Dionne Makie, a First Steps 4K teacher at Sunshine House 19 in Richland County, always knew she wanted to teach. She often thinks back to her third-grade teacher, who became her role model. “I remember the impact she had on me. She helped me become the person I am, and I knew very early that I wanted to give that to children too.”
Originally, Dionne planned to earn a degree in Primary Education with a focus on Special Education. But life took a different path when she became a mother.
“When I first found out about First Steps, it was through my son,” she said. “He was part of the First Steps 4K program. Before then, I didn’t know much about it, but I saw how much he was learning and how it prepared him for public school. I thought that was really great.”
Seeing her son’s growth inspired Dionne to return to school and pursue her dream. “I went to Midlands Technical College and got my associate’s degree there, and I’m currently enrolled in my bachelor’s studies for Early Childhood Education now,” she said.
Through South Carolina First Steps, Dionne has participated in several professional development opportunities, including the LETRS literacy course and the 4K Academy teacher conference. “Those experiences have been eye-openers,” she said. “They’ve given me tools I can use not only with my students now but with any students I’ll teach in the future.”
She also credits her First Steps coach, Felicia, for helping her grow. “You have help, that’s one of the big things,” Dionne said. “Whether my coach has the answer or finds someone who does, there’s always support. Coaches have a big task, but they’re always there for you. They’re like part of your family.”
For Dionne, teaching isn’t just about leading the classroom. It’s about learning alongside her students. “I like to say, teach so you can learn and learn so you can teach,” she said. “You learn from your students and your experiences, and then you teach those lessons so your students can grow too.”
Her most rewarding moments are the ones that remind her of why she teaches: to make an impact. That became clear when one of her students dressed up as her for school spirit day.
“One of my students dressed up as me during our classroom’s clothes study,” she said with a laugh. “Everyone knows I love to match my glasses and wear tie-dye, and when she came in dressed like me, I almost cried. Her mom told me, ‘This is what you do to her. You’re her role model.’”
“You come in every morning and hope you’re making an impact,” Dionne added, “but sometimes you don’t realize just how big it is.”
After nearly 19 years of teaching, Dionne still remembers the faces of her first students. “When I first started teaching, my daughter was two, and that group of kids are now in their junior year of college,” she said. “They may not remember me, but I’ll never forget their faces.”
Looking ahead, Dionne hopes to become a First Steps coach herself. “Ultimately, my goal is to be a coach,” she said. “I want to pour into other teachers the way others have poured into me.”
Her advice to other educators is simple. “Do it. Absolutely do it. The organization provides so much support and training to help you succeed.”
For Dionne Makie, teaching is about more than lessons. It’s about showing children what’s possible. “Thinking about the people who poured into me, I want to give that to my students,” she said. “I want to be the kind of person who makes them want to get up and do great things.”
Learn more about First Steps 4K
SC First Steps partners with more than 320 licensed child care centers, private schools, and charter schools across the state, making it easy for families to find a high-quality program that meets their needs. To see if your child qualifies for First Steps 4K, a free, full-day four-year-old kindergarten for children in South Carolina, learn more about eligibility.
Topics:
First Steps 4K, School Transition
