Erin Gorski, MA, teaches toddler and preschool aged children at the University of Minnesota Child Development Center. She recently earned an online MA in applied child and adolescent development-individualized studies track, with an emphasis in social-emotional development during infancy and toddlerhood from the Institute of Child Development (ICD). Below, Gorski discusses her educational path and how her time at ICD supported her passions and prepared her for her professional career.

Why did you choose the Institute of Child Development?

I chose the Institute of Child Development because of the knowledgeable and experienced teaching staff. I earned my BS degree in early childhood education from ICD in 2005, and being able to return to learn a vast array of relevant topics in child development was essential in continuing my work with young children. ICD offered online classes that fit my full-time working schedule, where I was able to implement theory and research into practice.

How would you describe your interest area of applied child and adolescent development? 

I have worked with very young children, ranging from birth through 5-years-old for the last 15 years, and I am particularly interested in social and emotional development during the toddler years. During this period in a young child’s development there are many systems at play that are essential in fostering healthy emerging social skills, as well as their understanding and use of emotions during transactions with others. As I grow in the field of early childhood education my passion has begun to shift from not just teaching young children, but also teaching and supporting other early childhood educators.

How did you personalize the individualized studies track to fit your interest areas and professional goals? 

I chose courses relevant to infant and toddler social-emotional development, where these courses strengthened my knowledge in early childhood social-emotional development. With guidance from my MA advisor, I discovered a path in my career that I was passionate about pursuing: teaching and supporting other early childhood professionals.  Therefore, I not only chose courses relevant to achieving this but also an internship placement that fostered the foundation for the next steps in my career.

How would you describe your current role?

I am currently continuing my work teaching toddlers and preschool-aged children, while working in partnership with colleagues, parents, and the community to ensure every child in my care receives high-quality opportunities to learn and thrive. I am also currently conducting evening classes for early childhood educators in the state of Minnesota as a DHS-certified early childhood trainer through Child Care Aware of Minnesota. I recently created and wrote a 2-hour training class approved through the state of Minnesota, titled, The Earliest Years Matter the Most: Understanding and Supporting Social-Emotional Development in Infancy Through Toddlerhood. In the future, and with more experience as a trainer, I plan to write and implement more training topics based on the needs and interests of early childhood educators throughout the state.

How did ICD prepare you for your career? 

Not only were there courses available that fit my interest areas to further support a more in-depth understanding and knowledge of early childhood development, but through the guidance and support of the program, I was able to obtain an internship placement that set the foundation for stepping off of the learning platform after graduation. Through my internship at Child Care Aware of Minnesota I was able to achieve my state certification as a trainer, I received support from a mentor as I wrote my own training curriculum, and I broadened my experience and networking with many other knowledgeable early childhood teaching professionals.

If you could give advice to future ICD MA students, what would you say?

The advice I would give future ICD MA students is know what you want to achieve at the end and choose courses relevant to reaching that goal, as well as working closely with your advisor to obtain an internship placement that fits your personal goals. Mainly, I would pass on the greatest learning experience that I had while in the program: when you complete your internship and final project before graduation, do not look at that as an ending or a finale, use it as the foundation for the next step in your career.