Faculty Member Honored for Work With Children

A faculty member at Eastern Florida State College has been recognized for her years of dedicated work with children along the Space Coast.

Victoria Candelora, an associate professor of child development on the Melbourne campus, was named an Outstanding Member for 2014 by the Florida Association for the Education of Young Children (FLAEYC).

Candelora received the award for her service to the Space Coast Association for the Education of Young Children, an affiliate of the state group. The state organization recognized Candelora for what it called her valuable services on behalf of children and her work to improve their education and welfare.

“There is no better friend, advocate and educator for children in our community than Victoria,” said Dr. Linda Miedema, the college’s Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Learning Officer. “She’s passionate about their well-being and does everything she can to help them grow and succeed. We’re extremely proud of her efforts and fortunate to have her as a member of our faculty.”

As president of the Space Coast chapter in 2012-14, Candelora sponsored an annual conference in collaboration with Eastern Florida State College on the Cocoa Campus, and facilitated workshops on the Melbourne campus.

She is currently Past President of Space Coast AEYC.

Candelora has been a professor at Eastern Florida for more than 20 years and many of her former students are now teachers at child care centers and in Head Start classrooms throughout Brevard County.