Children and Families (BS)
"To teach is to touch a life forever."
"To teach is to touch a life forever."
The Children and Families program is offered as a Bachelor degree (major), a minor, an associate degree, and a certificate, all in an effort to bulid a strong foundational framework for understanding child development birth through age eight, as well as family and community contexts that promote learning and development.
As a student in Madonna's Children and Families program, you'll be immersed in learning about the growth and development of young children with instructors who are dedicated your success. Theories of child development will come alive through experiences with children. You’ll learn to plan and assess environments, materials, activities, and interactions that can facilitate children’s emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development.
With support from both your professors and university supervisors, you’ll grow confident in your teaching practice. Madonna’s Children and Families program affords you a wealth of opportunities to prepare for a variety of highly rewarding careers.
Our curriculum equips graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in positions such as:
"My name is Briana Brown and I graduated in 2018! I am currently a preschool teacher at New Saint Paul Head Start and I absolutely love my job and the difference I am able to make. I came to Madonna because I was looking for a way to merge my passion for children and sign language. The staff was encouraging throughout my time at the school and without them, I wouldn't have made it through a double major. I am happy I chose Madonna and I would do it all over again!"
Designed for those who want to teach young children in an elementary education setting, as coursework leads to Michigan teacher certification.
With a focus on infants and toddlers birth through age three, this three-course (9 semester hour) certificate will give you a well-rounded understanding of how best to support the growth and development of our youngest learners.
CF and ECE Program Director, Assistant Professor
B.A. University of Michigan - Dearborn
M.Ed. University of Michigan - Dearborn
Ph.D. Oakland University
Dr. Anne Donato is the Program Director for the Early Childhood Education Program. After serving as an adjunct professor for a decade, she joined the University as an assistant professor in 2025. She earned her Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education and holds a Michigan ZA Early Childhood Endorsement, Central Office Administration Certification, and a master's degree in Special Education with a Learning Disabilities endorsement. With more than 25 years of experience in early childhood and special education, she has served as a teacher, special education director, university faculty member, and educational leader. Her expertise includes early childhood development, literacy, inclusive education, teacher preparation, and professional learning. Dr. Donato is passionate about preparing future educators to create engaging, developmentally appropriate, and inclusive learning environments that support the success of every child. Her research and professional interests focus on early childhood literacy, differentiated instruction, inclusive educational practices, teacher preparation, and professional learning that advances equitable outcomes for young learners. Her work also includes curriculum development, educational leadership, and collaborative partnerships at the state, national, and international levels
B.S. University of Michigan – Flint
M.S. Oakland University
Ed.S. Oakland University
Ph.D. Oakland University
734-432-5785, 2230D
Dr. Sue Ann Sharma is the Dean of the College of Education and Human Development at Madonna University. Since joining Madonna University in 2017, she has held progressively advancing leadership roles, serving as Director of Early Childhood Education and Graduate Literacy Programs, Chair of Teacher Education, Interim Dean, and now Dean. Prior to higher education, she held leadership positions in K–12 education at both the school and central office levels. She earned a Ph.D. in Reading Education, an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in School Administration, and a Master of Science (M.S.) in Early Childhood Education from Oakland University, along with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Elementary Education from the University of Michigan–Flint. As Dean, Dr. Sharma provides strategic leadership for academic programs, accreditation, curriculum innovation, faculty development, and partnerships with schools, community organizations, and the Michigan Department of Education. Passionate about educational excellence, she is dedicated to preparing educators and leaders to meet the diverse needs of learners while advancing innovation, scholarship, and student success. Her scholarship and professional interests focus on literacy education, culturally responsive teaching, digital curation, the ethical integration of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning, educational technology, and online pedagogy. Most recently, she has led college-wide initiatives and professional learning on the effective and ethical integration of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning, collaborating with faculty and stakeholder committees to promote responsible, innovative educational practices. An accomplished scholar, Dr. Sharma has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters, including The Reading Teacher, Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, Reading Horizons, and Journal of Media Literacy Education. She has also contributed to national literacy reform initiatives through the International Literacy Association and has served in leadership roles with the Michigan Reading Association, including President, advancing literacy education at the state and national levels.
Director of Student Teaching and MSTEL Program, Assistant Professor
B.S. Northern Michigan University
M.A. Eastern Michigan University
Ed. S. Wayne State University
Ph.D. Eastern Michigan University
734-432-5334, Room 2230F
Dr. Les Sharon is the Director of Student Teaching and Program Director of the Master of Science in Transformational Educational Leadership at Madonna University. After serving as an adjunct professor, he joined the University full-time as an assistant professor. With more than 33 years of experience in K–12 education, Dr. Sharon has served as a special education teacher, general education teacher, Reading Recovery teacher, building principal, and district curriculum leader. He earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and holds endorsements in elementary and secondary administration, elementary education, and special education, including Cognitively Impaired and Learning Disabilities. His expertise spans instructional leadership, curriculum development, assessment, and educator preparation, equipping future teachers and educational leaders with practical, evidence-based strategies to improve teaching, learning, and student achievement. Dr. Sharon's research examines the role of status functions and language in curriculum implementation and effective school leadership. He also collaborates internationally with the Beijing Comparative Educational Institute and Xi'an University to provide professional learning opportunities for school leaders and educators throughout China.
Director of Assessment and ASD Program, Assistant Professor
B.S. Central Michigan University
M.A. St. Joseph University
Ed.S. Oakland University
Ed.D. Michigan State University
734-432-5651, 2230H
Dr. Anne-Marie Sladewski is the Program Director for the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) program and Director of Assessment. She is an Assistant Professor in the College of Education at Madonna University, where she joined the full-time faculty in 2023. She earned her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Administration, an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Organizational Leadership, a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Special Education, and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Teachers of the Emotionally Impaired, Elementary Education, and Music Education. With years of educational leadership experience, Dr. Sladewski has served as an interim superintendent, executive director of special education, principal, assistant principal, and university faculty member. Her expertise spans special education, educational leadership, educator preparation, and preparing future educators and school leaders through practical, evidence-based strategies that promote excellence and inclusive learning environments. Her research interest includes collective responsibility of educational partnerships and improved learner outcomes.
B.S. State University of New York at Cortland
M.S. Central Michigan University
732-432-5654, 2230B
Tess Kelly is the former Placement Coordinator for the College of Education at Madonna University. She has also served as an adjunct faculty in the Teacher Education, Early Childhood, and Children and Families programs.
