Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood
DIEEC Excellence in Early Childhood Awards
2025 DIEEC Excellence in Early Childhood Award Winners Announced!
We are honored to celebrate the 2025 DIEEC Excellence in Early Childhood Award winners and runners-up—educators who go above and beyond to support young children’s learning and development.
Meet the Center-Based Classroom Educator Award Winner and Runner-Up
Ashley Avelleyra
Kids Cottage
Center-Based Classroom Educator Winner
Before joining Kids Cottage, Ashley Avelleyra attended Towson University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Throughout her experience, she interned in various classroom settings, ranging from three-year-olds to second grade. However, she knew pre-kindergarten was where she belonged.
Before joining Kids Cottage, Ashley Avelleyra attended Towson University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Throughout her experience, she interned in various classroom settings, ranging from three-year-olds to second grade. However, she knew pre-kindergarten was where she belonged.
In 2019, Ashley started at Kids Cottage as a part-time summer-only assistant. Once she graduated, she returned and continued her journey as a full-time assistant in the pre-kindergarten classroom. Recently, she has been promoted to a full-time lead teacher in the pre-kindergarten classroom.
One of the things Ashley loves most about being a pre-K teacher is that she can have just as much fun as the kids! She is a child at heart and loves interacting with students on their level. Count her in on any activity, whether it’s drawing Baby Yoda or building a magnet tile house for a child’s beloved stuffed animal. Ashley loves witnessing children reach their learning milestones in all developmental areas while having fun every step of the way.
Tara Chetty graduated from Millersville University with a B.S. in Elementary Education and a concentration in early childhood, but has had a profound passion for early childhood education. In her 21 years of classroom experience, Tara has always strived to adapt her teaching to the needs and interests of her class, ensuring that every child feels valued and engaged.
Tara Chetty graduated from Millersville University with a B.S. in Elementary Education and a concentration in early childhood, but has had a profound passion for early childhood education. In her 21 years of classroom experience, Tara has always strived to adapt her teaching to the needs and interests of her class, ensuring that every child feels valued and engaged.
As an active member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children (DEAEYC), Tara continuously looks for opportunities to refine her skills. By attending the NAEYC Annual Conference twice, she fulfilled a longstanding professional goal for herself, providing invaluable knowledge, insights, and strategies to implement in her classrooms. She’s inspired to be part of a community that advocates for the importance of early childhood education and recognizes its vital role in laying the foundation for lifelong learning.
Meet the Family Child Care Educator Award Winner and Runner-Up
Stacy Morgan
Little Bit of Sunshine Nature Learning Academy
Family Child Care Educator Winner
Stacy Morgan is the founder of the Little Bit of Sunshine Nature Learning Academy, which she established in 1995 after leaving a career in banking. She’s passionate about creating a nurturing, nature-based, and play-based learning environment. Stacy has spent over 30 years developing a space that supports the five key areas of child development and nurtures strong relationships with the children and their families.
Stacy Morgan is the founder of the Little Bit of Sunshine Nature Learning Academy, which she established in 1995 after leaving a career in banking. She’s passionate about creating a nurturing, nature-based, and play-based learning environment. Stacy has spent over 30 years developing a space that supports the five key areas of child development and nurtures strong relationships with the children and their families.
Being part of the Let’s Go Outside initiative in 2022 has played a massive role in her efforts to create an outdoor learning environment for the children enrolled in her program. She has continued her professional development through DIEEC’s professional learning experiences, attended online webinars, and participated in the 2025 In Bloom conference.
In 2023, she earned her Family Child Care CDA; in 2024, she earned her accreditation in The Hygge in the Early Years. Her future goals include achieving The Curiosity Approach Accreditation, working towards a nature-certified program, and mentoring other early childhood educators.
Originally from New Jersey and now rooted in Delaware, Shakira Waples has dedicated over a decade to the field of early child care. She’s the proud owner of Next Generation Childcare, a licensed in-home program in New Castle, Delaware. She designed Next Generation Childcare as a nurturing space that combines comfort, home-based care with the structure and quality of a center-based setting, ensuring love, learning, and high standards come together every day.
Originally from New Jersey and now rooted in Delaware, Shakira Waples has dedicated over a decade to the field of early child care. She’s the proud owner of Next Generation Childcare, a licensed in-home program in New Castle, Delaware. She designed Next Generation Childcare as a nurturing space that combines comfort, home-based care with the structure and quality of a center-based setting, ensuring love, learning, and high standards come together every day.
Shakira earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Delaware State University, where she first became interested in child development and mental well-being. Over the years, sheworked with young children in multiple settings, including St. Michael’s School and Nursery and Head Start of New Castle County, where she served for four years before launching her own program.
In addition to her work with children, Shakira is deeply involved in advocacy and leadership, using her voice to make a meaningful impact in her community. She proudly serves on the DIEEC Early Childhood Educator Leadership Board and is an active member of the Delaware Black Chambers of Commerce..
Looking ahead, Shakira plans to expand her business by transitioning from an in-home daycare to a full-scale early childhood education center. She will continue her mission of providing quality, culturally responsive care and education to even more families in her community.
Madison Hogsten is a passionate and dedicated early childhood educator who focuses on fostering growth and development in young learners. With a background in both general and special education, she brings a comprehensive approach to early childhood education. She holds a certification in Special Education, which allows her to support diverse learners and create inclusive, nurturing environments where all children thrive.
Currently, Madison is working with the Indian River School District in Delaware. From fall 2024 to spring 2025, she will utilize Teaching Strategies GOLD (TSG) to track and support pre-K students’ literacy, math, language, physical, and social-emotional growth. Through detailed data analysis, she creates individualized learning experiences to maximize student potential and ensure they meet key developmental milestones.
Madison’s experience extends across various roles in the early childhood field, where she has worked closely with families, educators, and specialists to create tailored educational plans. She is committed to ongoing professional development, continuously refining her skills to support the social, emotional, and academic needs of young children.
DIEEC Excellence in Early Childhood Awards Information
A Fresh Look and an Exciting New Award
Celebrating Excellence, Honoring Dedication
A fresh look and an exciting new award!
The DIEEC Educator of the Year Awards are back with a new name and an exciting new addition! This year, we’re honoring outstanding early childhood professionals in three categories:
Center-Based Classroom Educator – Honors an outstanding classroom educator working in a licensed early childhood center.
Family Child Care Educator – Recognizes a dedicated educator operating a licensed family child care program.
Early Career Educator – Celebrates an emerging professional making a meaningful impact early in their career.
The DIEEC Excellence in Early Childhood Awards acknowledge and honor exceptional Delaware professionals who exemplify the highest standards in early care and education. Our mission is to elevate the importance of the early childhood education profession in the public eye by celebrating those who go above and beyond to support young children’s learning and development. View the DIEEC Excellence in Early Childhood Awards Guide for full details of the award process.
Nominations for the DIEEC Excellence in Early Childhood Awards are now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination.
Eligibility Criteria
ALL nominees must be educators of children ages birth through pre-kindergarten in a program with a current OCCL license in the state of Delaware.
Center-Based and Family Child Care Educators Must:
Be an educator of children between the ages of birth through pre-kindergarten.
AND
Be either:
A full-time lead or assistant classroom educator/family child care educator (minimum of 30 hours worked per week) employed for a minimum of 18 months in one child care facility/program that operates full day.
OR
A lead or assistant classroom educator/family child care educator (minimum of 15 hours worked per week) employed for a minimum of 18 months in one child care facility/program that operates part-day.
Be an educator of children between the ages of birth through pre-kindergarten.
Be currently employed in a family, large family, center-based program, or school-based early childhood program that fully complies with OCCL regulations.
AND
Have been a paid early childhood intern, assistant teacher, or lead teacher for no more than two years and work 30 hours per week in a program that operates full-day OR at least 15 hours per week in a program that operates part-day.
2025 DIEEC Excellence in Early Childhood Awards Panelists
Patti Lynch, Independent Consultant, Early Care and Education Profession
Patti Lynch boasts over thirty-five years of active involvement in early childhood education, serving in roles such as classroom teacher, curriculum coordinator, coach, mentor, professional development facilitator, and technical assistant.
Patti Lynch boasts over thirty-five years of active involvement in early childhood education, serving in roles such as classroom teacher, curriculum coordinator, coach, mentor, professional development facilitator, and technical assistant. Passionate about empowering the early childhood community, Patti is a Child Development Associate (CDA) Professional Development Specialist (PDS), serving Infant, Toddler, and Preschool professionals as they proceed through their verification processes to earn their CDA Credential. Additionally, she serves the Wilmington Early Care and Education Council (WECEC) Professional Development Resource Center (PDRC), as a volunteer and professional development committee member, striving to unite resources and community.
Lisa Miller, Director of Healthy Communities, Special Olympics
Lisa serves as the Director of Healthy Communities for Special Olympics. In this role, she oversees three key programs: Young Athletes, Healthy Athletes, and Athlete Leadership. The Young Athletes Program engages children aged 2-7, providing local schools and programs with activities designed to enhance gross motor skills and introduce families to Special Olympics.
Lisa Miller serves as the Director of Healthy Communities for Special Olympics. In this role, she oversees three key programs: Young Athletes, Healthy Athletes, and Athlete Leadership. The Young Athletes Program engages children aged 2-7, providing local schools and programs with activities designed to enhance gross motor skills and introduce families to Special Olympics. Through the Healthy Athletes Program, Lisa facilitates vital medical screenings for athletes, including eye and dental exams. Finally, she champions the Athlete Leadership Program, empowering athletes to speak at conferences and local events, and to take on significant leadership roles, such as serving on Special Olympics Delaware’s Board of Directors.
Lynn Worden, Associate Professor, University of Delaware
Lynn Worden is an Associate Professor at UD in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, having been a faculty member since 2002 and serving as the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program coordinator for 20 years.
Lynn Worden is an Associate Professor at UD in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, having been a faculty member since 2002 and serving as the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program coordinator for 20 years. She specializes in teaching courses related to infants and toddlers, parents and families, and supporting the professional development of ECE majors. Before joining UD, Lynn accumulated extensive experience in various settings, providing support to children ranging from infants to school-age and their families.
Jill Kortright Wood is a Program Quality Assessment Supervisor for Keystone STARS, Pennsylvania’s ECE quality system. Initially engaged through networking discussions on statewide quality initiatives, Jill now leads her team in the Delaware Valley and oversees Pennsylvania’s implementation of the Environment Rating Scales.
Jill Kortright Wood is a Program Quality Assessment Supervisor for Keystone STARS, Pennsylvania’s ECE quality system. Initially engaged through networking discussions on statewide quality initiatives, Jill now leads her team in the Delaware Valley and oversees Pennsylvania’s implementation of the Environment Rating Scales. Recently, she dedicated significant time to supporting researchers at the University of South Carolina in studying equity in early learning environments. Prior to her current role, Jill provided coaching and professional development support to early educators and services for children and families at a Philadelphia-based nonprofit before joining the Pennsylvania Key in 2007.
Diane Frentzel, Program Manager, Delaware Readiness
Diane serves as the Program Manager of Delaware Readiness teams, facilitating collaboration among families, educators, schools, and communities to prepare children ages birth to 8 for success in school and beyond. With extensive experience, including tenure as a child care director at Bright Horizons, Diane brings leadership to statewide initiatives.
Diane serves as the Program Manager of Delaware Readiness teams, facilitating collaboration among families, educators, schools, and communities to prepare children ages birth to 8 for success in school and beyond. With extensive experience, including tenure as a child care director at Bright Horizons, Diane brings leadership to statewide initiatives. Since 2016, she has overseen the Making a Difference Conference, which is dedicated to enhancing early childhood professionals’ skills and knowledge. Diane holds a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Development and Education from the University of Delaware.
With over 15 years of experience, Mary Waters provides exceptional early learning at Ms. Mary’s Nature Preschool in Hartly. Mary has merged her passion for early childhood education and her love of nature to create a unique home-based preschool where children thrive as learners as they connect with nature.
With over 15 years of experience, Mary Waters provides exceptional early learning at Ms. Mary’s Nature Preschool in Hartly. Mary has merged her passion for early childhood education and her love of nature to create a unique home-based preschool where children thrive as learners as they connect with nature. Her unique outdoor classroom, nestled in woodland, offers children ample opportunities for nature exploration in a peaceful learning environment. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Wilmington University and Early Childhood Administrator Certification from Delaware’s Department of Education. Mary lives in Hartly with her husband and children.
Meghan Eudy is employed at the Delaware Technical and Community College (DTCC) Child Development Center in Georgetown. Her tenure with DTCC began in 2009 while she was pursuing her degree in Early Childhood Education.
Meghan Eudy is employed at the Delaware Technical and Community College (DTCC) Child Development Center in Georgetown. Her tenure with DTCC began in 2009 while she was pursuing her degree in Early Childhood Education. Throughout her college journey and practical hours at DTCC, Meghan’s passion for the field deepened. As an Early Childhood Educator, she is dedicated to nurturing children’s growth and fostering their skills through play-based methods and the resources available both within her center and across the state.
With over 15 years of experience, Mary Waters provides exceptional early learning at Ms. Mary’s Nature Preschool in Hartly. Mary has merged her passion for early childhood education and her love of nature to create a unique home-based preschool where children thrive as learners as they connect with nature.
With over 15 years of experience, Mary Waters provides exceptional early learning at Ms. Mary’s Nature Preschool in Hartly. Mary has merged her passion for early childhood education and her love of nature to create a unique home-based preschool where children thrive as learners as they connect with nature. Her unique outdoor classroom, nestled in woodland, offers children ample opportunities for nature exploration in a peaceful learning environment.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Wilmington University and Early Childhood Administrator Certification from Delaware’s Department of Education. Mary lives in Hartly with her husband and children.
Meghan Eudy is employed at the Delaware Technical and Community College (DTCC) Child Development Center in Georgetown. Her tenure with DTCC began in 2009 while she was pursuing her degree in Early Childhood Education.
Meghan Eudy is employed at the Delaware Technical and Community College (DTCC) Child Development Center in Georgetown. Her tenure with DTCC began in 2009 while she was pursuing her degree in Early Childhood Education.
Throughout her college journey and practical hours at DTCC, Meghan’s passion for the field deepened. As an Early Childhood Educator, she is dedicated to nurturing children’s growth and fostering their skills through play-based methods and the resources available both within her center and across the state.
Stacy Morgan is the founder of the Little Bit of Sunshine Nature Learning Academy, which she established in 1995 after leaving a career in banking. With a passion for creating a nurturing, nature-based learning environment, Stacy has spent over 29 years fostering a space that supports the physical, emotional, and educational growth of children.
Stacy Morgan is the founder of the Little Bit of Sunshine Nature Learning Academy, which she established in 1995 after leaving a career in banking. With a passion for creating a nurturing, nature-based learning environment, Stacy has spent over 29 years fostering a space that supports the physical, emotional, and educational growth of children.
Stacy’s achievements include being a Let’s Go Outside 2022 participant, and having her academy featured in the Voices From the Field section of DIEEC’s REACH newsletter. She continues her professional development through DIEEC’s professional learning experiences and attending online webinars with We Skoolhouse, Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds, Take Me Outside, and Kristen RB Peterson. Stacy earned her Family Child Care CDA in June 2023 and is working on her Hygge in The Early Years accreditation.
Caitlin Gibbons is an early childhood educator with eight years of experience in preschool education, including two years at the Odessa High School Pre-K Lab. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Delaware, Caitlin is dedicated to nurturing young minds and fostering a love for learning.
Caitlin Gibbons is an early childhood educator with eight years of experience in preschool education, including two years at the Odessa High School Pre-K Lab. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Delaware, Caitlin is dedicated to nurturing young minds and fostering a love for learning.
Beyond the classroom, she collaborates with high schoolers in the pathway program, bridging the gap between early childhood and secondary education. Through her passion for creating inclusive and engaging learning environments, Caitlin remains committed to shaping the educational journeys of both young children and teenagers, leaving a profound impact on their learning experiences.
