CCS Early Learning Executive Director receives Bert Hall Award

CCS Early Learning Executive Director Mark Lackey received the 2023 Bert Hall Award from the Mat-Su Health Foundation during the Annual Membership Meeting Monday, June 12.

The Bert Hall Award, also known as a "Bertie" is an annual recognition presented to an individual or organization that consistently exemplifies commitment to working at the systems level to improve the health and wellness of Mat-Su Valley residents.

"It's an amazing honor, especially When you look at what the award is given for and when you look at the people on the list who received it before me," Lackey said during a follow-up interview.

Lackey has led CCS as the Executive Director since 2005 and he's been with the organization for 24 years. He was chosen for this year's Bert Hall Award for playing a pivotal role in developing a team of highly skilled and trauma-informed staff, expanding services, and advocating for sustainable funding. He credited his dedicated teammates for putting CCS in such a positive light.

"I wouldn't have been able to receive this ward without the staff here at CCS. It's incredible. People don't work in childcare for the money. They do this work because their hearts are big," Lackey said. "That's why I've been with this job so long- because it aligns with my personal values and my personal beliefs."

Lackey has received numerous accolades over the years such as the Alaska Journal of Commerce Top Forty Under 40 recipient in 2012 and Alaska Head Start Association Head Start Director of the Year recipient in 2017.

“Mark is an educator, a relationship builder, and a passionate advocate for children, and infuses these perspectives into every exchange for the betterment of Mat-Su’s children and families,” Mat-Su Health Foundation President and CEO Elizabeth Ripley stated in a recent press release. “Mark invests in the intentionality required to transform systems and his innovative, collaborative, and relational approach is often a critical facet to achieving success.”

Lackey helped establish the Early Childhood Partnership of Mat-Su in 2009 and served as its founding chair. He also helped establish the R.O.C.K. Mat-Su (Raising Our Children with Kindness) collective in 2014 and serves as the current chair.

Lackey serves on several committees, including the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development's Early Childhood Advisory Committee and the National Head Start Board of Directors, where he offers leadership to enhance the early childhood experience on the state and national level.

He also helped establish the Mat-Su Valley's first community baby shower, a trend that's caught on among other communities across the state.

“Mark relentlessly amplifies his voice as an advocate to better the lives of children and families in the Mat-Su,” Ripley stated in the press release. “He testified successfully to restore $6.8 million vetoed by the governor in the FY20 Alaska state budget. These dollars comprised the 20% match required for the federal match (the majority of funding for Head Start). This year, he successfully advocated to get an additional $5 million for Head Start in the State operating budget so Alaska could draw down the full federal match funding. Alaska was leaving considerable dollars on the table. This new funding will serve Head Start programs across the state.”

Previous Bert Hall Award recipients include John Weaver (2022), the Mat-Su Borough School District Health Advisory Team (2021), Kimberly Schlosser (2020), Lt. Tom Dunn (2019), Rachel Greenberg (2018), Bill Hogan (2017), Herman Thompson (2016), Margaret Volz (2015), Craig Thorn (2014) and Bert Hall himself (2013).

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com