Patrice Jones-Cornish: From Dreams Deferred to Purpose Discovered at the ECIC
At the Early Childhood Innovation Center (ECIC), we believe every educator’s story has the power to inspire the next. For Patrice Jones-Cornish, her journey into leadership was not a straight path but it’s one that now fuels her work as the ECIC’s CDA Navigator.
Patrice once dreamed of becoming a pediatric nurse, but life redirected her into early childhood education. Over the years, she worked through long commutes, career pauses, financial setbacks, and the challenges of raising three children. At each turn, she found strength, persevered, and kept moving forward.
With the support of mentors and scholarship opportunities, Patrice earned her CDA® credential, advanced into mentorship roles, and began to dream again of completing college. That dream became reality through the ECIC Bachelor Scholarship, which gave Patrice the resources and support she needed to finish her degree. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Human Services (Early Childhood Administration) in just 2.5 years with a 3.8 GPA.
Along the way, Patrice became an advocate for educators, a coach for colleagues, and a voice for the profession. In 2024, she was selected as the ECIC’s Bachelor’s Ambassador and spoke on panels about the importance of investing in Delaware’s early childhood workforce. When the CDA Navigator role opened, Patrice took a leap of faith and joined the ECIC team.
Now, every day at the ECIC, Patrice works to guide scholars along the same journey she once walked. She helps educators enroll in Quorum® Scholarship, navigate challenges, and discover their own leadership potential.
💬 In Her Own Words
“Every morning I look at my Positive Word Wall after prayer and remind myself: I’ve earned this. These accomplishments are mine, and no one can take them from me. At the ECIC, I get to help others feel the same way.”
📝 About The ECIC Voices
The ECIC Voices is the official blog of the Early Childhood Innovation Center at Delaware State University.
Here, we share stories of resilience, leadership, and innovation from Delaware’s early childhood educators and scholars.