Awards spotlight youth education

WASILLA — This week is recognized as the Week of the Young Child, and if you didn’t know that already, the Early Childhood Partnership of Mat-Su did.

“This is a week that we’re really aiming at to shine a spotlight on young children,” said Mark Lackey, with CCS Early Learning as he presented the organization’s first group of Golden Apple Awards Tuesday at the Glacier Canyon Grill in the Grandview Hotel.

Lackey shared a few statistics about pre-school and daycare providers. He said pre-school has been shown to lower a community’s rates of teen pregnancy and welfare dependency. It’s an industry with a lot of workers, but those workers generally earn below-average wages.

“That’s an industry problem. It really is,” he said.

The first award handed out was to Katie Conover, who received the Champion of Young Children Award.

Honoring a local business that serves children — the Kids Welcome Here Award — saw Bouncin’ Bears up against Dr. Cecilia Howell-Canada, a pediatrician.

The partnership chose to honor both businesses with the award. Howell-Canada later joked that she was glad not to have had to compete with Bouncin’ Bears.

Competition was stiffer for the Child at Heart Award, which targeted teachers of pre-school age children. The award went to Finger Lake Elementary’s Sharon Zagyva, though she had to beat out teachers at CCS Early Learning, Little Tykes, Granny’s Place, Carefree Kids, My Favorite Preschool, P.L.A.Y. Child Care and Illuminations Child Care.

Zagyva teaches special-needs pre-schoolers, which is no doubt a challenge.

“No matter what, she works to see the best child inside,” Lackey said.

“I absolutely love what I do,” Zagyva said. “I feel honored to have the opportunity to touch the lives that I touch.”

For children younger than Zagyva’s, the Best for Babies Award went to Janice Balcom with Ray’s Child Care and Learning Center. Lackey said that in her work, Balcom embraces children and their parents.

“I think I’ve been rendered speechless for the first time in my life,” she said. “I’d like to thank God for giving me the brain of a small child.”

The partnership also awarded a Family Friendly Workplace Award to Double Eagle Real Estate. That company, Lackey said, has a dedicated office for kids, decorated by kids with toys, and a school desk for children who come to work with their parents.

For best overall childcare provider, the Peak Performer Award went to Little Tykes. Lackey singled out Little Tykes for “creative lessons and a nurturing environment.”

In accepting the award, Tammy Jameson summed up why what she does for a living is so important.

“We’re working with our future,” she said.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.