I started my child care career at the age of 14 years-old at a family home daycare in Wilmington, Delaware with Jimmae-Washington (R.I.P) and Keisha Dickerson, a mother and daughter.  Keisha Dickerson is my sister.  They both knew the gift that I had being in child care in my younger years.

I received my first certification in 2010 TECE 1 & 2 while working in Wilmington and Newark, Delaware. In August 2021, I decided to further my education in my career with Children of America by pursing my CDA Certification with ChildCare Education Institute.  Through the online program offered by CCEI, I have learned so much about child care that I didn’t know before gaining more knowledge of experiences that children and teachers around the world go through daily.  It took me 13 months to complete everything required of me during this program and included the online coursework, exams and completing a 70-page professional portfolio with a PD Specialist verification visit.  Hard work, hope and faith and CCEI’s education coaches allowed me to complete the online CDA Certification program bringing tears of joy and focus to live in passion and purpose in my child care career.  The experience with CCEI’s CDA Certification program helped me realize what I am capable of and my strength to never give up through any challenging moments and to keep going and remain positive and strong because nothing is easy.

The importance of child care for me is making a positive impact, consistency, compassion, patience and treating all children equally. In the future, I see my career developing into daycare owner and director for an infant and toddler center bringing mental awareness and mental wellness for my children, families and staff by having different strategies and resources available for everyone.  My son is my passion.  He is the reason for everything I do and to be a role model and inspiration for him and other ECE providers around the world.  I want to inspire him as well as other childcare professionals to purse their dreams and goals, to never give up and to always be strong and positive during any weak moments.

The overall experience with CCEI was awesome and I highly recommend the program.  It is great for people that love taking online classes and the CDA Certification program helps you gain courage and discipline being an early childhood educator.