Nominations & Awards

*Must be a current Iowa AEYC member

The Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children will grant this award to a person who has made significant contributions on a statewide level to improving the quality of care and education of young children. The person can be any professional, legislator, public figure, volunteer, policy maker, advocate, or anyone currently living or working in the state, who has demonstrated an outstanding service or achievement to benefit Iowa’s young children.

The criteria to be used in selecting the candidate for this award include:

1. Contributions in advocacy or legislation or public awareness, at the statewide level.
2. Service or achievement must impact policy and/or develop public awareness of the need to invest in quality care and education for all of Iowa’s children.
3. Nominations must include a narrative on contributions made plus three letters of support.

The Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children will grant an award to a nominee who has made a significant contribution to improving the quality of care, education and wellbeing of young children in their role as a business/collaborator.

The criteria to be used in selecting the candidate/program for this award include:

1. Contributions in early care and education program and/or volunteer efforts that make a positive difference in meeting the needs of young children and/or their families.
2. Nominations must include a narrative letter of support including contributions made, details of nominee’s experience and impact. Give examples of any volunteer and above-and-beyond efforts.
3. In addition to the nomination and narrative letter of support, you must include the contact information for two others that would support this nomination. Supporters might include:
• A person or partner familiar with day-to-day role and responsibilities of the Business/Collaborator
• A person impacted by Business/Collaborator

The Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children will grant an award to the nominee who has made a significant contribution to improving the quality of care and education of young children in their role as a teacher, teaching assistant or child development home provider, working directly with young children ages birth- age 8.

The criteria to be used in selecting the candidate for this award include:

1. Contributions in early care and education program and/or volunteer efforts that make a positive difference in meeting the needs of young children and/or their families.
2. Teaching/caregiving role must be with children within ages birth to age eight years in a regulated child care program, preschool or primary grade level school.
3. Nominations must include a narrative including contributions made, details of nominee’s experience, ages of children impacted, and effectiveness in teaching role. Give examples of volunteer and above-and-beyond efforts.
4. In addition to the nomination and narrative letter of support, you must include the contact information for two others that would support this nomination. Supporters might include:
• A supervisor or other colleague familiar with day-to-day role and responsibilities of the employee or the daily operation of the program
• An employee or coworker
• A family/guardian of a child in his/her classroom/care or in the program or community member

The Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children will grant an award to a nominee who has shown significant growth in themselves and their program, or influenced the growth in others to improve the quality of care and education of young children in their role as an early education professional, community member professional/volunteer or higher education student.

The criteria to be used in selecting the candidate for this award include:

1. Contributions in early care and education program and/or volunteer efforts that make a positive difference in meeting the needs of young children and/or their families.
2. Nominee has taken a leadership role in taking on a new initiative, supporting/mentoring or has started a chapter/state role, etc. Could be a teacher, collaborator, partner, etc.
3. Nominee activity extends beyond typical expectations associated with employment role.
4. Focus of nominee activity must be on behalf of or impact to children within ages birth to age eight years.
5. Nominations must include a narrative letter of support outlining contributions made and details of nominee’s activity as prescribed in #2. In addition to the nomination and narrative letter of support, you must include the contact information for two others that would support this nomination. Supporters might include:
• A supervisor or other colleague familiar with day-to-day teaching responsibilities
• An employee or family/guardian of a child in his/her classroom or care

The Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children will grant an award to a nominee who has made a significant contribution to expanding inclusive practices in early care and education.

The criteria to be used in selecting the candidate/program for this award include:

1. Nominations must include a narrative letter of support including high performing inclusive contributions made, details of nominee’s implementation, impact, and effectiveness in elevating inclusive and equitable practices and opportunities.
2. Contributions in early care and education program and/or volunteer efforts that make a positive difference in meeting the needs of young children and/or their families.
3. Nominee contribution must impact children between ages birth to age eight years in a regulated child care program, preschool or primary grade level school.
4. In addition to the nomination and narrative letter of support, you must include the contact information for two others that would support this nomination. Supporters might include:
• A supervisor or other colleague familiar with day-to-day role and responsibilities of the nominee or the daily operation of the program
• An employee or family/guardian of a child in their classroom/care or in the program, chapter or community

The Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children will grant an award to a nominee who has made a significant contribution to the education, development and or successful outcomes for children, families or staff within a program serving children between ages birth to age 8 years. This award may go to an individual or business that is supporting partnerships with families, or to an engaged family.

The criteria to be used in selecting the candidate for this award include:

1. Contributions in early care and education program efforts that make a positive difference in meeting the needs of a young child, children, family, or families.
2. Nominations must include a narrative letter of support including contributions made, providing examples of nominee’s activities, ages of child(ren) impacted, and how child(ren), family, families, a program and or staff have benefitted from nominee actions.
3. In addition to the nomination and narrative letter of support, you must include the contact information for at least one other person that would support this nomination. Supporters might include:
• An early childhood professional
• An unrelated family peer

The Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children will grant an annual award to a nominee who has made significant contributions on a local or program level to improving the quality of care and education of young children. The person can be any educator/program/community professional/volunteer or individual who has been an advocate to benefit Iowa’s young children.

The criteria to be used in selecting the candidate/program for this award include:

1. Someone who has supported and advocated for the work/field through being a voice shaping policy or practice at the program, local, state, or federal level.
2. Contributions in early care and education program and/or volunteer efforts that make a positive difference in meeting the needs of young children between ages birth to age eight years and/or their families.
3. Nominations must include a narrative letter of support including contributions made, details of nominee’s influence and impact at the program, local, state, or federal level.
4. In addition to the nomination and narrative letter of support, you must include the contact information for two others that would support this nomination. Supporters might include:
• A supervisor or other colleague familiar with day-to-day role and responsibilities of the employee or the daily operation of the program
• An employee or coworker
• A family/guardian of a child in their classroom/care or in the program or community member

Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis but must be received or postmarked by June 21st to be considered for the current year’s Fall Early Learning Institute.

Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis but must be postmarked by June 21st to be considered for the current year’s Fall Early Learning Institute.

Supporters might include a person or partner familiar with day-to-day role and responsibilities of the business/collaborator or a person impacted by business/collaborator.

Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis but must be received or postmarked by June 21st to be considered for the current year’s Fall Early Learning Institute.

Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis but must be postmarked by June 21st to be considered for the current year’s Fall Early Learning Institute.

Supporters might include a supervisor or other colleague familiar with day-to-day teaching responsibilities; an employee or family/guardian of a child in his/her classroom or care

Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis but must be postmarked by June 21st to be considered for the current year’s Fall Early Learning Institute.

Supporters might include a supervisor or other colleague familiar with day-to-day role and responsibilities of the nominee or the daily operation of the program; an employee or family/guardian of a child in their classroom/care or in the program, chapter or community.

Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis but must be postmarked by June 21st to be considered for the current year’s Fall Early Learning Institute.

Supporters may include an early childhood professional; an unrelated family peer

Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis but must be received or postmarked by June 21st to be considered for the current year’s Fall Early Learning Institute.

Supporters may include a supervisor or other colleague familiar with day-to-day role and responsibilities of the employee or the daily operation of the program; an employee or coworker; a family/guardian of a child in their classroom/care or in the program or community member