Background

Amidst the challenges and uncertainties created by COVID in 2020, PACCA did not issue its annual awards last year -- so very many in our field deserved the recognition. However, we are pleased to announce that the annual PACCA Awards are back! PACCA is now accepting nominations for the 2021 Educators of the Year and the 2021 Award of Excellence. Started in 1999, these awards recognize contributions made by PACCA members to the early care and education profession. Nominations may be made by non-PACCA members, however, only PACCA members can receive the awards. Nominations are due JULY 31, 2021.
 
IMPORTANT:  For us to have a full understanding of the accomplishments of each individual, we encourage letters from colleagues, families, and others who can provide support to the nomination. Support letters and/or other materials should be emailed to maureen.murphy@pacca.org by JULY 31, 2021.

The Educator of the Year awards honor outstanding service and accomplishments in the delivery of services to children. They are given to individuals - one from a home-based program and one from a center-based program - at PACCA member agencies who have contributed significantly to the direct care and education of young children. It is suggested that the nominees have been teachers for at least three years.

The Award of Excellence honors outstanding service and accomplishments in the field of administration. The award is presented to a member of PACCA who has demonstrated qualities of vision (ability to see possibilities for making things happen and communicating this vision to others), teamwork (ability to work with and support others) and leadership (willingness to reach out to benefit the child care community). It is suggested that the person has been a director, executive director, administrator, or owner for at least three years.
 
Reminder: Support letters for nominees should be emailed to maureen.murphy@pacca.org by July 31, 2021.

Nominees will be contacted by August 9, 2021 and asked to supply:

1) Resume or a brief write up of their education and work history
2) Director Sign-off (for Center-based Educator of the Year nominees)
3) Short essay on one of the following three topic areas:
     • What were the factors that influenced you to become an educator of young children?
     • What can you do to strengthen and improve the early care and education profession?
     • What do you consider to be the primary challenges and opportunities faced by child care programs during the time of COVID-19? How have you "made it work" in your program or classroom over the past year and a half?

Responses from nominees will be due back by August 20, 2021. Recipients will be notified by September 10, 2021 of the committee's decision, and will be honored at the 2021 Virtual ECE Summit in October. Each award winner will receive:
*$500.00 Cash award
*Free full (3-day) registration to the 2021 Virtual ECE Summit
*An engraved award with his/her name, the year, and the name of the award
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* 1. I am nominating the person below for the following award:

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* 2. Nominee Information

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* 3. Nominated by:

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* 4. Use this space to describe why this person is deserving of this recognition.

We encourage you to submit testimonials & letters of support from children, fellow staff and parents to illustrate your nominee’s exceptional work. Attachments can be faxed to 717-724-9519, emailed to maureen.murphy@pacca.org, or mailed to PACCA, 20 Erford Road, Suite 302, Lemoyne, PA 17043, ATTN: Maureen Murphy.

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