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Excellence in Early Childhood Awards
The Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children recognizes individuals who have dedicated their work, time, and resources to children, families and the field of early care and education.
The Governance Committee reviews the nominations for MAAEYC Excellence in Early Childhood awards. Nominations are accepted by anyone who recommends a candidate and completes the nomination form. Please read the nomination guidelines to ensure your submission is complete and provides all the information the selection committee will need.
Award Categories
Nominations Open in February
To nominate someone for an award, please fill out the Nomination Form and follow the criteria as outlined below
About Gwen Morgan Leadership Award
This award is given on a yearly basis to an individual that has taken advantage of a leadership opportunity to improve the quality of care for children and families, or to advance workforce and professional development opportunities for early education and care professionals. This is an individual who has been able to look down the road, as Gwen had throughout her career, and impact the future based on vision and determination.
Gwen was influential in so many different areas for over 30 years. She was a leading national authority on child care regulations. She wrote on a wide range of other issues and the list of her publications is extensive. Here in Massachusetts, we have her to thank for founding the Center for Career Development in Early Care and Education at Wheelock College, which helped countless states create professional development systems. She co-founded
Work/Family Directions and she founded Wheelock College Advanced Seminars in Child Care. Besides that, she has guided the development of countless students as they learn to be teachers.
Criteria
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Is a current or retired early care and education professional.
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be an active member of NAEYC/MAAEYC
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Has demonstrated a commitment to leading others in the early care and education field.
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Has made substantial contributions to the field through advocacy, research, and/or the support of educators.
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Their body of work has had an impact at the state level in Massachusetts and/or national level.
About Advocacy in ECE Award
For many years, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has been a voice for quality early childhood that supports effective programming for young children. MAAEYC has created the Advocacy in ECE Award to recognize those individuals who have demonstrated their effectiveness as advocates for programs and/or policies that support quality programming for young children. The following criteria will be used by the MAAEYC Governance Committee to select the recipient of the Advocacy in ECE Award.
Criteria:
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be an active member of NAEYC/MAAEYC,
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Nominees should showcase significant personal and professional growth over their time in the field of early childhood education. This could include progress in teaching methods, leadership, and overall contribution to the field.
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Successful nominees will exhibit unwavering dedication and commitment to the early childhood profession.
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Be an educator who brings creativity and innovation to their work.
About Early Educator Beacon Award
This award will be given to a teacher who has demonstrated tremendous growth throughout their time in the field of early childhood education and shows a commitment, creativity, and dedication to the early childhood profession. This teacher has “emerged” from a growth process and transformed into a teacher that is a true professional and has wings to fly!
Criteria:
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be an active member of NAEYC/MAAEYC,
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Nominees should showcase significant personal and professional growth over their time in the field of early childhood education. This could include progress in teaching methods, leadership, and overall contribution to the field.
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Successful nominees will exhibit unwavering dedication and commitment to the early childhood profession.
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Be an educator who brings creativity and innovation to their work.
Previous Winners
2016
Gwen Morgan Leadership Award - Amy O'Leary
2017
Gwen Morgan Leadership Award - Dr. Valora Washington
2019
Gwen Morgan Leadership Award - Cheryl Hovey
2020
Gwen Morgan Leadership Award - David Chard
2024
Gwen Morgan Leadership Award
Amanda Abbott
Advocacy Award
Paula Andrea Echeverri Durango
Early Educator Beacon Award
Nadine Alcantara
2025
Coming February 2025