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The College will be closed on Friday, March 29, 2024, for Spring Holiday. There are no classes scheduled on Saturday, March 30, or Sunday, March 31.

Reflection on Master’s Degree Journey

By Alethea Brown, M.Ed.

Hi, my name is Alethea. I am a mother of three, an early childhood professional and a lifelong student. I have always known I was meant to be an educator. Being an educator is the only career I’ve ever pursued. I thought I would be an elementary school teacher until I retired. However, after being an elementary school teacher, I realized my heart and purpose belonged to early childhood education. I have been an early childhood professional in various roles for more than 15 years. Anyone that works in this field knows that it can be challenging and ever-changing, but also very rewarding.

Children and the field of early childhood education continue to evolve each day, and that is why it is important to me to never stop learning. Thanks to an encouraging family, coworkers and scholarships like the ones offered through IEECE, I am able to do just that. I recently graduated from Florida Atlantic University for the second time with a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Early Childhood Education. The opportunity to use the SEEK scholarship to help obtain my new degree is what helped push me into getting started. Many would ask me how I do it all; kids, work and school. The answer is quite simple: having the will to be the best version of myself for my kids, my family, the children and their families in our community, and my coworkers is how I did it.

Alethea Brown, M.Ed.,
SEEK Scholarship recipient and
executive director at Kingswood Academy

I pride myself on not just telling other early childhood educators to further their education but doing it alongside them. My hope is to inspire other early childhood educators to take advantage of the opportunities we are offered and earn those degrees and credentials. I have learned so much that I am ready to pass it on to help give the children I interact with the best foundation for their educational journey. I’m thankful to everyone in my life, including the great staff at the IEECE and FAU, for their support and encouragement through this process. Happy learning everyone!

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