Today’s students create tomorrow’s society. Children with a solid early educational foundation are better equipped to thrive as they progress through the remainder of their schooling and eventually enter the job market. Early education, which includes students from birth to eight years old, is critical. During this time, children make formative memories and develop essential social, emotional, and cognitive skills that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

You may remember a particularly influential teacher from kindergarten or elementary school. Maybe you recognize our education system’s shortcomings and want to change how it engages with communities of color. If you believe in the power of education and are looking for a career that will positively impact your community, a career as a teacher is an excellent fit for you.

Black Educators Are Needed

Black teachers are extremely underrepresented in the national teacher workforce. While Black adults make up about seven percent of teachers, Black students comprise 15% of learners. This imbalance has persisted for several decades despite ongoing efforts to diversify the teacher workforce that began more than 30 years ago. 

A report by the Learning Policy Institute noted that “when taught by teachers of color, students of color have better academic performance, improved graduation rates, and are more likely to attend college.” As an educator, your role and your visibility both make a difference. As a Black early education teacher, you’ll join the ranks of some truly brilliant pioneers in the education field, many of whom studied at UNCF-member HBCUs, including:

Marva Collins

As a teacher in Chicago’s inner city schools, Marva Collins witnessed firsthand how the public school system was failing disadvantaged Black children. After attending UNCF-member Clark University, she used her retirement savings to open Westside Preparatory School in 1975. 

Her first four students included her son and daughter; however, enrollment quickly grew. Collins made a point of accepting poor Black students considered learning disabled, all of whom showed remarkable improvement under her tutelage. She firmly believed that every child could learn and that it was the responsibility of teachers and schools to unlock their potential.

Later in her career, she returned to the Chicago public school system, where she trained teachers and worked with underperforming schools. Her fame and prowess grew, and Ronald Reagan asked her to serve as secretary of education (an offer she declined). In addition to her many other awards, she received a National Humanities Medal in 2004 for her contributions to the field of education.

 

Dr. Evelyn Moore

Like Marva Collins, Evelyn Moore’s career trajectory was born of an effort to help disadvantaged Black children succeed. In the 1960s, Moore was one of the founding members of the Perry Preschool Project, an initiative that tested the effects of high-quality early education on children at risk of school failure. 

The project was an incredible success; much later, studies of the children involved in the program linked the Perry Project with higher levels of high school completion and better wages and employment.

In 1970, Moore co-founded the National Black Child Development Institute, which worked with affiliate organizations to support Black students and advocated tirelessly for universal childcare, improvements to the foster care system, and policy changes to early education.

 

Rita Pierson

Rita Pierson’s TED Talk, “Every Kid Needs a Champion,” has gained nearly six million views since it was posted in 2013. Although this video is what she’s most well-known for, Rita accomplished much more over her decades-long career as an educator.

Throughout her career, starting with a degree from HBCU Texas Southern University, Rita worked as a teacher, counselor, assistant principal, director, testing coordinator, and consultant. Her work emphasized the power of connection and relationships to inspire children to learn, particularly for underserved students. Her methods and philosophy were so effective that she was called to share them with thousands of teachers in professional development workshops.

 

A report by the Learning Policy Institute noted that “when taught by teachers of color, students of color have better academic performance, improved graduation rates, and are more likely to attend college.” As an educator, your role and your visibility both make a difference. Today’s students create tomorrow’s society. 

There is no shortage of opportunities for you to explore the field of early childhood education and get a better idea of what your future career could look like. HBCUs offer hands-on, supportive education programs that will give you the chance to learn, observe, and practice the skills you need to be an impactful educator.

Careers in Early Childhood Education

While becoming a teacher is likely the most obvious career path for people with a degree in early childhood education (ECE), you may be surprised to learn that it’s not your only option. A degree in early childhood education will prepare you to perform meaningful work in a variety of different roles, such as:

• School administrator
• School counselor
• Education director
• Education consultant
• Childcare program professional
• Child development center professional
• Kindergarten or elementary school teacher
• Preschool teacher
• Special education teacher

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Want to learn more about this possible career path and college major? Have questions about which UNCF colleges and universities offer degrees in early childhood education? Looking for help with financing this degree? 

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How to Prepare for Success

Any experience working with children or schools will help lay the groundwork for your degree in early childhood education and will also give you a chance to try out different settings and roles to see which one you like best. If you can, consider volunteering at an after-school program such as the Boys & Girls Club or as a tutor or teacher’s aide. 

Strong communication skills are essential for anyone pursuing a career in education, so taking classes in writing and communication will be extremely helpful. Your ECE major will likely require you to take developmental psychology and pedagogy classes, too, so any background in those subjects will also give you a leg up in your coursework. Finally, consider studying a second language. As the United States becomes increasingly diverse, learning another language can help you be more relatable to your students. 

UNCF Schools to Consider

There is no shortage of opportunities for you to explore the field of early childhood education and get a better idea of what your future career could look like. HBCUs offer hands-on, supportive education programs that will allow you to learn, observe, and practice the skills you need to be an impactful educator. 

As you prepare for your journey as an early childhood education major, consider the following HBCUs:

• Benedict College
• Claflin University
• Clark Atlanta University
• Huston-Tillotson University
• Lemoyne-Owen College
• Miles College
• Morris College
• Paine College
• Rust College
• Shaw University
• Spelman College
• Texas College
• Tougaloo College
• Wiley College

Professional Organizations

For a better idea of the larger field of early childhood education, you may also want to consider looking into the following professional organizations:

• Childhood Education International 
• National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (NAECTE)
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
• National Child Care Association
• National Head Start Association

Scholarships Available

There’s no better way to start on your path toward a successful career in early childhood education than with a solid financial foundation. Fortunately, many scholarships are available through UNCF. Keep an eye on the UNCF website for current scholarship opportunities and announcements. 

Search for specific scholarships and view those that are currently accepting applications here! Students should also check with each college or university to see if additional scholarships are available to study early childhood education.

As you explore your options, use our guide to apply for scholarships and grants. You can also receive guidance by submitting a major interest form for a career in early childhood education. Submit the form on our website to get started. And follow us on UNCF’s social media channels to receive notifications about our scholarships and member HBCUs. Reach out today!

You can also show your support for students pursuing careers and furthering equity in early childhood education by contributing to UNCF member schools. Education is the greatest tool we have in creating a just and equitable society where economic mobility is available to all. Help us achieve this future by donating today!