Guild of St. Agnes gives raises for educational achievements
PHOTO/COURTESY
The story of the Guild of St. Agnes, a full-service early education and care facility, started back in 1913 with the agency serving just 19 children in a day nursery.
A hundred years later, while many things have changed, what has never wavered is the organization's commitment to its mission of providing families with quality, affordable, early childhood education and school-age programs in a safe, nurturing environment for children from four weeks to 12 years old.
Today, the Guild boasts seven centers, 113 family homes, and 10 after-school programs throughout Central Massachusetts, and cares for more than 1,500 children.
“Our founders wisely chose to include the word 'Guild' in our name, as this term means 'an association of people who come together in the pursuit of a common goal,'” said Ed Madaus, the Guild's executive director. He said that whatever their role, “all of our staff are here to support, nurture, and educate the children in our care.”
The care and personal attention the Guild shows each and every child who walks through its doors is also showered upon its own employees.
In addition to competitive salaries and a comprehensive health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance and disability insurance package, the Guild offers its staff up to six weeks of vacation, three personal days, and 10 paid holidays per year. The organization also participates in the “5-2-1-0” initiative, a new United Way healthy eating and exercise program.
The Guild also strongly supports and encourages its employees to advance their careers through education. Staff receive pay raises of $1 per hour for completing one course, $2.50 per hour for receiving an associate's degree, and $6 per hour for earning a bachelor's.
For the past 20 years, employees have received raises and/or bonuses every year, Last year the bonus was 10 percent.
In addition to a human resources director who helps employees file college applications and financial aid forms, the Guild pays for ongoing continuing education and offers all-day professional development workshops.
Jackie Gardner, a lead preschool teacher, has been with the Guild since 1998 when as a single mom her own child was enrolled there. Despite any formal teacher training, Gardner was offered a role as a teacher's assistant, eventually becoming qualified as a teacher and then a lead teacher.
“During that time, the Guild supported me as I went back to school and got a bachelor's degree in early childhood education,” Gardner said. “As a single mom, I couldn't have dreamed of being a professional teacher with a college degree without the support I received from the Guild.”
After earning her degree, Gardner left the Guild to become director of another child care program. It didn't take long, she says, before she realized she missed being in the classroom and missed the Guild as well. When a position opened up, she jumped at the chance to return.
“Despite being a very large agency, everyone in the administration knew my name and knew my story,” Gardner said.
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