From PreK to Policy: Antonia Weller’s Master’s Studies and Degree Bridge the Gap Between Early Childhood and Career Readiness

When Ms. Antonia Weller joined the team here at MAS Charter School in the fall of 2023, she brought with her a deep belief in educating the whole child, including socially, emotionally, and academically. 

Now, just two years later, she has earned a Master of Arts in Education with an emphasis in career and technology from Eastern New Mexico University. There, at the Portales-based university, her studies spanned a wide spectrum: from trauma-informed early childhood education to the practical power of career and technical programs.

Weller’s dual focus reflects a bold vision — one that sees no contradiction in addressing both resilience in preschool classrooms and job readiness for older students. “We can’t wait until students are in high school to think about their futures,” she told us. “And we can’t assume they’ll be ready to learn later if we haven’t nurtured them early.”

In one of her two dissertations, Bridging Education and Employment: The Power of Career and Technical Education, Weller explores how CTE programs (career and technology education) help students acquire skills and a sense of direction. The paper makes the case for CTE as more than an alternative track. Instead, Weller asserts that it’s a transformative tool, especially for students who thrive in applied learning environments (i.e., settings where students learn by doing).

Equally compelling is her second dissertation, Implementing Trauma-Informed Practices in Early Childhood Education: Supporting Resilience in Pre-K Classrooms. There, Weller examines how teachers can serve as anchors for young children navigating the often-invisible effects of trauma. Through strategies that foster emotional regulation, safety, and connection, she argues, educators can lay the groundwork for lifelong learning and well-being.

“These two areas might seem far apart,” Weller explains, “but they’re deeply connected. Supporting children emotionally in their earliest years and giving them tools to succeed later on is how we change lives.”

She now applies these insights in her classroom at MAS’s Old Coors campus, where she teaches PreK and is preparing to transition to a new role in the fall of 2025. Weller is also planning her next academic chapter: a doctoral program focused on equitable access, trauma-informed practice, and the future of digital education.

Beyond her formal teaching role, Weller volunteers in her church and community, working with children to build emotional intelligence and self-awareness. “Helping young people understand and manage their emotions is foundational,” she says. “It’s the first step toward resilience and future measures of success.”

In an era when educational systems are challenged to meet complex student needs, Weller’s approach — equal parts education, nurturing, and empowerment — feels both urgent and inspiring.

Ms. Weller’s story is a reminder that when educators invest in their own growth, they multiply their impact. From the preschool classroom to the policy conversations of the future, her voice is one to watch, and one that her students here at MAS Charter School already know they can trust.