23
Jan
2025

Recognizing Pennsylvania’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) Professionals for 2024

January 23, 2025

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) would like to congratulate those nominated for reaching milestones in Early Childhood Education (ECE) in 2024. Milestones reached in 2024 included 10-year, 15-year, 20-year, and 25+-year anniversaries in the ECE field, Associate/CDA, bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and retirement from the ECE field.

In December 2024, OCDEL asked for nominations to recognize these accomplishments in Pennsylvania’s early learning field and received 128 nominations prior to the deadline. Recipients received a letter of acknowledgment from OCDEL Deputy Secretary Shante’ A. Brown and were shared via social media.

Nominations for earning a master’s degrees in 2024:

  • Aaliyah HollowayKiddie Prep Academy
  • Alyssa Wertman The Learning Lamp PKC Everett
  • Amber KonopkaSpring Education Group
  • Colleen MaleskiFCCA PA Pre-K Counts
  • Courtney HowcroftHeritage Community Initiatives
  • Matthew DiazPocono Services for Families and Children

Nominations for earning a bachelor’s degrees in 2024:

  • Ariana PillierGreater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA
  • Ashlee BakerGreater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA
  • Ashley AtwellLawrence County Community Action Partnership
  • Darleta ColeLittle Rascals Early Learning Center
  • Emma IsenbergLawrence County Community Action Partnership
  • Isabelle HammondLawrence County Community Action Partnership
  • Jessica HollabaughFELS (Federation Early Learning Services)
  • Letitia BoyceThe Children’s Ark at St. George’s
  • Maggie Richardson TaiNazareth Area Academy Early Learning
  • Megan PriesGreater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA
  • Misty KellerThe Learning Lamp at APVT
  • Monica StevensThe Children’s Ark at St. George’s
  • Sabrina DavisLawrence County Community Action Partnership
  • Victoria AwotideThe Children’s Ark at St. George’s

Nominations for earning an associate's degree/CDA in 2024:

  • Adrienne FenstermakerLittle Bears Childcare & Preschool Learning
  • Albana NikollaFELS (Federation Early Learning Services)
  • Amber PistellaHeritage Community Initiatives
  • Angela WelchThe Learning Lamp at Bedford
  • Aralis MunozPocono Services for Families and Children
  • Autumn TrunzoPocono Services for Families and Children
  • Breann YamrajPocono Services for Families and Children
  • Brianna CrossFELS (Federation Early Learning Services)
  • Bridgette CooperFCCA PA Pre-K Counts
  • Carly KasabaPocono Services for Families and Children
  • Casarah RelicLawrence County Community Action Partnership
  • Casey KerverExplore and Learn Childcare Center
  • Catherine NegronPocono Services for Families and Children
  • Charissa JohnsonEndless Innovation Academy
  • Cheyenne BirminghamThe Learning Lamp
  • Christina MitchamFCCA PA Pre-K Counts
  • Danielle Marie SamannsRight from the Start Early Learning Academy
  • Dareiniz NavarroReading Daycare
  • Davida DawesPocono Services for Families and Children
  • Desiree McMillenLearning and Sharing
  • Emily ArmstrongLawrence County Community Action Partnership
  • Erika HampeThe Learning Lamp at GJCTC
  • Gabrielle HallGreater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA
  • Hannah PriceFCCA PA Pre-K Counts
  • Isabella DaduraThe Learning Lamp at Richland BAS
  • Janine ArnoldExplore and Learn Childcare Center
  • Jenifer AsitimbayGreater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA
  • Katelyn EmigFCCA PA Pre-K Counts
  • Katherine PaulsonFELS (Federation Early Learning Services)
  • Kelly LairdFCCA PA Pre-K Counts
  • Kelsey PhelpsFCCA PA Pre-K Counts
  • Lisa CameronThe Goddard School
  • Lisa RitterLawrence County Community Action Partnership
  • Madison CheslockPocono Services for Families and Children
  • Maryam RamadanPocono Services for Families and Children
  • Meagan EcclesFCCA PA Pre-K Counts
  • Michele TannerThe Goddard School
  • Myannah JonesFELS (Federation Early Learning Services)
  • Naiomie SurujballiPocono Services for Families and Children
  • Nicole JamesFELS (Federation Early Learning Services)
  • Patricia RupaniLawrence County Community Action Partnership
  • Rosairys RodriguezPocono Services for Families and Children
  • Serena YamrajPocono Services for Families and Children
  • Shelby CriderFCCA PA Pre-K Counts
  • Tiffany TyhanicThe Children’s Learning Center at Penn College
  • Tomitra FariaFuntastic Day Care LLC
  • Veronica KumburisPocono Services for Families and Children
  • Victoria MillerThe Learning Lamp
  • Yailiz GotayFuntastic Day Care LLC

Nominations reaching the 10-year milestone in 2024:

  • Amber KonopkaSpring Education Group
  • Angela CloakRiver Crossing YMCA
  • Ann KosackUNC’s Progressive Center
  • Ann O’Malley
  • Ayanna HollowayKiddie Prep Academy
  • Britney BeinsteinThe Goddard School
  • Colleen SuttonUNC’s Green Ridge Center
  • Donna Koerner
  • Kelly Nadraws
  • Kimberly MillerHeritage Community Initiatives
  • Laura DavisChester County Intermediate Unit
  • Miranda BeebeThe Goddard School
  • Rhonda HollowayKiddie Prep Academy
  • Rikki MillerAston Presbyterian Church Learning Center
  • Ryan SchriverFELS (Federation Early Learning Services)
  • Samantha DonnellyK-Prep Learning Center
  • Willa DukesHeritage Community Initiatives

Nominations reaching the 15-year milestone in 2024:

  • Kathleen KrausFairy Tale Academy
  • Laura AbelFELS (Federation Early Learning Services)
  • Lisa DelvecchioAston Presbyterian Church Learning Center
  • Michelle LightnerLittle Owls Learning Center

Nominations reaching the 20-year milestone in 2024:

  • Albana NikollaFELS (Federation Early Learning Services)
  • Joan ArnoldPhiladelphia Christian Center
  • Lisa ZimmermanRight from the start early learning academy
  • Mary Lou DzamboKids & Us Daycare
  • Nicole McLaughlinStep by Step Child Care
  • Sara RenningerThe Goddard School Wyomissing, PA
  • Sherri Houghtaling
  • Sherry PiazzaUNC’s Bellevue Center

Nominations reaching the 25+ year milestone in 2024:

  • Amy HannaNazareth Area Academy
  • Barb HearnFCCA PA Pre-K Counts
  • Chastity A. KingCurious Kids Learning Center
  • Courtney JonesHeritage Community Initiatives
  • Darleta ColeLittle Rascals Early Learning Center
  • Debbie JonesColumbia Child Development Program
  • Eduviges MillerPre-K Kids Learning Center
  • Gina BrownPhiladelphia Christian Center
  • Jackie Lapping
  • Jennifer Bingaman Columbia Child Development Program
  • Judi McinerneyPhiladelphia Christian Center
  • Kimberly ReinertWyoming Valley Montessori School
  • Linda ReichertThe Children’s Learning Center at Penn College
  • Linda TaylorThe Goddard School located in Wyomissing, PA
  • Melissa Ann MerrittHelping Hands Childcare
  • Michele TraderMount Alvernia Day Care and Learning Center
  • Michelle StevensStevens Group Child Care
  • Natalye DelegalNat’s Day Care
  • Patricia GrayStevens Group Child Care
  • Sandy ShayPocono Services for Families and Children
  • Stefanie StoudtThe Children’s Garden
  • Susan TokarskyHeritage Community Initiatives

Nominations celebrating retirement from Early Childhood Education in 2024:

  • Bonnie WilsonThe Child Care Center at Hort Woods
  • Carol Owens
  • Cynthia StubenbortCarlow University Early Learning Center
  • Debra SmolinkaThe Goddard School located in Wyomissing, PA
  • Liese ClodfelterPenn Wynne Presbyterian School
  • Lynn Evans BigaLuzerne County Head Start, Inc.
  • Marilyn PerrySchool District of Lancaster
  • Maxine EspenshadeLearning and Sharing

This listing represents only those nominated who reached the milestones during 2024 and may not include all Pennsylvania early childhood education staff who reached a milestone during 2024.

Nominations for milestones occurring during 2025 will be collected in December 2025. Subscribe to the PA Early Ed News (pakeys.org/enews/paeen) to get updates.