Ballmer Early Childhood Educator Scholarship
Cal State Long Beach has been awarded an $11 million donation from Ballmer Group to support early childhood educators seeking the new PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential. This significant investment will help ease the cost of education as candidates pursue their path toward becoming credentialed early childhood educators.
The College of Education recognizes and values the tremendous work of our Ballmer Scholars who are in their journey to obtaining a PK-3 ECE credential.
Meet our 2024-2025 Ballmer Scholars
Tajah Tariq
Multiple Subject Credential Program
My name is Tajah Tariq, and I am currently pursuing a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and a PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential at California State University, Long Beach. The Ballmer Scholarship has provided me with critical financial support that has allowed me to focus more fully on my coursework, student teaching, and professional development, rather than worrying about how to cover tuition and related expenses. Thanks to this scholarship, I have been able to continue working toward my Multiple Subject Credential and PK-3 credential with greater confidence and less financial stress. My goal in obtaining the PK-3 credential is to strengthen my ability to support the unique developmental needs of young learners, particularly in transitional kindergarten through third grade. I am passionate about fostering foundational academic skills, social-emotional growth, and a love of learning at an early age. I look forward to applying everything I have learned to create nurturing, inclusive classroom environments where all students feel seen, valued, and empowered to succeed.
Annie Munson
Early Childhood Education MA Program
My name is Annie Munson and I am currently in my second year of receiving my Masters' in Early Childhood Education. I am so thankful for for the Ballmer Scholarship as I have been financially independent from my parents for several years now and pursuing my Masters' was going to be completely financially on me. I am so thankful for the scholarship as I currently am a full time teacher and tutor to help financially support myself on myself and education as not been an extra financially on me at least! I am excited to have the opportunity to begin teaching Transitional Kindergarten and eventually become a team leader for all of Early Childhood at my school.
Juan Cabrera Gonzalez
Early Childhood Education MA Program
My name is Juan Manuel Cabrera Gonzalez, and I’m currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and plan on obtaining my PK-3 credential at California State University, Long Beach. Receiving the Ballmer Scholarship has been a tremendous support in helping me continue my plans to pursue the PK-3 credential while balancing my responsibilities as a full-time educator, parent, and community advocate. The financial relief has allowed me to focus on academic and professional growth without the added stress of tuition and program-related expenses. My goal in earning the PK-3 credential is to strengthen the bridge between early childhood and primary education. I’m passionate about creating inclusive, developmentally appropriate classrooms that honor the diverse needs of young children. I look forward to expanding my impact in public education, advocating for equity in early learning, and contributing to high-quality programs that nurture the whole child. As an educator, I am especially committed to promoting father engagement in early learning spaces and increasing access to meaningful STEAM experiences for all children. I am also deeply invested in elevating the early childhood education profession and amplifying the voices of early educators to drive long-lasting, systemic change. These passions guide my work both inside and outside the classroom as I continue building strong partnerships with families, communities, and fellow educators.
Chanel Ruth Lee
Child Development & Family Studies
Hello Everyone, My name is Chanel Lee and my current major is Child Development and Family Studies. Reflecting on the Ballmer Scholarship, I am blessed to have this received this scholarship because it helped me financially by allowing me to focus on fieldwork and hands on experiences with the children without having worrying about my financial burden. By receiving this scholarship it has helped me prepare for my next step into this career. My goal in obtaining this credential is being a compassionate, patience but most importantly creating an inclusive and engaging environment for my students. I am looking forward to developing different strategies and concepts and assisting them in their needs.
Willian Alfaro
Early Childhood Education MA Program
My name is Willian Alfaro, and I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in early education with a focus on earning the PK-3 Early Childhood Teaching Credential. The Ballmer Scholarship has been a huge help in supporting me financially. It has allowed me to focus on my classes and student teaching without worrying so much about how to cover the cost of tuition, books, and other school-related expenses. Thanks to this scholarship, I’ve been able to stay on track with my program and give my full attention to learning how to best support young children in the classroom. My goal in obtaining this credential is to become a strong, inclusive, and caring early childhood teacher. I’m especially passionate about making sure all children, no matter their background or learning needs, feel welcome and supported in the classroom. I’m looking forward to building strong relationships with my students and families and helping children grow both academically and emotionally during their most important early years.
Lizbeth Rivas
Child Development & Family Studies
Hello! My name is Lizbeth, but I go by Liz. I received my Bachelors degree in Child Development & Family Studies in December 2024. Now, I am pursuing my PK-3 credential. The Ballmer Scholarship has been instrumental in supporting my journey. It has eased the burden of tuition, allowing me to focus on my studies and my work with Orange County Head Start, where I provide high-quality education and care for low-income families as an Early Head Start Teacher. One of my favorite aspects of working for Head Start is the opportunity to impact the lives of young learners and their families. I'm currently in the process of joining the Teacher Coaching Academy to become an Education Coach within my agency. This role would allow me to train teachers on CLASS, which measures teacher-child interactions, further enhancing the quality of education in our programs. I am incredibly grateful to the Ballmer Scholarship program for this opportunity. It will enable me to pursue my passion for teaching at higher levels while still having the opportunity to work directly with the earliest learners in preschool settings. After completing my credential, I aspire to take on a leadership role within Orange County Head Start, where I can continue to advocate for high-quality early childhood education and support both teachers and children in our community. Thank you for believing in my potential and investing in my future!
Fidelia Santos
Early Childhood Education MA Program
My name is Fidelia Santos, I am currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education while also taking courses aligned with the PK-3 Credential. The Ballmer Scholarship has played a significant role in supporting my journey towards the PK-3 credential. With the help of this scholarship, I have set aside the remainder of the scholarship to financially support myself during the required student teaching hours, which will require time away from work. My goal in obtaining the PK-3 Credential is to gain a deeper understanding of strategies that will further expand my expertise in early childhood education. My hope is to create joyful memories and build a strong foundation in the students early educational years that will foster a lifelong love for learning. I’m excited about the opportunity to teach in a way that supports the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally—while strengthening collaboration with families and communities.
Mayrany Cruz
Child Development & Family Studies
The Ballmer scholarship has supported me financially in perusing my credential because it gave me an opportunity to keep going. Without this scholarship I wouldn’t be able to afford to continue studying here at CSULB. Once I obtain my credential the goal is to make the world a better place. This starts at preschool, teaching young children what a positive environment should look like will encourage a child to want to come to school. My goal is for every child to learn in a way that is fun and engaging.
Danielle Kleinman
Child Development & Family Studies
The Ballmer Scholarship opened many doors for me this semester. It was due to the scholarship that I was able to maintain my transportation to and from school. The scholarship also made it possible for me to begin taking classes to obtain my prek-3 teaching credential. My goal in obtaining this credential is to one day soon be a full time first grade teacher that’s classroom is inclusive and accommodating for all students.
Arlene Santiago
Early Childhood Education MA Program
My name is Arlene Santiago, and I recently earned my teaching credential from California State University, Long Beach. I am currently pursuing my Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. The Ballmer Scholarship has been an incredible financial support throughout my journey. It not only covered tuition but also helped me afford required textbooks and essential school materials. As a first-year teacher, my income is limited, and I often spend out of pocket to provide supplies for my classroom and students. This scholarship has relieved some of that burden, allowing me to focus more fully on my studies and the needs of my students. My goal is to support young children emotionally, academically, and developmentally, giving them a strong foundation for future success. I look forward to continuing to grow as an educator, deepening my knowledge, and finding new ways to meet the needs of every child in my classroom. I also hope to one day mentor and support new educators, ensuring that together we are providing the tools and guidance that our children need to thrive.
Elizabeth Isais
Early Childhood Education MA Program
My name is Elizabeth Isaias, I am currently a preschool teacher. Early Childhood Education is my passion so I pursued my Masters degree in ECE many years ago. I believe that Early Childhood Education is very important and it is foundational to the future learning and success of young children. The Ballmer Scholarship has helped me financially offset some of the tuition fees so that I could go back to school and take a few prerequisites for the Pk-3 credential. I was also able to buy a device to use for my hybrid classes. I am very grateful to be a recipient of this scholarship. My goal is to get my Pk-3 credential at CSULB so that I can continue to work in the field of education with students in Kindergarten to 3rd grade.
