Announcing our 2022 #TeachersMatter Awardee!!
Kathleen Peters of Wee Friends Daycare
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We were overwhelmed by the number of heartfelt submissions we had this year for our #TeachersMatter award! Diplayed below are just a few of the submissions. We've removed the names to keep them anonymous - because, really, these tributes could apply to so many in the field. Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit! We wish we could give an award to each and every teacher, for their dedication, caring and hard work.
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Always going above and beyond with really getting to know each student and every parent. We feel cherished and feel perfectly comfortable and at peace that our child(den) were in the best hands possible when it comes to their futures. She treats each child as if they were her own and that she wants the absolute best for them. She is truly remarkable and truly sets the standard for what a teacher should strive to be.
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My daughter has been with her for one year and absolutely loves going to daycare each day. Her teacher provides a lesson plan to all the parents a month in advance. Her program provides a great combination of planned activities along with free play. She updates parents daily on their children's day and their progress. Anyone can tell she truly loves what she does and the children adore her just as much as she adores them! I am so thankful to have found her. She deserves this award for all of her hard work and dedication to her job!
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In the height of the pandemic, my child was fortunate enough to have in person learning with her teacher for 2 years (kindergarten & 1st grade). She showed up every single day and kept the children safe and ensured their growth by teaching with care and compassion. My daughter absolutely loves her teacher, who is kind, gentle and nurturing. I am so appreciative of her and the gift of teaching that she possess'. She is exceptional and deserves to be acknowledged!
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Our teacher is Super Woman! She cares for my children as if they were her own. She has taught them to trust themselves, and to see the best in others. She supports their curiosities and encourages them to be themselves.
She is a true gem, and we are so lucky to have her in our lives.
She is a true gem, and we are so lucky to have her in our lives.
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Our teacher is a constant source of positivity. Our daughter is a pandemic baby and barely met anyone, even extended family, before joining her class. Our teacher set up regular meetings with us to talk about our daughter's development and answer any questions we had. She is also constantly thinking about how she can better her classroom, collecting Pampers points from parents to get new toys and books, creating interactive activities like sensory bottles, textured surfaces, and even simple fun things like bringing extra boxes in from home for the kids to play pretend with. She taught us so much during our child's first 18 months of life. She helped us become more confident parents, and most importantly helped our child develop into a curious and social baby who truly loves her school and school friends.
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Our teacher has an above and beyond passion for teaching and caring for children. She goes out of her way to provide unique activities for her class, spending her free time preparing and gathering materials for special projects to engage and stimulate the minds of the children in her room. Despite challenges in the classroom, she always brings a positive attitude and vibrant energy to the classroom every day.
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Our teacher has been a blessing to our family! The care, support and love that she provides to our daughter and all of the children is unmatched. The curriculum and exposure to nature and life skills has a direct impact on the growth and development of our 15 month old. A big highlight for our family is the homemade meals provided during the day. Our daughter loves to eat and has been introduced to so many nutritious foods and gets to see how food is grown in their garden on site. We love our teacher and pray that she continues to support young children and families in our community.
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Our teacher is highly deserving of this honor because of the thoughtfulness, energy, and boundless passion she brings to the classroom every day. She has been our child's pre-k teacher for the last year, and she has not only made every effort to guide our child socially and emotionally through a difficult year, she has also offered so much genuine support to me just during our interactions at pick-up. She is engaging and devoted, and she is a much-loved teacher at the center. She forms a special bond with each of the children, which she knows is what children really need from their teachers and the adults in their lives. She is a gem!
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Our teacher is the absolute best! My daughter is only 2 and she fits right in at our teacher's nature preschool. They spend a majority of their days outside playing in the mud kitchen, jumping in puddles, tending to their gardens, feeding the chickens, riding bikes, painting with chalk, watching their caterpillars grow, and frolicking to the beach! (That's only one day) She allows her kiddos to push the boundaries of what they think their capable of in order to grow into resilient, brave, and courageous toddlers. She also gives them space to observe, learn, and apply her teaching lessons through nature. It's great sending your kid to school knowing they'll be loved and cared just the same as being home. It makes school their home too, and she makes that happen.
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Our teacher currently teaches my infant and taught my toddler last year. She is amazing at communicating their needs. She nurtures them every day. Both of them give her hugs every morning. I have never dropped them off and they cry when she is in the room. She gives you that warm fuzzy feeling that you know your children are safe with her. She goes above and beyond to make sure parents and children are happy every single day. She is the reason I drive 30 minutes each way to bring my kids to school when there are plenty of other daycares closer by.
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Our teacher is amazing! A real pleasure to be around. She shows up everyday ready to give her class her all. She is dedicated when in and out of the classroom often sending reminders and messages to parents after hours about upcoming school events. She is patient with the children, and serious about learning. Even on weekends my daughter is asking if she is able to go to school. She is a hard worker, and you can tell that she really takes pride in her work. There aren't enough ways to show her our gratitude for molding our little one into the big girl she is today!
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Our teacher has been working at this center for over fifteen years. She has never called out of work. She comes to work everyday and cares for the children like they are her own. She works any hours from open to close no complaints at all. She shows up to work willing and ready to do whatever has to be done. She is awesome no matter what. I hope she would get recognized for once after all these years.
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While this past year saw the Great Resignation, and many daycare teachers left the profession, Our teacher provided my son a lifeline in times of upheaval. Last September my son's daycare teachers ALL quit. He had no teachers. His daycare location closed its doors. When my son's teachers quit, his challenges were that much worse. My son has a speech delay. He has social-emotional challenges. Then my son was transferred to the daycare's other location, and our teacher became his teacher. His life blossomed again. There are so many ways that she has uplifted my son's life. For example: It takes a special teacher to dance with toddlers with a mask on, and never complain about it! Every day, she has brought this kind of life, vitality, joy, energy, and constancy to my son's life. She has also built upon my son's interests. For example, my son loves numbers. And so, she taught him to count to 100 - in another language! She has also ignited in him the joys of reading; he recites "A Bad Case of Stripes" and loves to recreate the book, by drawing stripes on himself and playing doctor to the story's main character. Speaking of beans, our teacher had the whole class grow Northern beans. The plant has sprouted so high it's a testament to her work in helping children grow! When we look back on this pandemic, we will remember those who fostered constancy in the lives of children. Our teacher is one unsung hero. On behalf of my boy, we are forever grateful.
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Our teacher is an incredible provider to my two children. They love going there each day. She provides a fun, safe, educational, and structured environment. She is dedicated and cares so much for her daycare children. She is going above and beyond by working toward this certification and is very deserving of this award.
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A simple paragraph could not encompass how our teacher has helped my family. I have a 3 year old autistic daughter that has been with her for daily care and learning since she was 8 months old. We've struggled with access to programs and support for her since she was diagnosed. Our teacher has been an incredible piece of her development.
When my daughter began having difficulties with directions, self control and communication; she didn't flinch. She went and received more training. A lesser teacher would have simply pushed us out of their facility. Our teacher knew my daughter needed support and she stepped up. She went to evening training and classes on the weekend to better understand my daughter.
Now, thanks to support from her teacher and at home, my daughter has some consistency and is slowly learning to communicate. In all honesty she has even taught me techniques for navigating communication with my daughter.
To say we have been blessed to know her is an understatement. She is incredibly supportive, education focused and loving. She's never once made us feel like a burden, where most society does. I can only hope that my daughter experiences patience and tender care with her future educators like she has with this teacher. This type of award was made for educators like her.
When my daughter began having difficulties with directions, self control and communication; she didn't flinch. She went and received more training. A lesser teacher would have simply pushed us out of their facility. Our teacher knew my daughter needed support and she stepped up. She went to evening training and classes on the weekend to better understand my daughter.
Now, thanks to support from her teacher and at home, my daughter has some consistency and is slowly learning to communicate. In all honesty she has even taught me techniques for navigating communication with my daughter.
To say we have been blessed to know her is an understatement. She is incredibly supportive, education focused and loving. She's never once made us feel like a burden, where most society does. I can only hope that my daughter experiences patience and tender care with her future educators like she has with this teacher. This type of award was made for educators like her.
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Thanks again, to Lakeshore Learning for donating the $250 gift card that will be given to our awardee as part of the prize!!
Nominees must work at a licensed child care provider (nursery school, early learning, family or center-based child care) in Maryland, Washington DC or Virginia. Your child must have been in their class within the last two years.
Past Awardees:
2021 Award Winner: Lakisha Tibbs at Intelligent Minds Early Childhood FCC 
2020 Award Winner: Liza Pringle at Wonders Early Learning and Extended Day 
2019 Award Winner: Belinda Wilson at Young Israel Shomrai Emunah Nursery School |
2018 Award Winner: Gale Quispe at Happy Tots in Hyattsville, MD 
2017 Award Winner: Azin Tajdar at Kids and Tots in Potomac, MD |
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