DC native Lena Coleman always knew that education was her calling. She attended Morgan State University and earned her BA in Applied Liberal Studies with a concentration in Elementary Education.
Her goal was to become a childcare director, but she did not even have a Child Development Associate (CDA) certification and could not afford to pay for the required training and testing. Then she learned she was eligible for the CDA program at UPO CARES – while she was on maternity leave with her third child.
The class began 3 weeks after she gave birth. Even with a newborn by her side amid a pandemic, Coleman made it through the program. She praises her instructor Ms. Tracey Parham (a UPO Family Engagement Specialist) for being endlessly patient and supportive. Coleman also recalls that Parham called her multiple times after the training to ensure she was taking the next steps to complete her certification, as well as checking in on her newborn. Coleman said, “I just think Ms. Tracey was a blessing in disguise. She was truly amazing.”
Now Coleman is a certified Child Development Associate and refers anyone interested in certification to UPO. She raves about how wonderful it felt to have “another accomplishment under my belt.” Next, she wants to pursue her MA in Education or Business Administration to get closer to her goal.
