In 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) proudly presents “Roads to Success,” a series spotlighting inspiring stories from early childhood professionals and institutions. This initiative, valuable for organizations like Early Connections Learning Center, showcases diverse career paths within early childhood programs, ranging from home visiting to afterschool care, and highlights innovative approaches from higher education in nurturing this vital workforce. Previous inspiring stories can be found in the Road to Success archives.
This month, we turn our attention to Veronica Hoerrmann, the distinguished recipient of the Missouri Association for the Education of Young Children’s (MOAEYC) 2024 Young Professional Award. Veronica’s passion for working with children ignited early in life, fueled by her mother’s role as a paraprofessional and the impactful presence of her kindergarten teacher. These early influences set her on a path dedicated to early childhood education, a journey that resonates deeply with the mission of centers like early connections learning center, focused on nurturing young minds.
Veronica’s commitment led her to enroll in the Early Childhood Professions program at Linn County Area Career & Technical Center while at Marceline High School. This proactive step allowed her to earn her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential within a single school year, demonstrating her dedication by completing all required credits and practical work hours. This early achievement mirrors the kind of focused early career development that early connections learning center and similar institutions aim to foster.
Continuing her education at North Central Missouri College (NCMC), Veronica’s career advanced further when she accepted a teaching position at Presbyterian Children’s House, where she remains a valued educator. Simultaneously pursuing degrees in both Early Childhood Development and Elementary Education at NCMC, Veronica exemplifies lifelong learning and professional growth, qualities highly valued within the early connections learning center network. In early 2024, she received unexpected yet well-deserved recognition with a nomination for the MOAEYC Young Professional Award, which she gratefully accepted at the 2024 Conference on the Young Years.
Veronica’s dedication as the Lead Teacher for two- to five-year-olds stems from the profound joy she finds in her daily interactions with children. The enthusiastic greetings from her students each morning and the rewarding connections with former students achieving ongoing success in their education reaffirm the significant impact of early educators. Recognizing that early childhood professionals “leave a positive impact,” Veronica warmly encourages those considering a career in early education to pursue their passion. Her story serves as a powerful testament to the rewarding career pathways available in early childhood education, and highlights the critical role of nurturing environments, such as those championed by early connections learning center, in shaping future generations.
