Scholar success story: Debbie Burbank’s early childhood education journey

On September 1, 2026, Mike Gaffney and Rhonda Etsitty, Regional Outreach Coordinators on the Education Outreach Team at Arizona PBS, attended the Encircle Families’ Four Corners Special Education Day in Window Rock, Arizona. There, Gaffney connected with Debbie Burbank, an assistant teacher at Pinon Unified School District. Burbank earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Northland Pioneer College, made possible through a scholarship from Arizona PBS’ early childhood educator scholarship program, supported by Arizona’s early childhood agency First Things First (FTF).

Burbank said, “First Things First has given me a free opportunity to graduate from NPC with my bachelor’s degree in early childhood, while working as a teacher assistant in preschool. Thank you FTF!”

Burbank’s experience reflects the purpose of the Arizona Early Childhood Workforce Registry, Arizona’s online hub for early childhood educators to track their employment, formal education and professional development opportunities throughout their careers.

Through the registry, early childhood educators can explore a directory of training, conferences and other learning opportunities to support career development; fulfill state regulatory training requirements; apply for scholarships to pursue credentials, certificates and degrees in early childhood education; and establish career and professional development goals.

Supported by Arizona’s early childhood agency, First Things First (FTF), Arizona PBS’ early childhood educator scholarship program offers scholarships to aspiring early childhood educators completing Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials, associate and bachelor’s degrees. Learn more about the program, and please share the transformative power of educational opportunities like the Early Childhood Educator Scholarship Program with aspiring educators in our community.