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Two North Escambia Teachers Receive Top Reading Awards

Two North Escambia area teachers were honored at the recent Second Annual Every Child a Reader in Escambia Apple Seeds program.

“It was a real blessing to see these childcare providers and teachers have an evening devoted specifically to them and be publicly recognized for what they do for our youngest children in regards to early learning and emergent literacy,” said ECARE Executive Director Clairen Reese.

Misty Lambeth (pictured right) of Camp Fire USA Century Learning Youth Center was honored as the second runner-up for Teacher of the Year. Carolyn Butler (pictured left) of Camp Fire USA Century Learning Youth Center was a finalist in the top 11 “Best of the Best”.

Teacher of the Year: Stephanie Collins of Montclair Elementary
First Runner Up: Michelle Smith of Wee Children’s Center / West Pensacola Baptist Church
Second Runner Up: Misty Lambeth of Camp Fire USA Century Learning Youth Center
Third Runner Up: Rachel Leavitt of Malena’s Mini School – Pine Forest
Fourth Runner Up – Corrine Vaughn of Vaughn Family Child Care Home
Finalists:
Christy Stevens of Malena’s Mini School One – Pensacola Blvd.
Tammy Smoot of Childcare Network
Carol Jones of Community Action Program Head Start Pensacola
Jennifer Huffaker of Childcare Network
Lucinda Cresap of Wee Children’s Center / West Pensacola Baptist Church
Carolyn Butler of Camp Fire USA Century Learning Youth Center

The Early Learning Coalition recognized the following individuals:
Outstanding Reading Pals tutor / volunteers Barbara Kelly, Leona Bailey, Judi Patrick and Dottie Patrick.

Parents who have gone above and beyond at their child’s early education and care programs:
Tamara Garrett, Martiza Woodfaulk, Pamela McGhee, Marion Skalicky, Stephanie Coleman, Jennifer LaBorde, Erin Dolan, Lillian Riverre, Terry and Richard Soble (foster parents) and Delores Redmond (foster grandparents).

Childcare providers who have gone above and beyond in helping a child create a more effective learning environment
Ashley Benjamin – Alice Williams Child Care
Sabrina Hunter – Alice Williams Child Care
La Margie Allen – Childcare Netowrk (Michigan Ave.)
Teresa Baker – Malean’s Mini School (Pine Forest)
Lillie Thomas – Malena’s Mini School – (Pine Forest)
Dan Mendoza – Jubilee Christian
Cynthia Cash – Malena’s Mini School (Pensacola Blvd.)
Debra Presley – Cokesbury Untied Methodist Preschool
Lasonia Hale – Childcare Netowrk (MIchigan Ave.)
Euwanna Brown – Little Whispers Preschool
Brenda Watkins – Blue Angel Early Learning
Jessica Antoine – Blessed Star
and Jennet Zaborny – Carden Christian Academy

Honorees in the early education field for:
15 years or more:
Judi Schultz – Blessed Star
Annie Mack – First Presbyterian
Pat Crosby – First Presbyterian
17 years or more:
Karen Radford – Blue Angel Early Learning
20 years or more:
Olivia Chen – Blessed Star (20 years)
Cathy Odom – Jubilee Christian (20 years)
Cynthia McPherson – Little Whispers Preschool (21 years)
Margie Anderson – First Presbyterian (22 years)
Georgia Robbins – First Presbyterian (23 years)
Dorothy Kitt – First Presbyterian (23 years)
Yolander Williams – First Presbyterian (24 years)
Merri Jo Owen – Cokesbury (25 years)
Wanda Lett – Alice Williams Day Care (29 years)
Emma Jean Brantley – First Presbyterian (32 years)

Both ECARE and ELCE also honored a wide range of community partners. Both organizations have a mission to help prepare children to enter school ready to learn.

Community Partners recognized by ECARE:
Gulf Power; Regions Bank; Downtown Rotary; International Paper; Barnes and Noble; Leadership Penacola; United Way of Escambia; Wal-Mart,;Baptist Heatlh Care; E.W. Bullock Associates; Avalex Technologies; Landrum Human Resources,;Clark, Partington, Hart, Larry, Bond, and Stackhouse; Kerrigan, Estess, Rankin, McLeod; and McDonald’s.

Community Partners recognized by ELCE:
Michael Johnson State Farm, Joe Leonard State Farm, Downtown Rotary, Kohl’s, Stanley Walker – Postmaster; Gulf Breeze Rotary; International Paper; Escambia County Landfill and Recycle; Wal-Mart Navy Boulevard; and Roxanne Baker – Escambia County School District.

ECARE partnered with The Early Learning Coalition of Escambia for this year’s ceremony at the Crowne Plaza in Pensacola. The theme was “Bee READy to Learn!” . Guest speaker was Pamela Broughton of Malena’s Mini School Pensacola Blvd., the 2009 Apple Seeds Teacher of the Year.