Xenia Daily Gazette

WILBERFORCE — A Central State University student has won the 2016 Outstanding Student Teacher Award from the Ohio Association of Teacher Educators.

Erica Bohannon, an early childhood education major, was selected as the top teacher candidate among candidates nominated from 51 Ohio universities and colleges. The award is for demonstrating exemplary teaching strategies during student teaching.

Bohannon is currently student teaching in a Head Start class at Rosa Parks Early Learning Center in Dayton. She has accepted a full-time job there after graduation in May.

“Every since I was eight years old I knew that this was my gift,” Bohannon said.

Bohannon, who lives in Trotwood and is an academic scholar, credits her second grade teacher for getting her interested in education. She said she grew up in an impoverished community and she remembers that her teacher visited her home and let her and her family know that she cared about Bohannon’s education.

“At a young age I would play school with my cousins and neighborhood kids,” she said. “I had folders with their names on it and I gave them homework.”

After obtaining an associate’s degree in early childhood education, Bohannon came to Central State to work on her bachelor’s degree.

“They’ve helped me to further my studies,” Bohannon said. “I really appreciate the culture here.”

Dr. Maureen Brustkern, assistant professor of early childhood education and Bohannon’s academic advisor, said, Bohannon’s “hard work, dedication and joyful attitude” made her a perfect choice.

Her advice for others considering a career in early childhood education: “ I would just say take it seriously and go in with an open mind and go in knowing you are going to impact somebody’s life.”