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.
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 Interim Dean of the College of Education and Human Development at Madonna University. Previously she served as the Graduate Education Chair for the Education Division of the College of Education and Human Development. Her career in higher education was preceded by extensive leadership experience in education at school and central office levels. Additionally, she has state-level leadership as the President of Michigan Reading Association.
Passionate about educational excellence, Dr. Sharma is dedicated to preparing teachers to address the diverse needs of learners. Her commitment extends to developing instructional literacy leaders, contributing to the future of education. As an advocate for literacy, she has actively served on the International Reading Association's Literacy Reform Task Force and Michigan Reading Association Board of Directors.
Sharma's academic pursuits focus on early childhood education, culturally responsive pedagogies, digital curation, and online teaching and learning. Through her research, she aims to advance knowledge in these critical areas, contributing to the ongoing evolution of effective educational practices. A respected figure in academia, Dr. Sue Ann Sharma continues to inspire and shape the educational landscape, leaving an indelible mark through her leadership, research, and commitment to fostering excellence in teaching and learning.
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.
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
Les Sharon is the Director of the Masters of Science in Transformational Educational Leadership and the Director of Student Teaching. His professional background includes thirty-three years in K-12 education as a special education teacher, general education teacher, Reading Recovery teacher, and building principal. His work focuses on the formal preparation of future educational leaders that will someday transform struggling schools into effective, high-achieving learning communities that meet the needs of all students. He received his Ph.D in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University and holds endorsements in elementary and secondary administration, general education (K-8 all-subjects), and special education including cognitively impaired and learning disabilities.
Dr. Sharon’s research interests include examining the role status functions play in school organizations as they relate to curriculum enactment as well as role of language in effective school leadership. He works closely with the Beijing Comparative Educational Institute and with colleagues at the Xi’an University to provide educational opportunities for school leaders and teachers all over China. Dr. Sharon served as an adjunct professor before joining Madonna University full-time as an 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
Anne-Marie Sladewski is the Director of the ASD, LD, EdS, and EdD programs and is an Assistant Professor in the College of Education. She joined the full-time faculty of Madonna University in 2023. She received her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Michigan State University.
Experienced professor and school-based and central office administrator with a demonstrated history of success and leadership in higher education. Her research interest includes collective responsibility of educational partnerships and improved learner outcomes.
B.S. Wayne State University
M.A. Oakland University
Ph.D. Oakland University University
Deborah Teolis is an adjunct in the College of Education and Human Development. Her professional background includes PK-12 education as a special education teacher, general education teacher, and building principal to hire education early childhood teaching.
She received her Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education from Oakland University and holds Michigan Professional Teaching certificate with a Special Education endorsement and School Administrator certificate.
B.A. University of Michigan - Dearborn
M.Ed. University of Michigan - Dearborn
Ph.D. Oakland University
Dr. Anne Donato holds a doctorate in Early Childhood Education, with a primary emphasis on differentiated instruction. Her passion lies in literacy efforts that provide inclusion of all students into the world of reading.
In addition to teaching, Dr. Donato has taught, lobbied, consulted, and advocated for early childhood education for over 25 years, in both the private and public sectors, including NAEYC and at the international level.
