Nearly 60 early child care professionals gathered June 3 at Trinity Oaks for “Happy Healthy Habits,” a conference sponsored by Smart Start Rowan.
The event was an opportunity to celebrate the profession and those who have chosen it as their career, said Laura Villegas, Smart Start Rowan’s director of programs.
“We host this event to honor and value the child care profession as a whole,” Villegas said. “Then we provide recognition for child care facilities that have increased their star ratings, and for people who have received associate’s or bachelor’s degrees in early childhood education.”
Awards were also given to recognize three outstanding child care professionals of the year. These included Sheri Ford of Ford’s Child Care as Family Child Care Home Professional of the Year, sponsored by Snow Benefits Group; Iryna Ramsey of Preschool of the Arts as Teacher of the Year, sponsored by Walser Technology Group; and Elan Cowan of Price Head Start as Director of the Year, sponsored by First Bank, Jake Alexander Boulevard. Each award carried a $250 cash prize.
The three women were nominated by parents and peers alike.
A colleague wrote of Ford: “From the first day I met her, she influenced me to be all that I could be. This provider was determined to maintain her stars. (Child care facilities are rated 1 to 5 stars, 5 being the highest.) When she went through with her assessment, she was not satisfied until she had worked to get her stars to the level she wanted them to be. As I watch her in action with the energy she puts in with the children, it makes me want to do more.”
A parent wrote of Ramsey: “Her spirit of unconditional love and compassion for others provides an environment that is safe and encouraging for the children. She is enthusiastic about her profession and that enthusiasm is contagious. She is the epitome of grace, style, kindness and patience. She exudes confidence in her teaching as well as her interpersonal skills. She is unparalleled in her teaching and communication abilities. Her type of skill cannot be taught but comes from within. Any and all who have been under her instruction will forever be better for their experience.”
A staff member wrote of Cowan: “She doesn’t ask a staff member to do anything she wouldn’t do. If we ask a question she answers and if she doesn’t know she will have the answer by the end of the day. She never skips a beat and nothing goes undone. She will come in early and stay late. She will delay her own work to assist teachers and parents. She will plunge the toilet when over flowing, fix the food in the kitchen for lunch, mop up a spill, run on the playground with the children … she does whatever is deemed necessary to make the day at our facility a good day.”
Increased star ratings went to the following facilities: Nanny’s Day Care Home, Patricia Hill Day Care Home, Small Minds & Big Wonders, The Sitter, 2 stars; Kountry Kids, Little Creations Home Child Care, Tiny Tots In Home Child Care, 3 stars; Mary’s Little Blessings, Salisbury Child Care Fine Arts, Sandra’s Playhouse, 4 stars; Ford’s Child Care, Kiddie Land Kindergarten, Golden Child Christian Academy, True Gifts, 5 stars.
Those receiving recognition for completing associate’s degrees in early childhood education included: Elizabeth Belik, Christy Graham, Tina Green, Jennifer Kendal, Tavella Miller, Catherine Rhone, Sabrena Gaither, Cindy Harlow, Judy McDaniel, Lashonda Patterson and Olympia Smyre.
Those receiving recognition for completing bachelor’s degrees in early childhood education included: Ann Howell, Amanda Lomax, Kimberly McGraw, Sherry Morris, Ebony O’Neal and Jennifer G. Smith.
The evening’s keynote speaker was Willa Brigham, an Emmy-award winning inspirational speaker and storyteller who is host of the television show, “Smart Start Kids.”
“We try to make the event fun and special,” Villegas said. “It was a really nice event and Trinity Oaks was just a beautiful location. The attendees felt good about being there.”