Dr. Devonya Govan-Hunt

My life's work has prepared me for this journey in early care and education. I am thrilled at the opportunity to honor those who taught and mentored me over the years by giving back to my community. It gives me great joy knowing that children will have solid foundations because they have been given well-prepared educators.

I earned my bachelor’s degree from Claflin University in child development where I took on a second major in history. I attended Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, where I earned my master's degree in education in curriculum and instruction and a specialty in teaching. During my research assistantship at Bowling Green, I taught reading and writing at Owen’s Community College in Toledo, Ohio. I also served as a fifth-grade teacher in an alternative school in Toledo and as a part-time preschool teacher for four-year-old children at a Marazon preschool. Serving in so many different levels of education helped me really understand and witness the importance of a solid early childhood foundation.

After taking up residency here in the Queen City, I served as a site coordinator for the Dell Curry Foundation, a high school challenge tutor for Communities in Schools, and an assistant director for Wesley Child Development Center. I then found a home as a child development specialist with one of the lead resource and referral agencies in this area. That is where I fostered my love for helping affect change in the early care and education community. The work done in the field encouraged me to earn my PhD in early childhood education at Walden University in 2011.

I have presented papers, posters, and research at the National Smart Start Conference, the National AfterSchool Association, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the National Black Child Development Association. My research is very weighted in that of cultural competency, addressing the preschool to prison pipeline, mass incarceration, and race matters.

I spend time evaluating 21st Century Learning Communities and providing training and technical assistance for early educators.

I am the president of the Mecklenburg Child Care Association, an active board member for BCDI-Charlotte, a co-chair for the Ready for School committee with the Read Charlotte community initiative, and the PTO president at Reedy Creek Elementary School.

I love reading, writing, and music. I am a wife and the proud mother of two young daughters, McKenzie and Madison.

My goal is to help you achieve your goals and to BE a voice for such an important group of educators.