Perham Senior to Earn Early Childhood Certificate Through M State Program

Chesney Esser at Children’s Corner in Perham. (M State)

Perham, MN – A dual enrollment student of Perham High School and M State is about to become the first high schooler to earn an Early Childhood Certificate through the college’s Early Childhood in the High School program.

High School Senior Chesney Esser connects with the kids at Children’s Corner Learning Center in Perham every weekday, for a few hours in the early mornings and then again in the late afternoons. Sandwiched in the middle of her days are a mix of in-person high school classes, online college classes, and an hour-long stint at the Perham elementary school, where she again works closely with kids.

Enrolled in the Early Childhood in the High School dual enrollment program through M State, Esser is working toward multiple goals at once: she’s earning her high school diploma, earning college credits in the field of early childhood, and earning an income from Children’s Corner, where her work hours fulfill the real-world experience requirements of the dual enrollment program.

The program has been a collaborative partnership between M State and Perham High School since 2021. This school year, it grew to include the Battle Lake and Pelican Rapids public high schools and began offering an Early Childhood Certificate. This spring, Esser will become the first high school student to earn that certificate. At 18 years old, she’ll already have the qualifications to work as a preschool teacher.

Esser says, “I get to spend my time with great kids in a great facility. I learn all about the field I’m going into, and I get to build co-worker relationships. And I still get to be at the high school for some classes every day, so I get that interaction, as well. It’s a great program.”

Esser is one of a growing number of high school students opting to jump-start their careers and save time and money on college through dual enrollment programs.