Appreciating AWARD$ Plus with Kierston Godfrey

AWARD$ Plus participant Kierston Godfrey graduated with her Birth-Kindergarten Bachelor’s Degree in May 2025. “It’s been a long time coming,” Kierston said. “I’m the first person in my family to receive an associate or a bachelor’s degree. I did it for myself, to have that level of education. I wanted to gain knowledge and wisdom about how I can better assist children, mine included. I wanted to learn the basics about how to teach children in the early years. I don’t want to do this to be able to say I have a degree. I’m also trying to teach my kids that education is important. I had to sacrifice my fun time to do homework and go to classes. My kids got to see days that were really hard, but mommy kept pushing. When they saw me walk across the stage knowing that I struggled and kept going, that’s important. It will get hard for them too, and for my day care kids. If you keep working, though, you graduate. You get to reap the harvest of all the effort you put in.”

Kierston’s children were one reason she wanted to obtain her degree, to let them see that success is possible with hard work and determination. They also helped put her on her career path. “I worked at a Montessori school and then Covid happened, so we were working virtually,” Kierston said. “When we went back to campus, anxiety was high and I had a newborn daughter and a son not yet old enough for kindergarten. I couldn’t afford to put them both in child care, and I was concerned as well about keeping them healthy. I started researching how to have my own in-home child care program. I went through the process with Partners for Children & Families in Moore County. They helped me understand the procedures and protocols. It really was a partnership. They held my hand through it.”

“I was able to open my licensed family child care home in 2022. It’s a privilege to help my children and others get ready for school. I want to have a good impact on their learning. I’m proud that I can handle it all. It’s hard for parents to turn their backs and go to work, so I’m glad the parents know their children will be safe with me.”

The help in opening her family child care home was one of many supports she was grateful to receive. Kierston was a TEACH Early Childhood® scholarship recipient for both of her degrees.“TEACH is great,” Kierston said. “They paid for classes and books. It was amazing to have that level of comfort knowing my expenses were covered, that I had the support I needed. Times were hard and inflation was high. I didn’t have to pay for anything. It was like they said, ‘We got you.’ It was so beneficial personally and educationally.”

Kierston is also a participant in Infant-Toddler Educator AWARD$® Plus and she appreciates that it recognizes her accomplishments. “AWARD$ Plus rewards me for my education,” Kierston said. “It rewards me for my success and my hard work. And the more education you earn, the more money you get. Wow. Some people pay you the same amount no matter how much education you have, but I get paid by AWARD$ Plus based on my education. It matters. I even got a letter congratulating me on my achievements. I’ve met another goal, and it’s reflected in the money and the recognition. It’s really about me and what I’ve done. I’m not just a number in a database. They make it personal.”

Kierston’s child care program and the children in her care benefit from her AWARD$ Plus supplements as well. She said, “I look forward to it every six months. We might get new books or new toys. I’m able to change things up in my program and make it better. It’s more engaging for the children. That’s due to AWARD$ Plus. It’s important to have the reassurance that we will have those funds to invest in our business and to use for the children. I can even help parents when they need it. AWARD$ Plus alone provides that level of security for my program. We plan for it.”

“I really want to thank DCDEE for thinking about child care providers, for thinking about our needs,” Kierston said. “It’s not always easy, but with AWARD$ Plus, it helps provide what parents or the community cannot. It’s been so beneficial. Nobody thinks about how child care can suffer, but this program funds you and allows you to take the load off your shoulders. Thank you for letting my shoulders be a little lighter. It has really helped.”