attendees.

"After graduation, I plan

to continue my education in Graduate

School. I plan to obtain a Master's Degree
in Bilingual Early Childhood Special
Education as well as work towards my
BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analysis)
and my doctorate." In addition, she will
continue to work as a head teacher at
a day care center that serves children
who live in a homeless and/or domestic
violence shelter.
Her drive is fueled by her desire to be the
best she can be at helping children move
beyond any limitations as early in life as
possible. Falcon knows firsthand that early
intervention can change the trajectory of

n June of 1992, Theresa Anne Falcon graduated high school and

attended Bay Path College, in Longmeadow, Massachusetts in order to

a child's life and she aims to bring that

support to children who have few other avenues for help.

study Early Childhood Education. "I loved the school but unfortunately

Falc6n also helps run a sports program in Lower Manhattan for over 300

my parents were on the verge of a separation and I had to return home,"

children, mentors high school students who are applying to college, serves

she recalled. "Never giving up my dream on obtaining a college degree,

as a learning leader at her son's school and volunteers in the religious

I immediately enrolled at Marymount Manhattan College and selected a

education program at her church. "It is important for me to share my story

major in Finance. It was not an education program, but I knew that this

on how long it has taken me to finish college and all the obstacles I had

was going to help me eventually establish a solid career, if not establish

'1'b overcome," Falcon said. "Every moment is a learning experience that is

me financially."

true for the children as well as for me."

Falcon like many people, tried to work full time and go to school full time
but it was an unsuccessful venture. Ultimately, she had to put school
on hold and join the workforce full time. However, she spent several
years thinking how she could return to school. In 2000, Falcon decided
to go back to school and selected CWE. "It fit my schedule and had an
Early Childhood Education Program," said Falcon, who was working as
a substitute teacher and was in a long-term relationship that eventually
transitioned into marriage.
Once her son Jimmy was born in 2002, Falcon found herself once again,
putting school on hold. Concerned about her son's development at age
two, Falcon had her son evaluated and it was determined that he had a
speech delay and social difficulty. "At that point, I became very
involved with the special education process and my child's development,"
she said. Falcon waited until her child entered the public school system in
2007 to finish what she once started.
After 19 years of attending three different colleges in two states, Falcon
can proudly say she is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Early
Childhood Education. She is proud to be an AmeriCorp alumna and
Kennedy Fellow. Her presentation on Applied Behavior Analysis at the
2011 CUNY Early Childhood Student Conference won high praise from

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