Six employees from Partners In Leaning Child Development and Family Resource Center graduated from college in May, giving the center 21 of employees with degrees.
“We recognize that in order to improve and maintain the quality of early care, intervention, and education, we must have adequately trained teachers,” said Executive Director Norma Honeycutt. “This is just another way the Partners In Leaning sets itself apart in the field of early care and education.”
Every staff member is required to either have a degree or be working toward one. “It is an understanding among the staff that we provide a culture of life -long learners,” Honeycutt said.
The center offers scholarships to staff members. “This helps create a qualified and knowledgeable workforce for the families and children we serve,” Honeycutt said.
The center currently has six employees with associate’s degrees, 14 employees with bachelor’s degrees and one employee with a master’s degree.
Four teachers earned degrees from Catawba Catawba College this May.
Hillary Gordon earned a bachelor’s in education with a concentration in birth through kindergarten. She graduated magna cum laude and is a member of Kappa Delta Phi Honor Society. Gordon hopes to become an exceptional children’s pre-kindergarten teacher and will begin working on a graduate degree in special education in 2014.
Hannah Gaginer earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and was the treasurer of member of Kappa Delta Pi. She plans to pursue a career in education.
Jamesha Thomas graduated from Catawba with a bachelor’s degree in education with a concentration in middle school and a minor in mathematics. She plans to find a full-time teaching position and attend UNC Charlotte in 2014 to work on a master’s degree.
Monique Kirk earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and plans to earn a master’s in education in the coming years.
Erica Downs graduated from Livingstone College with a degree in social work. She also plans to attend graduate school to pursue a master’s in education and become a clinical social worker.
Sara Abernathy earned an associate’s degree in education with a concentration in birth through kindergarten from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. She plans to attend a four-year college to earn a bachelors degree and minor in special education.
The center also has two employees who graduate from high school this year. Sara Holmes and Alicia Perdue will graduate from West Rowan High School.
Situated on the Catawba College campus, Partners In Learning serves as the Model Inclusive Center providing care to children 6 weeks through 5 years of age in Rowan County. The center is a five-star licensed program caring for more than 200 children. It is the only National Association for the Education of Young Children accredited program in Rowan County.