Growing into the Classroom: Mikayla Melhorn and McKenzie Bender Build Careers in Early Childhood Education

Early childhood education may look like play, but every activity helps children build skills they will use throughout their lives.

For Mikayla Melhorn and McKenzie Bender, working with young children means helping them begin their educational journey. It also means continuing to learn, earning new credentials, and discovering opportunities to grow within the profession.

“This is the beginning of their educational journey,” Mikayla says. “These are foundational skills that they learn to carry on with them into school.”

From Assistant Teacher to Lead Teacher

Mikayla began working at Warroad Community Child Care Center as an assistant teacher. As she gained experience, she decided she wanted to take on more responsibility and advance in the field.

She began taking classes to earn her Child Development Associate credential, commonly known as a CDA. Completing the credential opened the door for her to become a lead teacher.

“When I earned my CDA, it made an impact on me because then I was able to have more opportunities as a lead teacher,” she says.

As a lead teacher, Mikayla has greater responsibility for planning classroom activities and creating learning experiences for children. She also has more freedom to bring her own ideas into the classroom.

“I love being a lead teacher because you can take on more responsibility and have your own ideas and activities,” she says.

Her journey shows how early childhood professionals can begin in an entry-level role, gain experience, continue their education, and advance without having to leave the field.

Seeing Early Learning Make a Difference

Mikayla has seen the long-term value of early childhood education both as a teacher and as a parent.

She recognizes many of the skills she taught her son when he was younger in the way he now approaches school and learning.

“I see him now in school thriving,” she says. “I see that in a lot of these children here.”

Families also notice changes in their children as they develop new abilities, grow more confident, and become better prepared for school.

“The parents see such a huge impact on their children’s learning abilities after coming to early childhood,” Mikayla says.

For early childhood professionals, watching children carry those skills into the next stage of their lives is one of the most rewarding parts of the work.

A Career Inspired by Parenthood

McKenzie’s path into early childhood education began when she became a parent.

She had worked as a paraprofessional in a school and later became an in-home child care provider after her baby was born. When she joined Warroad Community Child Care Center, she continued building her education and credentials.

“I went and got my CDA, and I am now going for an early childhood education associate degree,” she says.

McKenzie’s experience reflects one of the strengths of the early childhood field: people can continue working while they pursue additional education. Credentials and degrees can build on practical classroom experience and create new opportunities over time.

For parents, the profession may also offer a meaningful way to connect their personal experience with a career supporting other children and families.

Finding the Role That Fits

Early childhood education includes many different classrooms, age groups, and responsibilities. Professionals may work with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, or school-age children, and they may move between roles as their interests develop.

“This is a good long-term career choice because there are plenty of opportunities to grow,” McKenzie says. “You’re not just stuck in one room.”

Trying different classrooms can help early childhood professionals identify the ages, environments, and responsibilities they enjoy most. Some may prefer working directly with infants or preschoolers, while others may eventually move into lead teaching, administration, training, or program leadership.

“You have opportunities to teach in other classrooms and move around until you find what you really like,” she says.

Patience, Kindness, and Compassion

McKenzie believes people who are patient, kind, compassionate, and focused on the needs of others can be especially well suited to early childhood work.

The days are not always easy. Caring for and teaching young children requires energy, flexibility, and persistence.

“There are going to be hard days, and there are going to be long days,” McKenzie says. “But it’s very rewarding to see how much you can really make an impact on these kids.”

That impact often continues after children leave the classroom. McKenzie remains connected with many of the children she taught in previous years and enjoys seeing them participate in school, sports, and friendships.

“I watch them grow, and I get to watch them thrive through their friends and school,” she says. “It’s the most beautiful thing to watch.”

A Career with Lasting Rewards

Mikayla and McKenzie entered early childhood education through different paths, but both found opportunities to learn, advance, and make a difference.

Their experiences demonstrate that early childhood education is not simply about supervising children. It is about preparing young learners for school, building meaningful relationships with families, and helping children develop skills that will remain with them for years to come.

For someone seeking meaningful work and a career with room to grow, early childhood education offers the opportunity to keep learning while helping children do the same.

Learn more about early childhood careers, training opportunities, scholarships, and licensing resources at CareersThatGrow.org.