cecmp.org

ProfessionalDevelopment EarlyChildhoodMentors

10/22/2026

San Diego, CECMP is coming your way! 💙

Big things are happening behind the scenes, and we can’t wait to share them with you! Join the California Early Childhood Mentor Program (CECMP) October 23–25, 2026, for exciting opportunities to connect, learn, and strengthen early childhood education.

We’re especially excited to welcome our special guest, Ann Hentschel, author of Inspiring Peak Performance and The Director’s Toolbox: Leadership in Action.

With more than four decades of experience at the intersection of early childhood practice, leadership, and quality improvement, Ann brings a deep commitment to supporting the people closest to children. Her work reminds us that educators and leaders deserve practical tools, clear guidance, and meaningful support.

Stay tuned for more! We’re looking forward to connecting with our early childhood education community in San Diego. 🌟

ProfessionalDevelopment CaliforniaECE
Image Descriptions: A series of 4 images with brown and blue torn paper announcing CECMP is coming to San Diego, the ADMI area of focus, the Annual Statewide Institute area of focus, and information on their special guest, Ann Hentschel.

10/20/2026

What is a Mentor Teacher? 🌟

Great teachers help shape the future, and great mentors help shape great teachers! 💙

Mentor Teachers play an essential role in early childhood education by guiding student teachers, supporting fellow educators, and sharing the knowledge and experience that help others grow.

✨ What do Mentor Teachers do?
✔️ Guide and support student teachers
✔️ Encourage and collaborate with fellow educators
✔️ Offer professional development and guidance
✔️ Model effective teaching practices

Are you an experienced early childhood educator passionate about helping others succeed? If you have 2+ years of experience and a background in adult supervision and mentoring or working with student teachers, you may be ready to take the next step!

💬 Can you see yourself here? Join a community that believes in growing great educators together!

🔗 Learn more about becoming a mentor through the California Early Childhood Mentor Program (CECMP): https://cecemp.org/


Image Description: A mentor teacher speaks with a colleague in a professional setting. The graphic outlines four mentoring roles: guiding student teachers, supporting peers, offering professional development, and demonstrating effective teaching practices. It highlights two or more years of experience and relevant mentoring or adult supervision experience.

Image Description: A woman wearing a beige hijab looks at her reflection in a round mirror. The graphic asks, “Can you see yourself here?” and invites viewers to explore becoming part of the CECMP mentoring community.

10/13/2026

5 Ways CECMP Supports California’s Early Childhood Workforce 🦋

Strong early childhood programs start with supported educators. At the California Early Childhood Mentor Program (CECMP), we believe mentorship is more than guidance—it’s about building relationships, strengthening leadership, and creating opportunities for professional growth.

Here are five ways CECMP supports California’s early childhood workforce:
✨ Peer-to-Peer Mentor Teachers
🤝 Director Mentors
💬 Communities of Practice
🌐 Regional College Networks
🌱 Professional Growth Stipends

Every mentor relationship creates an opportunity to learn, reflect, and grow together. When we invest in educators, we strengthen the future of early childhood education.

🦋 Want to be part of a supportive mentoring community? Learn more at cec​​mp.org (https://cecmp.org/).

ProfessionalGrowth EarlyLearning CaliforniaECE ECEWorkforce

Image description: A light blue graphic with butterfly illustrations and the CECMP logo. Large text reads “5 Ways CECMP Supports the Workforce,” introducing a series about how the program supports early childhood professionals.

Image description: A matching light blue graphic lists five CECMP supports: peer-to-peer mentor teachers, director mentors, Communities of Practice, regional college networks, and professional growth stipends. It invites early childhood professionals to join the mentoring community and includes the CECMP website.

10/05/2026

Happy World Teachers’ Day! 🌎💚

Today, we celebrate the educators who inspire curiosity, nurture potential, and help shape the future, especially the dedicated early childhood educators who lay the foundation for lifelong learning.

The California Early Childhood Mentor Program (CECMP) is proud to partner with community colleges across California, our tribal liaisons, and our many community members to support students and educators through relationship-based mentoring, professional growth, and career pathways in early childhood education.

Our college partnerships span seven regions of California, connecting future educators with experienced mentors who share knowledge, encouragement, reflection, and real-world experience.

Today, we celebrate every teacher, mentor, faculty member, coordinator, and educator who invests in the next generation.

💙 Thank you for sharing your wisdom, encouragement, and guidance. Your support inspires us to keep moving forward and deepening our commitment to the CECMP’s goals and values.

Together, we mentor. Together, we grow. Together, we make a difference.

Learn more about CECMP and our college partnerships: cecmp.org

EarlyChildhoodMentors CommunityColleges FutureEducators TeacherAppreciation CaliforniaECE

Image Description: A World Teachers’ Day graphic featuring the CECMP logo, October 5 date, a thank-you message to educators, and photos of educators gathered together.

10/01/2026

Growing the future of early childhood education—together.

Being part of the California Early Childhood Mentor Program (CECMP) is about so much more than mentoring. It’s about relationships, encouragement, shared learning, and the joy of watching educators discover their own strengths and possibilities.

When we take the time to listen, support, and learn alongside one another, we help create a stronger future for early childhood education. Every conversation, every practicum experience, every moment of encouragement has the potential to make a difference—not only for an educator, but for the children and families they will serve. 💛

For more than 35 years, CECMP has connected experienced early childhood educators with emerging professionals across California. Together, we are investing in educators, strengthening the workforce, and nurturing the future of ECE; one mentor and one relationship at a time.

Learn more and become part of the mentoring community: cecmp.org

MentoringMatters EarlyChildhoodEducators ChildDevelopment ECECommunity InvestInECE GrowingTogether

Image description 1: A warm floral quote graphic featuring a heartfelt reflection on mentoring and its impact on the future of early childhood education.

Image description 2: A floral CECMP informational graphic introducing the program, its history, mentorship opportunities, and its statewide impact.