Spring 2008 Exceptional Caregiver Award Winners
Exceptional Caregiver Awards
Seattle - KCTS Television is pleased to announce the winners of the first round of the KCTS 9 Washington State Exceptional Caregiver Award (PDF). KCTS 9, supported by A Place of Our Own/Los Niños en Su Casa, has identified six exemplary childcare providers in our community who have gone above and beyond expectations. Caregiver recognition will allow KCTS 9 to advance early learning by honoring the practices of these caregivers and will serve as an opportunity to inspire parents, caregivers and the community at-large. A Place of Our Own, produced by KCET, is a daily television series, website, and an outreach program devoted to the unique needs of people who care for children. Nominations were submitted to KCTS 9 and judged by professionals and experts in the early childhood field including Jone Bosworth, Director of the Washington State Department of Early Learning who states:
“These caregivers provide nurturing learning environments for children and also are amazing role models for others. They truly inspire all of us to be life-long learners.”
Valencia and Pansy Claxton
Valencia and Pansy Claxton are sisters who run the Wonderland Home Daycare in Federal Way, Washington. The sisters have worked hard to build a warm, caring, loving environment. They also involve additional members of their family in the business. Valencia and Pansy strive to constantly improve their day to day curriculum and activities for the children. They have worked with Child Care Resources consistently over the past two years to enhance the quality of their family child care program. They have worked many hours on material preparation, displays, story time activities, hands –on science curriculum – always with an eye towards expansion to the next level of utilization. They were selected by Child Care Resources to be one of the sites for a Social and Emotional Development child care site for a Child Care Resources program sponsored by The Boeing Company.
Mai Thanh Dovinh
Mai Thanh Dovinh has been a child care provider in Seattle, Washington for the last 10 years. Mai and her husband James run their family child care business as a team. Mai and James have five children of their own, but still continue to pursue child care as a career because of the joys and challenges it brings. Mai came to the US from Vietnam at 14 with a motivation to succeed. Mai graduated with her AAS Degree in Early Childhood Education from North Seattle Community College in 2003 with honors. Mai has been a Washington Scholar since 2001. She has a passion to work with children and families and to provide them with the best possible learning environment. Mai has been involved with community based trainings, Early Childhood Education conferences, and acts as a mentor to other minority childcare providers. Mai’s continued motivation to achieve her educational goals and contribute to the general quality of child care is an inspiration to all.
Tamra Dschaak
Tamra Dschaak runs a family child care business in Spokane, Washington. Tamra became a licensed child care provider eleven and a half years ago and her business has grown to accommodate a combination of full day and before and after school children that keeps her business busy year round. Today, her program is truly a family-run business. Tamra’s husband Jeff helps to support the business as does their son Timothy and daughter Alyssa. With help from the Washington Scholars program, Tamra is currently working towards an Associates of Applied Science degree in early childhood education with a one year certificate in special education. Timothy is also a Washington Scholar. Tamra has participated in many family child care groups and associations, and her goal is to act as a positive mentor and role model for other family providers in her area.
Christy Hawley
Christy Hawley has been a licensed family home child care provider in Skagit County for more than fifteen years and currently resides in Burlington, Washington. Christy exhibits incredible patience with all ages of children from preschool to toddlers to school-age. Christy is one of the few in-home programs fortunate to have a covered play area, and her home is on a farm so the children in her care get the unique daily experience of being around farm animals. Christy is involved in the Early Childhood Education program at Skagit Valley College both to continue her education and to borrow resources in order to meet the ever-evolving early learning needs of the children in her care. Christy provides flexibility in meeting parent’s needs and is able to maintain an established foundation for the children to thrive and grow. Christy is a strong advocate for quality children’s programs, care and education in Washington. She maintains good relationships with the schools and local community in Skagit County.
Sharon Mischenko
Sharon Mischenko of Marysville, Washington has been providing child care for over 30 years. In 1976, she began working for a childcare center, and in 1982, Sharon received her license to open her own home family childcare. Sharon focuses on the future of childcare, taking initiative to raise the standard for the childcare field in Snohomish County. She is currently the only one out of 537 licensed family childcare providers in the county to have a Certificate of Accreditation for Family Child Care. Sharon also received her Child Development Associate in December 2007. Additionally, she is a Navy Certified Child Development Home Provider. Throughout the years, Sharon has mentored other family childcare providers, setting an example of quality childcare and the importance of professional development. Sharon encourages other providers to further their education in the field and take measures to improve the quality of care they provide. Sharon is dedicated to providing the highest standard of childcare service, and influencing the child care community.
Nora Sandoval operates Nora’s Childcare in Wenatchee, Washington. Nora and her family immigrated here from Zacateccas in central Mexico eleven years ago. Nora was motivated to earn an income at home after the birth of her first child. She entered Wenatchee Valley College starting with Adult Basic Education courses and worked her way up to college level classes. Next Nora became involved with the Washington Scholarships for Child Care Professionals program which enabled her to pursue Child Development Associates’ coursework in Spanish at Wenatchee Valley College. She is currently working towards an associates’ degree in early childhood education. Her goal is to own her own child care center or work with parents and children in the social work field. Being bilingual allows Nora to provide care to a larger population in Wenatchee which has a large Spanish speaking community. Nora has made significant changes in her business practice as a direct result of her education, and through her dedication continues to improve her child care and work towards her educational goals.
KCTS 9 would like to thank the following organizations for their support in this project.
The Department of Early Learning
Washington State Child Care Resource and Referral
Child Care Resources
Humanities Washington
Circle of Success
Puget Sound Educational Service District
Major funding for A Place of Our Own is provided by BP, First 5 California, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
A Place of Our Own is a production of KCET/Los Angeles in association with Sesame Workshop and 44 Blue Productions, Inc
KCTS 9 would like to thank and acknowledge Thrive by Five for their support of A Place of Our Own and Los Niños en Su Casa. Additional thanks to KCTS 9 community partner, Child Care Resources.
For more information on A Place of Our Own, visit www.aplaceofourown.org.
KCTS 9 is grateful for our community partners in support of early learning and caregiver recognition:
