Olivia Hensley at Sharon School recently earned the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and says she is one step closer to her goal of becoming a teacher.
An Educational Assistant for the last four years alongside pre-K teacher Beth Mathews, Hensley worked through the Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA) to complete online work netting her the recognition. Classes included Early Childhood Education, Community Involvement, and Safe Environment. She plans to next take classes at Dyersburg State and then complete her degree at the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Hensley praises TECTA, the program which financially supports early childhood providers taking college courses. She said she initially paid $50 for each class and upon receipt of her credential, she was reimbursed the full amount.
She is also pleased that her role at Sharon School offers a work schedule that allows her to spend more time with her three-year-old son while also reinforcing her goal to become a teacher.
“I really had no idea,” she said of her early days of working with preschoolers and her desire to continue her education. “We teach them and when they learn something their faces light up!”
A graduate of Greenfield High School, Hensley once sat in classes taught by now Principal Michelle Clements.
“I’m proud for her,” Clements noted of the accomplishment. “I can’t wait to see what’s in store for her in the future.”