MnAEYC Award Winners

2009 Award Recepients

Ann Kaner-Roth: MnAEYC Distinguished Service Award
Ann Kaner-Roth is the Associate Director of the Jewish Community Foundation of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation. She is the former Executive Director of Child Care WORKS and Public Policy Chair of MnAEYC, founding Board member of Ready 4K, and 2006-7 Humphrey Institute Policy Fellow. Ann’s work on public policy has made a significant impact in improving the quality, affordability, and accessibility of child care in the state of Minnesota. Her ability to collaborate with parents, providers, and legislators has made a positive impact on areas such as the child care assistance program, tiered reimbursement, and other quality professional development initiatives. MNAEYC is pleased to name Ann Kaner-Roth as the 2009 MNAEYC Distinguished Service Award Recipient.

Jill Kremer: MnAEYC District Service Award
Jill Kremer is from Alexandria, Minnesota. She began her career in the field of early childhood in 1994, teaching children with special needs. After having 3 children of her own and taking some time off, she returned to the field as a school readiness and ECFE teacher in Alexandria. She is currently the President for the Lakes Region AEYC affiliate of MnAEYC. Jill is also on the childcare grant review committee through Lakes and Prairies CCR+R and on the Child Development Advisory Board for Alexandria Technical College. MnAEYC is pleased to name Jill Kremer as the 2009 District Service Award Recipient.

Rica Van: Kate Tanner Award
Rica Van is a teacher and director at the Jean Lyle Children’s Center in Saint Paul. Originally Macalester College’s Lab School, it was moved from the campus and became an independent non-profit Early Childhood Education Center in 1979, when Rica became the director. As the center celebrates their 30 year anniversary this year, the parent committee will honor Rica Van as MnAEYC’s Kate Tanner Award Recipient at the center during the Week of the Young Child in April as is tradition with this award. MnAEYC congratulates Rica Van as the 2009 Kate Tanner Award Recipient.

Dr. Betty Cooke: MnAEYC Evelyn House Award
Betty Cooke provided leadership for professional development efforts to improve the quality of early childhood care and education through her teaching and research at the University of Minnesota during the 1980’s. From 1985 to 2005, Betty provided leadership at the Minnesota Department of Education. From 2005-2008, Betty has continued to provide leadership in parent and family education at the University of Minnesota. Betty has made significant contributions to the MnAEYC organization. She served on the Board of Directors in 1997-1998, helped with the transitions during an Executive Director change, and supported the involvement and co-sponsorship of the MnAEYC and the Minnesota Early Childhood Teacher Educators in the development, implementation, and dissemination of the Minnesota Early Childhood Indicators of Progress! Betty was involved from the inception on the Professional Development Institute and later the Professional Development Council which was sponsored by MnAEYC and gave key contributions to the development of the Minnesota Core Competencies for Early Childhood Practitioners who work with children birth through age eight and their families. MnAEYC congratulates Dr. Betty Cooke as the 2009 MnAEYC Evelyn House Award Recipient.

Nomination Forms:
Evelyn House Award | Kate Davidson Tanner Award | Regional/District Service Award | Distinguished Service Award

Evelyn House Awardees

Kate Davidison Tanner Awardees

MnAEYC Award Winners through the Years

Regional/District Service Awards

2009
Northwest - Jill Kremer

2007
Metro - Katie Sewell
Southern - Fairmont Early Childhood Family Education
Midwest - Kathleen Ofstedal
Northwest - Sarah Berg Olson
Northeast - Diane Langlee

2006
Metro - Heidi Malloy, Instructor - Metro State University, St. Paul
Southern - Sarah Van Niewaal, Program Officer - First Steps/Rochester Area Foundation
Midwest - Cindy Hickok, Caring and Sharing Association
Northwest - Gayle Nelson
Northeast - Becky Gamache, DAEYC

2005
Region 1: PICA Head Start, Minneapolis
Region 2W: Southern MN Valley Association for Early Childhood
Region 2E: Southern MN Initiative Fund, Owatonna
Region 3: Linda Wilson
Region 4: Tamie Finn
Region 5: Pat Jaekel

2004
Region 1: Barb Murphy
Region 2E: Kate Zabertini
Region 3: Joan Thompson
Region 5: Bernie & Julie Walker

2003
Region 1: Lasting Impressions Child Care, St. Paul & St. John's Child Care & Nursery, Minneapolis
Region 2W: Dr. Francene Evans
Region 2E: Judy Lindman
Region 3: Rondi Wussow
Region 4: Leah Pigatti
Region 5: Dorothy Wolden

2002
Region 1: Marilyn Wolkerstorfer, Anoka-Hennepin School Readiness Program
Region 2W: Gail Goltz, CCR&R, Marshall
Region 3: Pam Walz, Bright Beginnings, Cold Springs
Region 4: Cherry Brouwer, Instructor - Bemidji State University
Region 5: Duluth YWCA

2001
Region 2W: Linda Jagielo

1999
Region 5: Nancy Thomas, Teacher - Duluth/DAEYC

1995
Region 2E: Judy Lindman, Instructor - Riverland Technical College, Rochester
Region 3: West Central MN Child Care Center Directors Association
Region 5: Sharon Soderberg, YWCA Preschool and Toddler Center, Duluth

1994
Region 1: Ardis Kysar, St. David's School, Minnetonka
Region 2E: Joan Gravett, Civic League Day Nursery, Rochester
Region 3: Sarla Agarwal, Country Day Nursery School, Morris
Region 5: Vicki Vavra, Happy Time Day Care, Duluth

1993
Region 1: Linda Reusch, North Como Preschool, St. Paul
Region 2W: Abby Draper, ECFE, Mankato
Region 5: Maureen Litman, Instructor - Duluth Technical College/U of M, Duluth

1992
Region 1: Kris Berry, Wilder Child Development, St. Paul
Region 2W: LaVonne O'Brien, Child Care Center, Mapleton
Region 5: Bobbi Hoyt, Instructor - Duluth Secondary Vocational School

1991
Region 1: Payne Phalen Family Center, St. Paul
Region 2E: Shawna Kishel
Region 2W: Geri Felstul
Region 5: Diane Langlee

1990
Region 1: Ardis Kysar, St. David's School, Minnetonka
Region 2E: Children's House
Region 3: Marcia Elg
Region 5: C. Diane Schusta

1989
Region 1/Metro: Roz Anderson, Adventure Club, Robbinsdale
Region 2E: Eliane Schmidt, Director - Children Home Society Nursery School & Daycare, Rochester
Region 2W: Alice DeMeglio, Kindergarten Teacher, Minnesota Lake/Mankato
Region 3: Karen Koenen, Koenen's County Preschool, Miltona
Region 4: Mary Ann Hodge, Director - Discovery Place, Penningont Co./Theif River Falls
Region 5: Rita Lefevre, YWCA Child Care Center, Duluth

1988
North: Delores Anderson, Director - Happy Time Day Care Center, Duluth
Central: Young People's Place, Alexandria
South: Rachel Seeback (posthumous), ECFA, Mankato

Distinguished Service Award

2009: Ann Kaner-Roth
2007: Congregations Concerned for Children
2006: Jean Taylor, Taylor Corp.
2005: Calvin Rice & Jason Daniel, Lakeshore Learning
2004: Bob Bullard, FR Bigelow Foundation & Arthur Rolnick, Federal Reserve
2003: Minh Ta, Children's Defense Fund
2002: Rep. Mary Jo McGuire
2001: Bush & McKnight Foundations

1992: McKnight Foundation
1991: Sen. Linda Berglin
1990: Glen Taylor, Taylor Corp.
1989: Sen. Allen Spear
1988: The Bush Foundation
1987: Sen. Jerome Hughes