The passion Lori Hodges has for her job and the young children she teaches is instantly clear. “I love the aha moments, when you can see it in the children’s eyes that they’ve got it,” Lori said. “I love when a child uses the potty for the first time and they are so excited. I love the first words and the first steps, the hugs and the, ‘I love you, Lori.’ I love the special moments, the connections.”
Lori’s path to being the Lead Teacher at Burke Early Head Start started after high school when she was offered a part-time job working in an afterschool program. She fell in love with the job and the children, but didn’t immediately pursue an early childhood career. She was a long-time employee of Walmart, but once her daughter was born, she stayed at home to care for her. She had planned to do the same when her son was born, but after her husband was in a serious car accident, she needed to return to the workforce. She accepted a position with Meals on Wheels that carried her to Burke Early Head Start with meal deliveries. She realized how much she missed working with children and took advantage of every opportunity she had to interact with them. The program director took notice of Lori’s interest and offered her an entry-level kitchen position that also meant she got to cover breaks for teachers. Lori accepted the job but expressed her concern that she did not have a degree…yet.
Lori’s director introduced her to the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Program and explained how they would partner to support Lori’s educational journey. With the encouragement of her husband, Lori finished EDU 119 to obtain her Early Childhood Credential. She then completed her Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education and is in the process of getting her bachelor’s degree at Appalachian State University. “All of this has exceeded my expectations,” Lori said. “I started as a kitchen person and now I’m a Lead Teacher. I started with no degree and now I’m nearly finished with my four-year. I’m 52 and people keep asking me why I’m getting my bachelor’s if it isn’t required. There is always more to learn. Education is ever-changing and I want to know everything I can to help the children. I also want to have my degree, which gives me future flexibility to look at early childhood career paths. But I love my job now. This is where I want to be. I like being on the floor with the children. I’ve been here eight years and I cannot imagine doing anything else. The hardest part is that I work with a mixed-age group of infants and toddlers, so I grow with these children. It is heartbreaking when they age out. We’ve built strong relationships with children and their families. It is so satisfying and so gratifying.”
When reminiscing about her personal aha moments during her educational pursuits, Lori said, “A teacher told me when I was getting my associate degree that one of the most important steps to help a child is to meet them where they are, and that comes back to me very frequently. Sometimes I have to take a step back and really think about what each child needs. I take a breath and look at each child, each situation. I sit down on the floor and say, ‘Do you need a hug?'”
Lori has benefited from both the T.E.A.C.H. scholarships and Infant-Toddler Educator AWARD$® Plus. “I used T.E.A.C.H. to get my AAS ECE and I’m still using it for my bachelor’s. I haven’t really had to pay for classes or books. My employer gives me release time to work on my studies. It’s phenomenal to not have that cost, that debt. You don’t get into teaching for the pay even though I love it.”
AWARD$ Plus has also brought her financial relief. Lori said, “This program has been awesome. It is no secret that working in child care will not make you rich, it’s not a financial building block, so this supplement helps ease that burden. It helps to ease some of the burdens of financial stress at home. It has also given me the incentive to go back to school myself and get my bachelor’s degree. I’m grateful that my supervisor made me aware of this program and I’m grateful to the Division of Child Development and Early Education for contributing to the financial well-being of teachers.”
“A little boy gave me a present once that says, ‘Teachers are in it for the outcome, not the income.’ No truer words have ever been spoken.”
Lori Hodges
