EmBe Partners With Harrisburg School District to Launch On-Site Childcare and Early Learning Center After Receiving a Workforce Education Grant
The Harrisburg School District has been awarded a $218,284 Workforce Education Grant from the South Dakota Department of Education to establish an industry-quality childcare and early childhood learning center within district facilities. As a leading regional provider of early childhood learning and childcare programs, EmBe will be supporting this project by partnering with the Harrisburg School District.
EmBe will open a childcare center in Heritage Elementary School exclusively to provide a childcare solution for district employees. There will be space for 100 kids, ages 0-5, across five classrooms. EmBe will manage operations, professional development, and curriculum, ensuring the same high-quality, play-based programming it brings to other centers across the region.
“This is an exciting opportunity that we have been working on with EmBe for some time to make this a reality. EmBe is a proven entity in childcare and this initiative will help address the childcare crisis along with helping the district with staff recruitment and retention,” said Superintendent Tim Graf.
“This is more than a new childcare center—it’s a community solution that’s going to shift how we support educators,” said Kerri Tietgen, EmBe CEO. “We’re creating a model that addresses the childcare gap, supports teacher retention, and trains the next generation of early childhood professionals—all in one.”
This initiative addresses the growing demand for early childhood educators and childcare providers by creating a dynamic, hands-on training environment for high school students enrolled in education and child development courses. Not only will the center operate as a high-quality, fee-based childcare option for Harrisburg School District staff but as a career and technical education (CTE) learning-lab space as well. Students will be able to earn practicum hours, participate in internships, apprenticeships, and certification opportunities, and explore postsecondary and career pathways through a robust slate of course offerings in education and child development.
Through this unique partnership between the school district and EmBe, students will gain real-world experience under the guidance of industry professionals while also providing additional fee-based childcare options for staff at a time when childcare openings are limited. Additional partners include the South Dakota Department of Education, the University of South Dakota, Southeast Technical College, and the South Dakota Department of Labor. These collaborations will offer advising on field experiences, dual credit options, and internship and apprenticeship pathways.
“This project reflects our commitment to preparing students for in-demand careers while serving the needs of working families,” said Dr. Michael Amolins, Director of Academic Services for the Harrisburg School District. “We are proud to partner with EmBe, the South Dakota Department of Education, and others to create a model program that will benefit our students, staff, and broader community.”
The Workforce Education Grant supports transformative CTE programs across the state, helping students develop the academic knowledge, technical skills, and work-based experiences they need for success in college and careers. This award will significantly expand access to high-quality CTE in Harrisburg and further South Dakota’s efforts to build a skilled, ready workforce in a high-need field.
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