Congratulations to the 2022 thread Awards recipients!
thread recognized the recipients in a ceremony on May 6 —Provider Appreciation Day. Watch the recording on thread’s Facebook page.
Cindy Harrington Heart & Mind Award – Jan Marquis
After receiving more than 20 heartwarming nominations from across Alaska, the thread Awards committee selected Jan Marquis for the 2022 Cindy Harrington Heart & Mind Award.
Inspired by her own two children, Jan founded Adventures In Learning in 2012 in Kenai. Jan values the importance of early childhood education and believes all children should have access to high quality, low-cost early education.
Learn more about Jan and the Cindy Harrington Heart & Mind Award here.
Quality Improvement Program of the Year – Hillcrest Children’s Center & Kyrie N’ Friends
The 2022 Child Care Center Quality Improvement Program of the Year is Hillcrest Children’s Center in Anchorage. Hillcrest Children’s Center started as a kindergarten program in 1967 and evolved to meet the needs of families to provide full-day, year-round services for children from birth through school age. Executive Director Christina Eubanks has strived over the past year to create an inclusive environment, including a playground remodel with inclusive play top of mind. Read about Hillcrest here.
The 2022 Family Child Care Quality Improvement Program of the Year is Kyrie N’ Friends in Soldotna. Owner Laurie Mead has been involved in the field of early childhood education for the better part of 40 years. Laurie is actively participating in Learn & Grow, and is working toward her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development and Family Studies. Read about Kyrie N’ Friends here.
About thread Awards
thread’s awards program is now in its eighth year of celebrating excellence in the field of early childhood education in Alaska. The Cindy Harrington Heart & Mind Award recognizes an individual who embodies the passion and professionalism of one of the founding mothers of early childhood education in Alaska. The Quality Improvement Program of the Year distinguishes one family child care program and one center which demonstrate dedication to quality improvement and make significant progress in Learn & Grow, Alaska’s Quality Recognition and Improvement System for early childhood education.