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Jennifer Sink knows how important preschool is for the successful growth and development of young children. “I’m a triplet,” Jennifer said. “We were 2 pounds 2 ounces. We weren’t expected to make it. But we did, and I remember the experiences at my preschool. I have images of what it was like. We know how important it was to our development.” As a teacher assistant in a Yadkin County NC Pre-K classroom, she’s now on a mission to provide the best possible experience for other children before they enter school.
Jennifer has always been around children, which helped shape her passion for early childhood. She said, “My parents did foster care growing up and that gave me the ability to be exposed to children with different backgrounds and abilities. Caring for a child now comes naturally for me. I did, however, have to come to a place where I could fully recognize the value of working with children professionally. There is more value in this work than is given credit. Being in school has helped me realize the value and impact I can have.”
Jennifer has an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education and is actively working on her bachelor’s degree. “When I first went to school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do and I did not want to take on the loans and bills without that direction, so I paused those efforts. I had an in-home child care business for several years and decided I wanted to go back to school after I had my own children. It was a no-brainer to go into early childhood. I had tried other things and learned that they were not for me. I became a substitute teacher in public school, but I knew my goal was to work with pre-K. I used public school as a stepping stone to get into early childhood. I was encouraged by a wonderful teacher and supportive director to go back for my four-year degree. I was nervous but I also wanted to comfortably pursue my own ideas in the classroom. I said, ‘I can do this.’ And that’s how I’m here, working on my bachelor’s!”
Jennifer wants to motivate others who might be interested in pursuing coursework and degrees. “I’m doing this as an older student. I want people to know they should not be afraid to ask questions of their teachers. It’s ok to make mistakes and learn from them. Communicate with your teachers and be willing to open up about struggles and celebrations. Getting my degree is so important to me. My sisters got their degrees right out of high school. I worked at an early learning center and then decided to be a stay-at-home mom. There has always been that natural comparison. Everyone is on their own journey, though. It wasn’t until I started my education that I had a better perspective about what is important. I flipped the mindset — the rewards are not in the green paper, the money, but in the impact for children.”
“I’m so excited about my education journey,” Jennifer shared. “It has given me a sense of purpose and achievement. A healthy challenge to meet children where they are. I don’t want to be robotic, that’s not what it should be. My philosophy now is that during the first days of school, it is critical to make connections with each student and build a relationship with trust and security. When you create that safe, warm and welcoming environment, you can teach them anything.”
The Child Care WAGE$® supplements have played an important role for Jennifer as she pursues her education. “WAGE$ has helped provide peace of mind during a stressful season of being in school and raising a family while working full-time,” Jennifer said. “As a teacher assistant, the pay does not reflect what the job is really worth. North Carolina is one of the lowest-paying states for education as a whole. It’s not all about a paycheck, but that’s why these supplements are so important. We lost two appliances within three days! WAGE$ allowed me to replace them so we didn’t lose our food. WAGE$ recognizes the value of early childhood educators and helps address the long-standing issue of low wages in the field. In my life, it has provided financial stability and motivation to continue working in early childhood education. It has reduced stress related to income and allowed me to focus more fully on my work.”
“I want the WAGE$ funders to know that they help educators financially to continue their education. The program is a form of communication that the work we do matters. It has helped me feel valued and supported. It helps us remain in the profession and build those meaningful relationships with the students and build that strong foundation. What happens now will impact future grade levels. Their investment shows that they value early childhood educators and understand the critical role we play in children’s development. This support not only impacts educators today but also helps build a stronger, more stable early childhood system for the future. I’m super grateful.”
