Hopkins Locke’s Kiara Olmo Velez has added a new degree to her list of credentials.

Olmo Velez, who has worked at Hopkins Locke since 2021, received her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Grand Canyon University in December.

“What I’ve learned will help me create engaging, developmentally appropriate lessons, manage my classroom effectively and support each child’s growth and learning,” she said.

Olmo Velez moved to Lorain from Puerto Rico after the island was devastated by hurricane Maria. The destruction made jobs scarce even though she had trained as a respiratory technician.

In 2023, she published “My First Day of School” in both English and Spanish to help anxious parents and students who are concerned about how the first day of school will unfold.

Olmo Velez said juggling all of her responsibilities was the most difficult part of earning her degree.

“Finding the balance between work, school and time for my children was a challenge, but we made it work,” she said. “I cried sad and happy tears, sad because of a chapter ending and happy because of a new one starting.”

As an Early Childhood Service Worker, Olmo Velez works in different classrooms every day. She also enjoyed some student teaching in a first-grade classroom, she said.

“It was completed different to what I am used to, but it taught me a lot,” Olmo Velez said. “I learned how to help the children learn in fun and engaging ways. All these different techniques can work with the children in my current and future classrooms.”

Olmo Velez is also working on another book, with her own original illustrations.

“I am grateful for everyone who showed their support by getting my book and also getting the word out there,” she added.

Click here to see My First Day of School