New York,
NY (November
3,
2006) --
Scholastic Early Childhood Professional Awards, a top national awards program recognizing early childhood educators, today announced the grand-prize winners of 2006. Nominated by parents, colleagues, mentors, administrators and community leaders, the five grand-prize winners will be honored at a national awards ceremony at the annual NAEYC Conference in Atlanta, Georgia on November 9th, 2006.
Early childhood experts and advisors from Scholastic selected the five 2006 grand-prize winners, along with 10 honorable mentions, out of hundreds of entries. Judging criteria included the educator’s overall commitment to advocacy, developmentally appropriate curriculum, cultural sensitivity, leadership, mentoring, professionalism, parent relations, and community outreach.
The grand-prize winners will each receive a roundtrip ticket to Atlanta, Georgia to attend NAEYC, $1,500 scholarship towards any undergraduate degree or a $3,000 scholarship towards any graduate degree at Nova Southeastern University’s Fischler School of Education and Human Services. The winners will also receive a collection of Scholastic products and they will be featured in the November/December 2006 issue of Scholastic Early Childhood Today™, the leading magazine reaching more than 200,000 early childhood professionals.
“Early childhood professionals play a pivotal role in the development and future educational success of America’s children,” said Diane Ohanesian, Editor-in-Chief of Scholastic Early Childhood Today. “We are thrilled to recognize this year’s winners and reward them for their commitment to helping young children develop the skills they need to learn and grow.”
Grand-prize winners of the 2006 Scholastic Early Childhood Professional Awards include:
Arrica Gilmore (St. Louis, Missouri)----Family Childcare Provider — Ms. Gilmore holds a B.S. degree in Corrections and Criminal Justice from Central Missouri State University. She opened the Juz Kidz Nursery & Preschool in 1993 with only eight children, but now oversees 19 students and a staff of three. She is currently working toward her certification in Early Childhood Education.
Marie E. Jones (Sacramento, California)--Lead Preschool Teacher — Ms. Jones is the lead teacher at American River College Child Development Center. In addition to mentoring twelve to fifteen student teachers, she has earned acclaim as a frequent presenter and host for educational workshops throughout California.
Kathy Moore (Hurlburt Field, Florida)--Kindergarten Teacher — Ms. Moore is an educator at the Hurlburt Field Youth Center. A mentor for Air Force base children, who attend twelve local area schools, Kathy created a successful program called “Power Hour” this year, through which she gives homework help as well as monitors her students’ school attendance and performance.
Meir Muller (Columbia, South Carolina)--Director/Principal -- Revered by his community, Rabbi Muller has been the Director of the Columbia Jewish Day School for the last fifteen years. Not only does he organize fund drives to supply the school with necessities, he puts together field trips to cultural institutions that compliment student curriculum, and he also serves on the South Carolina’s Governor’s Child Care Council in addition to numerous other organizations.
Erica Richards (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania)--Infant/Toddler Teacher -- Lead teacher for older toddlers at the Hildebrandt Learning Centers at Masonic Village, Ms. Richards plans daily activities for a large group of 2 year-olds, as well as manages two to three teachers. In addition to training new staff members, she also mentors first-year teachers and is a resource of information and advice to families in the community.
The Scholastic Early Childhood Professional Awards were launched in 1998 by Scholastic Parent & Childâ and Scholastic Early Childhood Today magazines, in conjunction with National Childcare Professionals Day, established by U.S. Senate and U.S. House resolutions. Now in its 9th year, the awards remain a top national program to recognize early childhood professionals. The program celebrates the special relationship between parents and the childcare professionals who are partners in caring for and teaching their children.
The 2006 Scholastic Early Childhood Professional Awards are sponsored by Nova Southeastern University’s Fischler School of Education and Human Services.
About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet site,
www.scholastic.com.
