Ruth I. Eickman Outstanding Early Childhood Educator Award

About the Award: This award recognizes an early childhood educator who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to young children and child centered learning, has been involved with the families of these young children, has shown an appreciation of children's and families' uniqueness, uses developmentally appropriate practices when working with young children and has demonstrated the use of innovative practices in the field of early childhood.

Awarded Amount: $750

Nominated By: Patti Pagel, Coworker

Nomination: 

Based on the criteria, please provide an essay as to why you feel this person should be considered for the Ruth Eickman Outstanding Early Childhood Educator Award. "Children are like wet cement: whatever falls on them makes an impression." This quote accurately describes Wendy. She came back to LPS after retiring because of her love of what she does. She makes such an impact on the children and families that she works with not to mention how she effects the staff.

Wendy embraces each student with a positive outlook and is able to share that information with staff so that they understand how best to accommodate the student. She has given staff information on different ways to work with students, how to use tools to gain more information about the students needs, and how to share that information with the families.

Wendy has opened the arena of what is possible for the visually impaired to the staff in early childhood. She has offered trainings, created google docs, demonstrated how things work and is always willing to take time to explain things. I feel that in the past while we have always been supported, the teacher of the visually impaired has not taken the time to explain the hows or the whys of the visual world. Wendy gives her full attention to whatever questions are asked. If she does not know she will find the answer or help you to find the answer. Wendy invests her full attention to staff who have questions. She will schedule a co-visit when there are any concerns or questions.

It is an honor and a privilege to work with Wendy. The fact that I also get to sit next to her and hear how she reaches the students that she serves only makes it better! Wendy truly embodies the idea of making an impression on our students at LPS