Rooted in Compassion: How UMF Shaped Tabitha Ryan’s Work as an Educator and Advocate

Tabitha Ryan (2005) majored in Early Childhood Education and Psychology at the University of Maine at Farmington following her passion for helping children and their families. During her studies, Tabitha gravitated towards Melissa Clawson’s philosophy of education and remembers “on day one she said ‘if you’re in this room for the money… you’re in the wrong room.’ Teaching is about sharing your joy and compassion with those around you… and helping people.”

During her time as a student, Tabitha completed both her practicum and an internship with the university’s Sweatt-Winter Child Care and Early Education Center. These experiences provided her with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to kick-start a career in Head Start programs. She reflects on her own growth during this time, saying:

“What truly made it such a valuable experience was the extensive hands-on learning opportunities I received. Under Gwen’s supervision, I was trained to administer developmental screenings, including the Denver II and other assessment tools. I also had the opportunity to practice conducting these screenings with children under her guidance.

As my confidence and skills grew, Gwen entrusted me with increasing responsibility. She allowed me to serve as the lead teacher for several weeks at a time, giving me the opportunity to develop weekly lesson plans, create activity schedules, and plan snacks and lunches. After reviewing and approving my plans, she encouraged me to implement them with the children, which strengthened both my teaching and organizational skills.

In addition to classroom responsibilities, I gained valuable insight into the daily operations of a home daycare. I assisted with tasks such as grocery shopping, checking the mail, and other administrative duties, allowing me to better understand the many responsibilities involved in running a successful child care program.

Throughout my internship, I built meaningful relationships with both the staff and the children. Overall, this experience gave me the opportunity to develop practical skills, gain confidence in my abilities, and prepare for a successful career in early childhood education.”

Tabitha spent fifteen years teaching children from birth to five years old and supporting their families following her graduation from UMF. Since then, she has earned her Licensed Social Worker (LSW) credentials and started working at Family Violence Project (a domestic violence resource center that serves Kennebec and Somerset counties in Maine). She began working with as “the DV/CPS Liaison, in which I worked with victims of domestic violence who had open child protective cases and now I work as the Children’s Services Advocate alongside the Child Advocacy Center, so families can use forensic interviews for situations of severe Domestic Violence and children won’t have to testify in court.”

Reflecting on the impact of her time at UMF, Tabitha shares, “UMF prepared me to be ready to educate in so many ways, from understanding the importance of community and support to recognizing that education takes a compassionate person.” Her journey reflects how the lessons learned at UMF can extend far beyond the classroom, shaping a career rooted in compassion, community, and supporting others.