Twenty years after graduating high school, April Lewis walked across the stage as a college graduate to receive her Associate’s Degree in Applied Science—an incredible milestone, but not the start of her success story.
April’s connection to GenerationEd runs deep. As a child raised by a single mother, she got her start at Poplar Grove Early Learning Center, one of the Head Start locations operated by the very organization she now serves as a Data Manager. That early support helped shape her love of learning and planted the seeds for what was to come.
“My grandmother used to sit and read the newspaper with us—we’d pretend we were newscasters,” April recalls. “She encouraged every crazy idea we had. We were always learning.”
Her journey hasn’t followed a straight path. After high school, she initially pursued a paralegal degree and spent over a decade working in HR and payroll, eventually joining GenerationEd as a temp. It didn’t take long for her to find her place.
What changed the game? The women around her.
“I honestly don’t think I would’ve been inspired to go back to school if I hadn’t been surrounded by such strong, intelligent women here,” she says. “They made me believe I could do it.”
April returned to college while working full time, driven by a growing love for technology and a desire to do meaningful work. She now holds certifications in HR and IT and plays a critical role in our organization—using her talent to support not only systems but people.
“Some of the folks I’ve worked with had never had a job before,” she says. “They didn’t know what a tax document was or why deductions came out of their paycheck. Being able to guide and help them—that’s where I found purpose.”
Her story is more than personal triumph. It’s a full-circle journey that highlights the impact of early childhood education. It’s proof that early childhood education can spark a lifetime of success, and proof that when you build people up, they go on to build others.
April’s journey—from Head Start student to college graduate and now GenerationEd leader—is exactly why we do this work. Her win is a win for all of us. And her growth is the kind that lifts entire generations. Watch this short video to hear from April about her journey.
