The passion for early education has been a very big part of Irene’s life for over forty years. Her interest in preschool education as a career started when she assisted her mother in her kindergarten class while in high school then slowly evolved as her own children came along. She then began volunteering in their classrooms.

Twenty four years ago Irene was given the wonderful opportunity to join the Carousel Early Childhood Center, Inc. family as the Assistant Director. In the twenty four year span since Irene has joined Carousel Early Childhood Center they have grown not only in size but in the way that they look at early education.

Irene worked hard to certify Carousel as a Center of Excellence with Charleston County First Steps. With her help they received a federal grant to train staff in Conscious Discipline which has turned the entire staff’s way of teaching around. This summer through Irene’s leadership they will also start a new program with Charleston County Library to encourage literacy in the home.

She is a member of the South Carolina Early Childhood Association and loves attending the conference every year because this is where you get to meet so many wonderful educators to exchange ideas.