Shakira Brown, Early Childhood Education

Published in ConnectED Newsletter - Volume 8 - Issue 1 - September 2024

Shakira Brown felt motivated to pursue a graduate degree in education after working with children of all ages—from two-year-old kids to 11th graders—and wanting to support them to achieve success. She noticed that high schoolers needed motivation, middle schoolers needed redirection in finding out who they wanted to become, and elementary school students needed resources and people who cared enough to meet them where they were.

Ms. Brown is passionate about teaching younger students because they are creative and she gets to help build onto their creativity. “Students use their environment and enhance the classroom experience with the teacher. I learn more from my students in the real world than from textbooks,” she explains.

Reflecting on her own educational journey, she says, “I was a student who struggled in school because I was not aware there were resources that could help me phase out of habits and teach me better options. As I got older, I noticed and used of those resources, which led me to graduate and continue working with students.” This journey has also reaffirmed her desire to become a teacher.

Ms. Brown’s goals as an early childhood education teacher are to create environments where students can have challenging experiences that are memorable and enjoyable, as well as to provide support to both students and parents. She wants to take the time to know what her students would like to learn more about and create a space to make it happen. She adds, “I would bring more outside life experiences by going on field trips and giving them the opportunity to interact with community members so they could develop a desire to become independent. Reminding people of the importance of the journey to love requires bravery, kindness, and adventure; there will be challenges, but the challenges mark different parts of your story and who you are.”

Ms. Brown currently works in the School of Education Learning and Technology Resource Center (LTRC). “I actively listen and show students that they are more than just their EMPLID numbers and that there is a place where they can get support,” she shares. Her responsibilities in the LTRC include providing students with access to information and materials provided both in and outside the college. She also helps students who need assistance printing and finding useful websites, ensures that the center responds to the needs of students with accommodations, and assists in the administration of the School of Education Admissions Test (SEAT). Finally, the LTRC is in the process of digitizing all resources to make them virtually accessible to all students. Ms. Brown is playing a key role in this process.

One of Ms. Brown’s favorite extra-curricular activities is reading. Her favorite books are Every Light in the House Burnin', by Andrea Levy; Horton Hears a Who!, by Dr. Seuss; and The Name Jar, by Yangsook Choi. She also loves animals and traveling. Over the years, she has visited six continents!