Harrisburg, PA - Acting Secretary for the Department of Human Services Dr. Valerie Arkoosh today celebrated the Second Annual Equity in Early Childhood Education (ECE) Champion Award with recipients from across the Commonwealth in the Capitol Rotunda. More than 50 award recipients, including individual professionals and exemplary programs, were recognized for enhancing equitable practices while providing quality services for children and families to promote strong starts and life-long benefits for all children.
“Healthy and safe learning environments give our children a foundation to grow, and every child -- regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic background -- should have the opportunity to learn and thrive,” said Acting Secretary Arkoosh. “We cannot undersell the impact that diverse and inclusive early childhood education can make in helping a child celebrate their individual identity as well as on an entire family’s trajectory, and I am grateful to these dedicated professionals for their commitment to Pennsylvania’s children and future.”
“The work early childhood education providers do is truly invaluable to the Commonwealth. These innovative professionals embrace every challenge that comes their way, providing equitable and inclusive environments for our youngest Pennsylvanians to learn, grow, and thrive,” said Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “Focusing on the needs of young children and their families, these professionals are the backbone of early childhood education. I am so proud of them and the work they do to provide programs dedicated to equity and inclusion.”
“I am so proud of early childhood education providers and professionals throughout Pennsylvania and relish the opportunity to highlight the below programs for going above and beyond in their communities,” said Deputy Secretary of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Shante’ Brown. “The work around equity and inclusion is so important and I am excited to recognize and celebrate that work again this year and for hopefully many years to come.”
Pennsylvania’s Equity in ECE Champion Award highlights the equity work being done within Pennsylvania’s early childhood education and afterschool settings. The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is honored to recognize the work of the early childhood education programs and professionals on behalf of Pennsylvania children and their families. Recipients of the award have shown to be equity champions through their work embracing diversity and full inclusion as strengths, upholding fundamental principles of fairness and justice, and working to eliminate structural inequities that limit equitable learning opportunities.
The following submissions were selected as GOLD level awards for the 2023 Pennsylvania Equity in Early Childhood Education Champion Awards:
Beginnings, Inc., Johnstown
Child Time Learning Daycare Inc., Allentown
Children's Playhouse (Marshall St.), Philadelphia
Early Head Start, Pittsburgh Public, Pittsburgh
Family Service Association of Bucks County Bilingual Nurturing Parenting Program and Facilitator, Langhorne
Green Trees Early Learning Center, Inc., Milford
Hanover Area YMCA, Hanover
Nurse Family Partnership-Erie County Department of Health, Erie
Raylene Posten of Kiddie City Early Learning Center, Allentown
Rosanna Matos of First Up, Philadelphia
Saint Francis ELC, Norristown
School District of Lancaster's PreK Program, Lancaster
Schoolhouse Learning Center, Trumbauersville
Special People in the Northeast (SPIN), Philadelphia
The Children's Ark at St. George's, Ardmore
The Growing Garden Child Care Center, LLC, Tarentum
TIA The Journey, Upper Darby
Ukrainian Learning Center for Children, Jenkintown
Widener University's Child Development Center, Chester
Woodlyn Academy, Woodlyn
Zakiya Parson, Darby
The following submissions were selected as SILVER level awards for the 2023 Pennsylvania Equity in Early Childhood Education Champion Awards:
Cedar Tree Child Care, Elkins Park
Child Care Professionals Network, Springfield
Clover Montessori School, Philadelphia
Faith Factory Learning Center, Mount Joy
First Up, Philadelphia
Greenway Early Learning Center, LLC, Whitehall
Kidz Connect Child Care Center LLC, Easton
Kim Alloway of York County Early Learning Resource Center Region 10, York
Learning on Laurel, LLC, Pottsville
Lehigh Valley Children's Centers at Towamensing, Leighton
Precious One's Child Care Center, Inc., Jenkintown
The Children's Home of Pittsburgh - Child's Way, Pittsburgh
The following submissions were selected as BRONZE level award for the 2023 Pennsylvania Equity in Early Childhood Education Champion Awards:
Amanda Serra, Crayon Clubhouse II, Connellsville
Amber Konopka of Chesterbrook Academy Preschool, Newtown
Annie's Bubble Care, Erie
Beautiful Beginnings Childcare Center, Inc., Philadelphia
Child Care Professionals Network IDEA's Program, Springfield
Children's Playhouse (Passyunk Ave.), Philadelphia
Diane Hoffman Family Child Care, Ebensburg
Different Expectations Educational Services, Philadelphia
Great Minds Think Alike TWO (Providence Ave.), Chester
Innovation & Exploration STEM Early Learning Center, Warrington
Kiddieland Child Care & Learning Center, Tarentum
Miss Doreen's Playmation Childcare, Barto
Penny's Daycare LLC, Tioga
Sholypop Daycare 2 (Kensington Ave.), Philadelphia
Sunshine Cottage Childcare, Sinking Spring
The Caring Center, Philadelphia
Theresa Paludi of Montgomery County Early Learning Resource Center Region 17, Norristown
Two Hands Are Better Than One Learning Center, Pittsburgh
We Care Learning and Development Center, Philadelphia
For more information about the Equity in ECE Champion Award visit the Pennsylvania Key website here.
NOTE: Additional photos and video of speakers are available by emailing ra-pwdhspressoffice@pa.gov.
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