May 27, 2025
(L-R) Children at Garfield Montessori love interacting with Grandpa Jim, an ECSC graduate and classroom staff member.
In the heart of Colorado’s early childhood education classrooms, a quiet revolution is taking place. Thanks to the Early Childhood Service Corps (ECSC), a program of Montessori Intergenerational Learning Communities (MILC), older adults are stepping up, stepping in, and making a difference where it matters most: with our youngest learners.
Supported by the Vital Careers Training Support grant from the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC), the stimulus-funded initiative helps older adults rejoin the workforce while addressing a critical need in Colorado’s early childhood education sector.
“Our program addresses the psychological and economic impact of retiring from work that many older adults face and the effect of ageism on finding employment after the age of 50,” says ECSC Digital Communications Coordinator Stephanie Whitehouse.
“Negative impacts can include a lack of purpose, social isolation, loneliness, and financial insecurity for aging adults. Ending work is a major life change that can bring stress as well as benefits. In fact, some studies have linked retirement to a decline in health,” Whitehouse says.
One ongoing study published by Today’s Research on Aging Program and Policy Implications found that retired people, especially those in the first year of retirement, are about 40 percent more likely to experience a heart attack or stroke than those who keep working.
“We offer an alternative, part-time solution for aging adults who want to work with young children. We tap into aging adults’ wealth of experience and wisdom, and provide free training and site placement, to foster intergenerational collaborations that inspire innovation and mentorship,” says Whitehouse.
A Two-Pronged Purpose
At the core of ECSC’s mission is a twofold goal: to engage older Coloradans in the workforce and address the growing shortage of early childhood education professionals. ECSC believes that a service corps of trained older adults can improve the lives of young children and families by providing a solution to the workforce crisis in early childhood while simultaneously enhancing and improving the mental, physical, and financial health of the older adults in the corps.
ECSC connects older adults with early childhood education classrooms in Colorado, offering them meaningful volunteer and paid opportunities. These older adults contribute valuable life experience, emotional intelligence, and stability to the classroom environment.
Since its inception in 2021, the ECSC program has trained over 200 adults to date and is about to begin its eighth cohort, providing a renewed sense of purpose for older Coloradans.
“Instead of calling a substitute, you have a trusted adult who’s gone through training and will reliably support teachers,” ECSC Founder and Executive Director Lisa Armao said. “These volunteers bring life experience, emotional intelligence, and stability into the classroom.”
Real People. Real Impact.
Among the success stories is Jim, a retired New Yorker who had never taken college courses before joining ECSC. After completing the training, he began assisting at a preschool several days a week. The children call him “Grandpa Jim” and his wife reports that he comes home happier than ever, fueled by a renewed sense of purpose. He’s not just helping children grow—he’s growing too.
“Now that Jim has been working with us for a few weeks, we can see the huge benefits of this intergenerational interaction that allows our little 3, 4, and 5 year old children to be in the presence of a calm, grounded, centered, and “emotionally available” adult who is the same age as their grandparents,” says Garfield Montessori School Classroom Instructor Jeff Waxman.
“Our children love the interaction and “Mr. Jim” is very popular at Garfield Montessori. And Jim loves to be here and just “play” with and observe the children doing their thing each day. We look forward to these blossoming friendships getting deeper and deeper,” said Waxman.
Another participant shared her experience working at Thrive Preschool in Littleton.
“I work in the infant room for eight to 10 hours a week, which is perfect for me. Thrive staff are friendly, the babies are wonderful, and I’m so thankful for the program - it’s worked out so well.”
The benefits extend beyond the classroom. At Golden Aspen Early Learning Center, site leadership credited ECSC’s support with enabling plans to open a second location in downtown Boulder.
From Pilot to Powerhouse
Fueled by the Vital Careers Training Support Grant, ECSC has grown from a two-person operation to a robust six-person team, with strategic placements guided by ECSC’s Site Coordinator in collaboration with Partner Site Directors.
ECSC offers a no-cost, flexible training model and recently partnered with Red Rocks Community College to expand its offerings. The partnership allows the program to offer internship credit and increase accessibility through online and hybrid options.
ECSC is now an approved trainer, listed on the state’s Eligible Training Provider List, helping participants pursue credentials and paid opportunities within the workforce development system.
With recruitment underway for both summer and fall cohorts - application deadlines are June 12 and July 21 - ECSC offers three tracks:
- Encore Staff: 2 - 4 months of training and a 6-week internship with potential for paid employment.
- Classroom Volunteers: 21 hours of training for classroom support roles
- Volunteer Business Advisors: previous business experience or education paired with nine hours of specific Early Childhood Education (ECE) training to support human resources and administrative practice at ECE sites.
Armao said the response from older adults has been overwhelmingly positive. Many participants report a renewed sense of energy, purpose, and belonging while helping solve one of Colorado’s most urgent workforce challenges.
Looking Ahead
The ECSC program, under the umbrella of MILC, proves that workforce innovation can span generations. In tackling two systemic challenges - an aging workforce and an early childcare workforce shortage - Colorado is writing a new playbook, one that values experience, empathy, and equity. With the right support, older adults aren’t just filling gaps - they’re building bridges.
Interested in joining or partnering? To learn more about the ECSC, visit earlychildhoodservicecorps.org. For more information about MILC, visit montessoriilc.com