91¿´Æ¬Íø

I would recommend KSU's ECED program for many reasons, but mostly because it opened so many doors for me as an Educator. I felt like I left the program with a wealth of knowledge on current teaching practices and found myself as an educator through the multiple student teaching opportunities the program requires. Every professor I had, had their own journey in education and that helped me see where my career could one day go! I graduated in 2014 and went on to become a Title 1 Math and Reading tutor before returning to KSU's Child Development Center. There, I taught kindergarten for a few years and absolutely loved my experience. I was able to go back to Grad School while teaching at the CDC, and now I am a school counselor at a high school. All of these doors were opened for me because I chose Kent 91¿´Æ¬Íø and their education programs.

I felt, and still feel, so prepared as an educator every day, and I am always learning more!

- Jill Connor

My name is Emily McCarrick, and I am a KSU ECED (Spring 2024) graduate … I am in my second year of teaching third grade, and last year I was honored to receive Rookie of the Year in my district.

I recommend Kent 91¿´Æ¬Íø’s ECED program because of the extensive in-classroom experience it provides. At the time, the hands on requirements felt demanding, but now, in my first two years of teaching, I truly appreciate how well different districts prepared me. I learned the most by being physically in the classroom, working directly with students, and that experience gave me the confidence and practical skills I rely on every day.

I graduated from 91¿´Æ¬Íø in Spring 2024 with a degree in Early Childhood Education, and I am now teaching English to grades 1-4 at an international school in Budapest, Hungary. My experience in Kent’s ECED program prepared me exceptionally well for the classroom, both academically and professionally. The professors are truly outstanding, knowledgeable, supportive, and genuinely invested in their students’ growth and success. The program offers meaningful field experiences and valuable opportunities that help students build confidence and real world skills. I would highly recommend Kent because of its extraordinary ECED program and the way the faculty consistently show that they care about their students and their futures.

- Emily Harstine

As a proud KSU ECED graduate now teaching 4th grade, I can’t recommend Kent 91¿´Æ¬Íø enough—it truly felt like home and gave me the space to grow into a better person. I’m currently bringing that KSU foundation into my classroom by incorporating IB strategies to connect lessons to real-world experiences through student interest and meaningful studies like Black History, Hispanic Heritage, and Women’s History. Most importantly, I’m seeing my students show incredible growth in reading and math because they are truly engaged in their learning.

KSU didn't just give me a degree; it gave me the tools to prepare my students for the real world, and I’m honored to represent my alma mater in the Akron community.

- Lauren Jewell