At the opening plenary session of last week's 2012 NAEYC Conference, Council CEO Valora Washington recognized Brenda Acero, who was awarded the 300,000th CDA. Acero says she felt honored and privileged to be recognized at the conference. "It makes you feel proud that you've accomplished something so big," she says. "It was amazing." Acero developed a passion for early childhood education in college. She says she decided to earn her CDA credential after becoming a lead teacher at her center and encourages other early childhood educators to do the same. "It's worth doing it for your own education, but you also give the children a better quality education when you become more educate."