Early Childhood Education Stories (ECE)
Here are stories from our ECE community members — we invite you to share your story, too
MaryEllen Fritz's 20 year career in early childhood education began with a simple question: Why are some children more engaged than others? As a nurse at a tribal clinic in rural Alaska, MaryEllen said she would routinely see children come to the clinic that were happy and inquisitive while others hid behind their parents and had poor social skills. MaryEllen's soon learned the difference was in a child's early childhood education. "Teachers who had their CDA had a curriculum on developing social skills and responsibility, while those who didn't often struggled with behavioral problems," she said. When she became the director of her local Headstart center, MaryEllen said she wanted to ensure that all students could grow from having a CDA Certified teacher in their classroom. "When I first started as a director, only one teacher had a CDA and all of the other teachers went to her for advice. A year later we had six CDA's in the center," Fritz said. “We saw a jump in the quality of education. As teachers were gaining their credentials, we would see children who were initially scoring low on national exams, score higher.” Inspired by the progress of her teachers, MaryEllen decided to earn her own CDA. “I saw the benefits of the CDA in my classrooms and I wanted it for myself. I wanted to understand how children learn, even though I was a director and not in the classroom.” Since earning her CDA, MaryEllen has gone on to earn her Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. Today, she serves as the Program Director and Administrator of the Anchorage Vineyard Early Learning Program where she oversees multiple centers throughout rural Alaska and continues to advocate for the CDA and early childhood education for Alaska’s tribal community. “I really fell in love with the way the process helps families and new teachers grow and learn,” Fritz said. “The CDA is a great first stepping stone for the professional development of early educators.”
- MaryEllen Fritz Anchorage, Alaska
- MaryEllen Fritz, Alaska
MaryEllen Fritz's 20 year career in early childhood education began with a simple question: Why are some children more engaged than others?
As a nurse at a tribal clinic in rural Alaska, MaryEllen said she would routinely see children come to the clinic that were happy and inquisitive while others hid behind their parents and had poor social skills.
MaryEllen's soon learned the difference was in a child's early childhood education.
"Teachers who had their CDA had a curriculum on developing social skills and responsibility, while those who didn't often struggled with behavioral problems," she said.
When she became the director of her local Headstart center, MaryEllen said she wanted to ensure that all students could grow from having a CDA Certified teacher in their classroom.
"When I first started as a director, only one teacher had a CDA and all of the other teachers went to her for advice. A year later we had six CDA's in the center," Fritz said.
“We saw a jump in the quality of education. As teachers were gaining their credentials, we would see children who were initially scoring low on national exams, score higher.”
Inspired by the progress of her teachers, MaryEllen decided to earn her own CDA.
“I saw the benefits of the CDA in my classrooms and I wanted it for myself. I wanted to understand how children learn, even though I was a director and not in the classroom.”
Since earning her CDA, MaryEllen has gone on to earn her Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. Today, she serves as the Program Director and Administrator of the 
Sara Segura, a bilingual educatorin Hialeah, Florida, has found that earning her CDA credential close to three years ago helped to prepare her most in the areas of literacy and language development. Her favorite part of the CDA credential is that, "everything is connected in one place." She likes that the CDA credential is setup to assess a variety of skills in one fell swoop, no need for multiple ECE credentials or courses, the CDA credential has it all!
Sara is very enthusiastic about her job and working with children. She says "Every day is different, children are very spontaneous. You see how they learn and their excitement when they learn something new. It makes you feel good that you were a part of that." Sara finds that being apart of the learning development of children is very rewarding.
With Sara's renewal date fast approaching, she stated that she has definite plans to renew. She is also excited about being able to renew online and that the Council will be offering more information in Spanish. Sara stated, "Having more Spanish language materials will make it easier for educators whose first language is Spanish and who teach bilingual children."
Sara highly recommends everyone to get their CDA credential:"It is important to have your CDA because ECE is always changing and it means better learning for children!" 
"Put a little PEP in your step!" is a motto Sue Erpelding lives and works by. Sue not only runs her own Family Child Care business out of her home, but is also the Statewide Coordinator for Providers Empowering Providers (PEP). PEP is the statewide Family Child Care network for Cheyenne, Wyoming.
One of the reasons Sue is so dedicated to the Family Child Care field is because the majority of child care programs in Wyoming are provided in a Family Child Care setting. As part of Sue's dedication to her field, she is working to "help eradicate" the mindset that Family Child Care providers are equivalent to "babysitters."
As an 11-year veteran of the CDA credential, Sue states, "Family Child Care providers are early care and education professionals." This understanding is something Sue hopes that not only non-child care providers will grow to recognize, but also other Family Child Care providers themselves.
Sue says, "We need to help others realize the important role we play in the lives of the children and families we serve. I think obtaining a CDA helps Family Child Care providers understand and recognize the importance of their work and helps them to feel more professional."
Sue Erpelding was also the Council's first applicant for the PD Specialist program and the first to complete the PD Specialist training online. Having previously served as a CDA Advisor, she stated, "I felt it was important to become a PD Specialist because observing Candidates in the
Family Child Care field (I believe) requires a unique perspective."
When asked her thoughts on the PD Specialist online training, she had nothing but positive things to say. Working in the Family Child Care field, Sue liked that the training was self-paced. She found the content to be thorough and the system very easy to navigate.
Having renewed her CDA credential just last year, Sue is truly a model of commitment to the Family Child Care field and the professional development of ECE providers. 
skills to work daily with children. She stated, "The research and writings for my CDA competency goals really helped me to identify my strengths, and gave me the confidence to go (through) with the process. I recommend to all the teachers at (a school) or center that they get the classes and go after their CDA, what they will learn in the classes is so valuable and holding a CDA is the greatest feeling in the world."
Tamra's story does end there; she has continued her commitment to professional development and recently renewed her CDA credential. In response to the education requirements necessary to renew her CDA credential, Tamra says, "yes, I did the classes and am proud to say that I passed them with the highest scores I have ever received!" 
Although she was a little nervous about taking the exam, her overall experience was very good.
"Applying for the CDA credential through the new process was great" says Tammy. "I feel you can never learn too much and I learned a lot through my experience." Tammy is excited about what the future holds now that she has earned her CDA Credential.
Tammy is excited for what the future holds now that she has earned her CDA Credential and is encouraging her 23 year old daughter to invest in her professional 