When Susan Polojac, MEd, was recognized this spring with the Voice for Children Distinguished Career Award from the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC), the honor was well deserved.
Over the past 35 years, Sue has worked in childcare centers, Head Start programs, advocacy organizations, state government, and higher education. A Carlow alum who earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University, she serves today as Director of Carlow’s Dr. Rae Ann Hirsh Apprenticeship Program for Early Childhood Education, which helps working professionals earn degrees while continuing to serve children and families throughout the region.
For someone so accomplished, she is also refreshingly magnanimous. When asked about the PennAEYC award, she is quick to shift focus elsewhere. “I had people at Carlow who believed in me,” she says. “I try to do the same thing for others.”
We sat down with Sue to discuss her esteemed career, advocating for children and families, helping students navigate higher education, and preparing the next generation of early childhood educators.
What did it feel like to receive the Voice for Children Distinguished Career Award?
It was such an honor to be among the people in that room and among the other award winners. I’ve been in the field for about 35 years, and I’ve had almost every job you can have in early childhood education. I’ve worked in child care centers, Head Start, advocacy organizations, state government, and now at Carlow.
But honestly, I had a really hard time with the award. I do this work every day. It’s my passion. I’ve dedicated my entire life to it. I don’t do it for recognition. I do it because I love it.
There were so many people in that room that I’ve worked with over the years. The early childhood community is small, and our relationships overlap. We spend our careers trying to grow the field, grow leadership, and support the next person. That’s what made the recognition feel so meaningful.
You often talk about advocacy. What does advocacy mean to you?
Every day, I’m working toward better educational environments for children and better outcomes for children. I’m teaching students authentic ways to work with families and be part of their communities.
The other part of my work is serving on local, state, and national advisory boards and committees and being part of conversations around policy change in early childhood education. One of the things I try to do is expose students to that work. We bring advocacy organizations into our classes as guest speakers so students can see what advocacy looks like in action. As a result, we’ve had students go on to become policy fellows and advocates themselves.
I see one of my roles as a steward of advocacy. I know what it’s about, and now it’s my responsibility to share that with students and anyone else who will listen to me talk about it.
What first drew you to early childhood education?
I always wanted to be a teacher. Ever since I was a little girl, I played school. I’ve had such great teachers and mentors throughout my life that there was never really anything else I wanted to be.
Over the years, there have been people who saw something in me that I may not have seen in myself. They gave me opportunities, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and encouraged me to keep growing. I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by amazing educators, philanthropists, and a community of people who supported me every step of the way. That’s something I’ve never forgotten.
How did your own experience as a Carlow student shape the way you work with students today?
I came to Carlow as an adult student. I was already working as the director of a childcare center when Carlow opened its campus in Greensburg. I was one of the first groups to go through that program.
I had such an amazing experience. The professors, the support, and the mentors I had made a huge impact on me. It became my dream to work here someday so I could provide that same support and mentorship to others.
I had people at Carlow who believed in me. I try to do the same thing for others. When I meet with students who are working in childcare centers and earning their degree for the first time, I can honestly tell them, “I know what it’s like,” because I did the exact same thing. I worked full time, managed a family, completed student teaching, and earned my certification while going to school.
Sue Polojac at the PennAEYC awards ceremony, 4/10/2026
For readers who may not be familiar, what is the Dr. Rae Ann Hirsh Apprenticeship Program?
The apprenticeship program started as a pilot in 2019, with full implementation in 2020. The idea is simple: people working in early learning programs can come to Carlow, earn their bachelor’s degree, and take coursework that directly connects to what they’re doing every day.
Students learn more deeply about observations, assessments, lesson planning, and other practices to use in the classroom. The goal is to help them become stronger educators.
The program is also designed around the reality of their lives. Most of our students are working adults. They’re working 25 to 40 hours a week, raising families, and balancing a lot of responsibilities. Because our courses are primarily online and offered in the evenings, they’re able to earn a degree while continuing to work.
What impact has the program had?
The exciting thing is that by December, we’ll have had 97 students graduate with either an Early Development and Learning degree or Pre-K–4 teacher certification. When I say those numbers out loud, I still can’t believe them. That’s a lot of students working full time, raising families, and doing the hard work of earning a degree.
These are incredibly dedicated people. We have students attending class while caring for newborn babies. We have students working forty hours a week and still showing up every night because they’re committed to improving their lives and the lives of the children they serve.
What keeps you motivated after 35 years in the field?
I’m going to be sitting there when students graduate. I’m going to take their picture, and I’m going to be so happy for them because I know we played a part in their story. Maybe they’ll be the next advocate. Maybe they’ll be the next person to receive a Distinguished Career Award someday. In some small way, I hope we’ve encouraged them to believe in themselves.
At the end of the day, that’s really what motivates me. I want people to graduate. I want them to do well. I want them to do good things. I’m doing this because I want someone to feel believed in the way that I felt believed in.