Saginaw Township View

Paquet accepted into early childhood doctoral program at Oakland University


Kelli Paquet was accepted into the early childhood doctoral program at Oakland University in August. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a master’s degree in early childhood education.

Paquet is currently employed as an adjunct lecturer at Delta College, teaching early childhood education classes, and has taught at Ferris State University in Big Rapids. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Ferris State University in May, 2013. She overcame many obstacles as she was going to Ferris, including losing her husband on Feb. 12, 2011, from a massive heart attack. During this time, she was the owner, director and teacher at Come Grow With Us Preschool.

After 16 years of owning CGWU, she closed her business in 2015 to go back to get her graduate degree.

“It was a hard decision to make but ultimately I knew I wanted to get my master’s degree and teach at a higher level,” she said. “The thought of teaching other potential early childhood education students was my main goal, I felt I had so much to offer my students with my knowledge and experience. I love my job.”

Paquet graduated from St. Charles High School in 1984. She went to Delta College and graduated in 1991 with her associate’s degree in child development. She has taught in West Berlin, Germany, and a few other centers around the Saginaw area before owning Come Grow With Us Preschool. Her son Alec, taught at Come Grow With Us before she closed.

“The loss of my husband after almost 25 years of marriage was hard, but I kept going on as hard as it was,” she said. “My preschool parents, educators and colleagues were there, helping me get through the loss. This coming year it will be eight years since he has passed. I have had many struggles, but I am happy where I am at in life now and have so many amazing things to be proud and thankful for.”

Paquet enjoys working out, woodworking, hiking, biking, camping, downhill skiing, waterskiing, disk golf, geocaching, white water rafting, ziplining and has tried skydiving and would love to do it again. Her parents are Jerry and Janice Boquette of St. Charles.

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