Heidi Rabenberg-Fink
Director, Lil’ Dreamers Learning Center; Garretson, SD
STI Class of 2011 & 1996
Degrees: Early Childhood Specialist, Marketing

For the Love of Children
Heidi Rabenberg-Fink blends real-life experience with degree wisdom.

For Heidi Rabenberg-Fink, a wife, mother and full-time director of a learning center, making the choice to earn a degree in a field that she has 17 years of experience in was a fairly straight-forward and easy decision.

“I was already working in my current position, but I knew I wanted more methodology behind what I was doing. My degree has helped me better understand the children and the families I work with.” After looking at the options available to her in Sioux Falls, Heidi selected Southeast Tech to further her education.

She shares, “I chose to come back to Southeast Tech because I had credits that transferred from my Marketing degree that I had previously earned in 1996. In addition, they also took my CDA (Child Development Associate) credits and life experience into consideration. It was somewhere I knew I was comfortable and it worked well with both my job and my family.”

A graduate of the Early Childhood Specialist program, Heidi notes how valuable the program is for individuals interested in pursuing a career working with children. “The early childhood field is very important and knowing the theory behind it is incredibly important. Children learn most of what they will learn in the first three years of their life and then continue to build on these skills, so my influence on them is incredibly important.”

As a multi-task to the max leader with Lil’ Dreamers Learning Center in Garretson, Heidi wears several hats including handling payroll and payroll taxes, staffing, scheduling, teaching, writing and following policy and procedures, state licensing, curriculum, food program, writing grants, community relations and family/staff relations. “This business isn’t easy but it gives you a great feeling to know that you have had a part in helping children learn and grow. Being able to put your knowledge and love for children into practice is invaluable for both their experience and yours.”