Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE)

September-December 2022

Dr. Darci Stanford recently completed her Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education from Concordia University, Chicago and has been teaching at South Central College in the Early Childhood Education program since 2008. Long recognized by colleagues for her expertise and commitment, she was selected as the Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year in 2015. Darci takes seriously the role of educating future early childhood teachers because these educators will be working with children at a vulnerable and critical age who are also their parents’ most valuable asset. Early childhood teachers have a lifelong effect on a child, so Darci sets high standards to ensure educators have the necessary foundation and skills. What drives Darci?  It is her passion to provide young children with the highest quality of care based on research and best practice and to continually work to elevate the field of early childhood education.

Darci has served in various roles while working at SCC: as department chair, online peer-reviewer, committee member (on various, multiple committees), and President and Legislative Liaison of the Faribault Chapter of the Minnesota State College Faculty union. She enjoys the people she works with and appreciates the support and vast knowledge base she is surrounded by every day.  In her view, “the years of education and experience at SCC are outstanding and very humbling.”

Outside of her faculty role, Darci is a mother to three children, one launched, one a college junior, and one a high school junior.  When she is not attending one of their many events, she is engaged in her community participating in various fundraisers and events.  We are lucky to have Darci at SCC! #SCCproud