On April 12, 2013, some 300 early educators gathered in Randolph for the 12th annual Early Educators Awards Gala sponsored by the Boston Alliance for Early Education and the Boston Association for the Education of Young Children.
The gala celebrates Greater Boston’s early childhood educators and their contributions to the development of young children. The event also recognizes outstanding educators and high-quality programs.
Our own Amy O’Leary, Early Education for All Campaign Director, served as the evening’s Mistress of Ceremonies. Amy also received the association’s Abigail Eliot Award. The award honors winners’ outstanding commitment to young children and the early childhood profession through work done on behalf of the association as well as for distinguished professional achievement. The award is named after Abigail Adams Eliot, a pioneer in early childhood education and in training teachers of young children.
Six other early educators who were nominated by their peers also won awards.
Ida Yee Koo, lead toddler teacher at Buds and Blossoms Early Education and Care Center in Boston, won for leadership and management.
Eveline Joseph, a teacher at the Marshall Elementary School, a Boston Public School in Dorchester, won for relationships.
Lara Figueroa, lead K-1 teacher at Ellis Memorial and Eldredge House Inc. in Boston’s South End, won for curriculum.
Rania Rammah, lead teacher at ABCD South Side Head Start in Roslindale, won for physical environment.
Maggie Rosenthal, early childhood educator at A Joyous Noise in Jamaica Plain, won for family partnership.
Isabel Maria DeBlanco, a family child care provider at Grandma’s Montessori in Roslindale, won for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).
The gala also recognized:
– Forty-six center-based programs that earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children
– Seven family child care providers that earned accreditation from the National Association for Family Child Care; and
– Fifty-six early educators who earned Child Development Associate certificates.
Special thanks to Micaela Bedell, our intern from Boston University, who captured the spirit of the celebration with her photographs. Her pictures are posted here.
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