Learning and teaching forms the educational version of the circle of life and in the case of former Sampson Community College student Suzanne Rice, this could not be more true.
Suzanne Rice, a Sampson County native, began her career at SCC in the college’s Education Division. The Education Division is designed to prepare students to work in diverse learning environments with children either from birth through kindergarten or in elementary through middle grades. The Early Childhood program’s goal is to prepare individuals to work with children from infancy through middle childhood in diverse learning environments.
“I will always remember a piece of advice Mrs. Susan Baxter gave me during class one evening,” Rice said. “Work smarter not harder. This piece of advice has helped me both academically and professionally. I owe a lot to SCC and am happy to have started my career here.” Baxter is the division chair of Education at SCC.
Baxter’s students combine learned theories with practice in actual settings with young children under the supervision of qualified teachers. This curriculum prepares individuals to work with children in elementary through middle grades in diverse learning environments.
After completing SCC’s program, Rice expanded her education outside of Sampson County to attend East Carolina University with a Bachelors in Birth to Kindergarten Teacher Education and just graduated last month. “I enjoy teaching and guiding children,” she said. “I love being a positive role model for others and hope that I may influence the children with whom I work to be positive members of society.” Rice was just hired by Clinton City Schools as a third grade teacher at Butler Avenue Elementary School.
Rice was never really a stranger to the SCC campus. Her husband, Bart Rice, serves as coordinator of Compensatory Education in the Basic Skills department at the college. Mr. Rice wastes no time sharing his excitement for Suzanne. “She is unbelievable,” he said. “She not only completed her Bachelors but worked 2 jobs and took care of our three children to make this happen.”
Now, Rice will take care of many more children in Sampson County thanks to her start at Sampson Community College.
SCC offers an excellent early childhood program which prepares its students to successfully enter the world of education well equipped with knowledge of diversity and technology for the modern world in which we live. The instructors are professionals in their field and help each student reach their potential either by continuing on at a four year university or entering in to the work force. For more information on SCC’s Education curriculum, call 910-592-8081.