Some people reach a moment in their career when they decide to change course and follow their heart. That may sound
risky, but for Kansas City, Missouri elementary school teacher Dawn Wilkerson, the calling kept getting louder. She had to answer.
“After earning my B.A. in Early Education, I taught kindergarten and first grade for 17 years,” she said. “But my heart kept going back to preschool. That’s where I wanted to be.”
Dawn knew the transition would involve going back to school to earn her master’s degree in early childhood education while juggling the demands of work and family. What she did not expect was how quickly she would achieve her goal, how affordable the tuition would be or that the return on her investment would more than cover the cost of the program.
While Dawn was researching schools, several of her colleagues recommended Northwest Missouri State University’s AAQEP-accredited online education programs. She followed their lead and was happy she did. In less than a year, Dawn earned her Master of Science in Education in Early Childhood Education online, graduating in June 2023 prepared to excel in her dream job.
“I have an eight-year-old son and my husband travels quite a bit during the week. Learning online worked for me in many ways,” she said. “It allowed me to study on my own schedule while I continued to work and be there for my family. I needed that flexibility. The streamlined admission process and pay-as-you-go tuition helped, too.”
Faculty Support and Expertise
At the start of the program, however, Dawn was not sure she would be able to establish that work-life balance. She credits the faculty at NWMS for helping her push through.
“They really wanted us to succeed and gave us all the tools and resources they had available,” said Dawn. “They were engaged and accessible. If you sent an email or reached out, you got a response definitely within 24 hours, and usually within that same day.”
“The program was also very organized and professional,” she added. “Everything was mapped out in advance, so you knew exactly when your discussion posts and assignments were due each week. That made it easy for me to set up my personal routine.”
Dawn also liked the fact that her professors had expertise in trauma-informed teaching strategies.
“We did a lot of work with trauma, which is a really big thing right now in education, particularly in early education. It was nice to be able to work with professors who had a lot more knowledge than I did. They encouraged critical thinking about behavior issues in the classroom, focusing on student curiosity instead of conflict.”
A New Classroom Life
Dawn now works as a preschool teacher at an elementary school in the Kansas City Public Schools system and she loves it.
“We have neighborhood pre-K and I’m one of two pre-K teachers there,” said Dawn, who is looking forward to mentoring other teachers in the district. “It’s a free program and families can bring their kiddos in. We’re able to reach a lot of people and offer our services to an underserved population which is really nice.”
Many Happy Returns
“My master’s degree also put me in a higher salary column,” Dawn added. “I received a five-figure pay raise – more than what I paid for the program. It’s nice to be able to earn more for my family. I will continue to focus on increasing my earning potential for the rest of my career. It is money well spent, especially since I love what I do.”
Prepare Young Minds for the Future With the MSEd. in Early Childhood Education Online From NWMS
Meet the demand for educators who specialize in helping young children thrive within and outside the classroom. In the MSEd. in Early Childhood Education Online program from Northwest Missouri State University, you will learn how to address the educational, social and emotional needs of children eight years old and younger. Cultivate a teacher-as-researcher mentality through documentation of learning, assessments and data literacy and develop methods for building connections and relationships with students’ families. Graduate qualified for a range of roles in education including childcare director, preschool/childcare teacher, learning center director and education administrator.
Key Benefits of Northwest Missouri State University Online Education Programs
- AAQEP accredited
- 100% online coursework
- Multiple start dates per year
- Affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition
- Streamlined admission process
- Supportive, engaged faculty
- Extensive alumni network
- Asynchronous, career-focused coursework
- Accelerated options for faster completion
Why Choose NWMS?
Among its many accolades, Northwest Missouri State University is recognized by the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education™ (DESE) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Our diverse roster of AAQEP-accredited, 100% online graduate and post-graduate education programs offer you an affordable and flexible pathway to achieving your goals in a rewarding career. Join Northwest’s vibrant and diverse learning community where we place a high value on scholarship, lifelong learning, intercultural competence, collaboration, respect, integrity, strategic thinking and excellence.
