Students in Sue Warner's classroom could have easily given up.

They are a mix of women who are either young mothers or mothers who come from a place where English is a second language.

Warner is now leading those students down the same path she traveled.

Her idea, New Beginnings, provides child care so the parents can get the education they need, which includes a getting a GED, working to improve their English or working toward certification in a technical field.

The students also receive parenting classes so that they can be better teachers for their children.

"We always have to go back to, 'You are the role model for your child,'" Warner said. "So, if you're not going to be successful what makes you think your child will be?"

Miguelina Hernandez is from the Dominican Republic.

Through New Beginnings, Hernandez earned her GED and is learning how to be a better teacher for her own children.

"It has helped me and my family," she said. "I have four children, so they pay for the child care so it's good for me. It's good for my family."

Warner has a special connection with her students because she knows what they're going through

"I was a teen mom," Warner said. "I didn't finish high school. I had to get a GED."

It's that connection that is shared with students.

One of those students is April Hall, who was 17 years old when she got pregnant. She admits the simple way out would have been to quit everything.

"I graduated from high school, and I'm enrolled at Daytona State College," Hall said, adding that she's going to school for nursing.

Warner will be presented with the Mary Brogan Leadership Award from the Florida Literacy Coalition for her work in promoting literacy.

She said she appreciates the recognition, but she's more excited about getting additional grant money to keep her classroom garden growing.