Chameka Smith (B.S.Ed. ’26) is proud of the student teaching experiences she had at Mount Zion Primary School in Jonesboro, Ga., and Rivers Edge Elementary School in Fayetteville, Ga., where she created and implemented learning activities that were inclusive and accessible for her students.
In this Q&A, she discusses her commitment to supporting young children’s academic and social-emotional development and how her time in the birth through five program has prepared her for a career as an early childhood educator.
Q: What made you choose to earn your degree at Georgia State University?
A: “I was born and raised in Atlanta, and I’ve been familiar with Georgia State University for many years. Attending Georgia State had always been a personal goal of mine. After earning my associate’s degree from a technical college, I was motivated to take the next step and applied to Georgia State in 2023. I am now proud to be graduating with my Bachelor of Science in Education in Birth through Five Education.”
Q: Were there any major achievements/milestones that you reached during your degree program? Why were those achievements/milestones meaningful for you?
A: “One major milestone I reached during my degree program was successfully completing my practicum in both Pre-K and kindergarten, including my clinical practice in a kindergarten classroom. These experiences allowed me to apply my knowledge of lesson planning, classroom management and working with diverse learners while leading both small and whole group instruction. I was especially proud of creating engaging, developmentally appropriate activities that supported each child’s growth. In addition, I received academic honors during both the summer and fall semesters, which reflected my dedication and commitment to excellence. These milestones are meaningful to me because they represent my growth, perseverance and readiness to step confidently into my role as a certified birth through five teacher.”
Q: What was your favorite class and/or class project that you completed in your degree program in the College of Education & Human Development? What did you enjoy about it? What made it meaningful for you?
A: “One of my favorite projects was creating a comprehensive lesson plan using the Universal Design for Learning framework. I enjoyed designing activities that were inclusive and accessible for all learners, especially children with diverse needs and abilities. This project allowed me to be creative while also aligning my lessons with standards and best practices in early childhood education. What made this experience meaningful was seeing how intentional planning can support every child’s success and engagement. It helped me understand the importance of flexibility in teaching and meeting children where they are developmentally. Overall, this project strengthened my confidence in creating inclusive, effective learning experiences that I will carry into my own classroom.”
Q: What's something you've learned in your degree program that you'll apply to your work after you graduate?
A: “One important thing I have learned is how to intentionally design and implement developmentally appropriate instruction that meets the needs of all learners. I will apply strategies such as differentiation, hands-on learning… to support every child’s growth. I have also learned the importance of strong classroom management, relationship-building and ongoing assessment to guide instruction. These skills will help me create an inclusive and engaging learning environment in my future classroom.”
Q: Complete this sentence: “Earning my degree from Georgia State University's College of Education & Human Development will help me move lives forward by...”
A: “Earning my degree from Georgia State University's College of Education & Human Development will help me move lives forward by equipping me to provide high-quality, inclusive early childhood education that supports the academic and social-emotional development of young children. It will allow me to positively impact students and families by creating safe, nurturing and engaging learning environments where all children can thrive.”