News

May 11, 2023

PA’s Promise For Children Recognizes Teachers, Requests Nominations for Teacher Appreciation Week

In recognition of Teacher Appreciation Week, Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children is sharing the stories of inspiring educators and encouraging families to nominate teachers for recognition.

About Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher Appreciation Week is the first full week in May. The week got its start as National Teacher Appreciation Day in 1953, when Eleanor Roosevelt asked Congress to set aside a day to recognize educators. The day gained official recognition as a March holiday in 1980, after the National Education Association (NEA) successfully lobbied Congress. In 1984, the National Parent Teacher Association expanded the designation to its current week, and moved the celebration to May.

Teacher Appreciation Week recognizes the role teachers play in children’s lives and provides time for students, parents, and caregivers to celebrate the work of educators.

Read Teacher Stories

To read about teachers who have made a significant impact on the lives of children, visit the PA’s Promise for Children website.

Nominate a Teacher for Recognition

It’s not too late to nominate teachers for recognition! To nominate a teacher, email the following to Mary at marhal@pakeys.org:

  • the teacher’s name and early learning program or school
  • a brief story about the teacher that explains their impact and what makes them special
  • a picture of your student with the teacher

Learn More

The above information on the history of Teacher Appreciation Week was compiled from USA Today, NEA, and Hallmark.

To learn more, visit the PA’s Promise for Children website.

News

May 3, 2019

Call for Nominations: 2019 PACCA Awards

PACCA is accepting nominations for the 2019 Educator of the Year and the Award of Excellence. The awards recognize contributions made by PACCA members to the early care and education profession. Members and non-members may make nominations.

About the Awards

The Educator of the Year Award

The Educator of the Year Award honors outstanding service and accomplishments in the delivery of services to children. It is given to an individual at a PACCA member agency who has contributed significantly to the direct care and education of young children. We are seeking nominations for both center-based and family child care educators. It is suggested that the person has been a teacher for at least three years.

The Award of Excellence

The Award of Excellence honors outstanding service and accomplishments in the field of administration. The award is presented to a member of PACCA who has demonstrated qualities of vision (ability to see possibilities for making things happen and communicating this vision to others), teamwork (ability to work with and support others) and leadership (willingness to reach out to benefit the child care community). It is suggested that the person has been a director, executive director, administrator, or owner for three years.

Eligibility

In order to receive an award, nominees must meet specific eligibility guidelines that vary by award. To see these guidelines, visit PACCA’s website.

Benefits

In addition to receiving the award, awardees will receive the following benefits:

  • Complimentary registration and hotel accommodations for the Early Childhood Education Summit, October 21-23, 2019 in State College
  • Honored during the official awards presentation at the 2019 Early Childhood Education Summit
  • Recognition in PACCA’s newsletter, website, and Facebook page

How to Nominate

To nominate a colleague, complete the nomination form and include a written description of why this person deserves the award. PACCA encourages testimonials from children, fellow staff, colleagues, and parents to illustrate your nominee’s exceptional work. Nomination Deadline: June 30, 2019

More Information

For more information on the awards, nominating, and eligibility, visit PACCA’s website.

*Information provided by PACCA