Shakira Waples – Runner-Up, 2025 DIEEC Excellence in Early Childhood Awards (Family Child Care Educator Category)

The Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood (DIEEC) is pleased to recognize Shakira Waples, of Next Generation Childcare, as the runner-up for the 2025 Excellence in Early Childhood Awards in the family child care educator category. With 15 years of experience in the early childhood field, Shakira’s path to becoming a family child care educator allowed her … Read more

The Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood (DIEEC) is thrilled to recognize Stacy Morgan, of Little Bit of Sunshine Learning Academy, as the winner of the 2025 Excellence in Early Childhood Awards in the family child care educator category. Stacy’s journey into early childhood education began with a background in babysitting and church nursery care. She then … Read more

The Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood (DIEEC) is proud to recognize Tara Chetty, a dedicated educator at St. David’s Episcopal Day School in Wilmington, as the runner-up for the 2025 Excellence in Early Childhood Awards in the center-based educator category. With 21 years of experience in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) field, Tara brings a wealth of … Read more

The Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood (DIEEC) is honored to celebrate Ashley Avelleyra, a dedicated educator at Kids Cottage, as the winner of the 2025 Excellence in Early Childhood Awards in the center-based educator category. With 10 years of experience in the early childhood field, Ashley’s journey into early childhood education was affirmed during her time … Read more

Sharon McPhatter’s journey in early childhood education is one that exemplifies dedication and growth.  Sharon initially started a small program in response to her own children’s needs, but what began as a solution for her family blossomed into a lifelong career. “I ended up adoring it,” Sharon recalls. Over 25 years, she’s transformed her passion … Read more

In the world of early childhood education, staffing challenges are nothing new, but at A. S. Academy of Learning 2, leadership is addressing recruitment and retention head-on. Owner Shannon Moody brings a deep understanding of the importance of supporting staff to create a thriving program. This year, she’s using the Quality Improvement process to develop her … Read more

Seventeen years ago, when Jessica Arce’s daughter was in preschool at the Latin American Community Center in Wilmington, Jessica was a regular volunteer. That volunteering role turned into a paid job at the community center, and she later worked at a local Montessori preschool as well. When a medical issue in her family led her … Read more

Ask family child care (FCC) educator Tredena Trott if she has any advice for FCC colleagues who are thinking about attending DIEEC’s 1st State Family Child Care Conference this year, and her response is simple: “GO!” Being the only adult in your workplace can be challenging. The conference is an opportunity to meet and connect … Read more

Meghan Eudy is the 2024 DIEEC Early Childhood Educator of the Year award in the center-based program category! Meghan has been in the field for 14 years, all of them with the Delaware Technical and Community College Child Development Center (Owens Campus) in Georgetown. In this Provider Spotlight, we share Meghan’s reflections on her role, … Read more