Megan Grimm has worked in early childhood education for 20 years after being inspired by her mother's nurturing care of children in their home. She has experience working in child care centers, state-run preschools, elementary education, and training early childhood education students. For the past seven years, she has taught at a career center where her students can graduate high school with a Child Development Associate credential. Her students regularly win gold medals in skills competitions, demonstrating how much they have learned from Megan and her passion for making a difference for children.

1. Megan Grimm
PD Specialist
11-21-18
Teacher reflects on two decadesin early childhood education.
What doesittake to go forthe gold inearlychildhoodeducation?Goodinstructionandinspirationare
key.It alsohelpsif yougetan earlystart,the waythat Megan did.“My mom tookcare of childreninour
home,”she says,“and I have hadan interestinearlychildhoodeducationaslongasI can remember.”
Watchingthe warm, nurturingcare her momprovided movedMegantovolunteerinherchurch’s
nurserywhere she feltatremendousconnectionwiththe children.
The babysittingjobsthatfollowedwere the babystepsina20-year careerpath inearlychildhoodcare.
Duringthat time,Meganhas workedinnearlyeverypartof the child care system:child care centers,
state-runpreschools, elementaryeducationandcareer technical educationforearlychildhood
educationstudents.
For the past sevenyears,Meganhasbeenan instructorat the CoshoctonCountyCareerCenterin
Southeastern,Ohio,where hercurriculumcloselyfollows the eightsubjectareasof the Child
DevelopmentAssociate (CDA®)credential. Herstudents getthe 120 hours of courseworkand480
hoursof experience workingwithkidsrequiredtoearnthe credential,lettingthemgraduate fromhigh
school witha CDA. And this,Megansays,“is quite anaccomplishmentforayoungpersonworkinginthe
field.”
She’snotthe onlyone who’s thrilled withherstudents’achievements.Theyrepeatedlyearngold
medalsin competitive eventssponsoredbythe Family,CareerandCommunityLeadersof America.The
college- andcareer- readyknowledgeandskillstheydisplay inthese eventsshow justhow muchMegan
has taughtthemand howmuch she’spassedonherlifelongdesire tomake adifference forkids. Asa
teacherof earlychildhoodeducation, Meganisclearlyasgood as gold.