2023 NAFCC AWARD HONOREES

The Accredited Educator of the Year Award/h3>

Dr. Erma Jackson and Sheryl Hutzenbiler
The Accredited Educator of the Year Award pays tribute to an FCC educator who demonstrates excellence in the field of Family Care. This recognition intentionally shines a light on educators whose program foundation is rooted in providing evidence-based high-quality accreditation standards to children and their families. These individuals show tremendous dedication to upholding the accreditation principles of NAFCC quality standards while working collaboratively and cooperatively with the early care and education community to move the field of Family Child Care forward. This provider has shown outstanding leadership and integrity to the field while actively and confidently serving as a model of excellence and champion for children.

This year, this prestigious award goes to not one but two deserving educators. We are proud to recognize both Erma Jackson and Sheryl Hutzenbiler for their leadership, commitment to quality, and service to the families and children of their communities.

Observer of the Year Award

Sonya Barnes-Odum
Each year, NAFCC recognizes high-performing Observers for their commitment to conduct effective observations in a professional, consistent, and timely manner. We appreciate their unwavering support for the field of Family Child Care. As an Observer of the Year Honoree, they’ve shown tremendous dedication to the Observation process and a willingness to go the extra mile to support FCC providers in achieving their accreditation status, while also serving as a NAFCC Ambassador. We presented Ms. Sonya Odum-Barnes with the Observer of the Year Award for her commitment to educators and her service as an NAFCC Observer. As an Observer of the Year Honoree, Ms. Barnes has shown tremendous dedication to the Observation process and a willingness to go the extra mile to support FCC providers in achieving their accreditation status while serving as a NAFCC Ambassador.

Friend of Family Child Care Award

Linda Davis

The Ruby Brunson Community Advocate Award was created by the NAFCC Board of Directors
to recognize an individual family child care provider who has shown dedication and
commitment to advocate on behalf of family child care. The award was named in Ruby
Brunson’s honor to recognize her remarkable leadership in Oakland, California. She dedicated
her life to the professional development of providers, and her advocacy efforts lifted family
child care as a viable and valuable child care option for young children and their families.
Awardees demonstrate a commitment to NAFCC’s mission to promote the power of family
child care through advocacy at the local, state, or federal level. Awardees can be seasoned
advocates or emerging leaders.

Maria Otto Leadership Award

Erica Ward
Maria Otto was an incorporating officer and the first Vice President of NAFCC. She was well
respected and loved by the provider community. Maria demonstrated leadership advocating for
the profession and leading as a trainer and mentor to family child providers. NAFCC
commemorates her memory each year by identifying a former board member to recognize with
an award in her name. Awardees demonstrated commitment to NAFCC’s mission during their
board service and continue to do so in their efforts as leaders in the early care and education
field.

Accreditation Facilitation Project of the Year

Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness
Each year, NAFCC honors an Accreditation Facilitation Project with an award for their commitment to supporting high quality Family Child Care within their state and/or respective communities. This award acknowledges programs or agencies who demonstrate an unwavering investment and support of Family Child Care providers’ career ladder in the field, while strengthening their knowledge of the accreditation process and developing them professionally to successfully achieve accreditation.

Friend of Family Child Care Award

Mackenzie Scott
Formerly known as the “Friends of NAFCC Award”, this is presented annually to an individual,
organization or company to recognize specific contributions to the field of family child care or to
NAFCC. Contributions and connections are all around the United States, working toward the
success of family child care. NAFCC has presented the “Friend” award since the 1989 NAFCC
conference. Since that time, the list of award recipients has grown to include awardees across
a spectrum of supports: foundations, policy leaders, grocery chains, department stores and
suppliers, state partners and networks, the military branches, community colleges, training
consortiums, the professional development community, and more. Awardees demonstrate a
commitment to NAFCC’s mission of promoting the power of family child care.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Valora Washington
In 2004, the NAFCC Board of Directors created a Lifetime Achievement award to recognize outstanding and long-standing leaders in the early care and education profession who have specifically encouraged and supported family child care throughout their career. Honorees of this award are true heroes within the family child care field, with career-long commitment to the power of family child care.

Accreditation Council Leadership Award

Annette Eberhart
The Accreditation Council is comprised of dedicated and passionate experts in Family Child Care who lead with intention but put their heart and strong spirit of service into building, sustaining, and upholding the principles of high-quality accreditation standards. This year, we recognized the incoming Accreditation Council Chair, Annette Eberhart, and presented her with the Accreditation Council Leadership Award for her outstanding contributions and excellent service provided to the Accreditation Council and Family Child Care Educators.

Tina Mosley

Accredited Provider of the Year

The Accredited Provider of the Year Award pays tribute to an individual and/or program who demonstrates excellence in the field of Family Care. This recognition intentionally shines a light on providers whose program foundation is rooted in providing evidence-based high quality accreditation standards to children and their families. These individuals show tremendous dedication to upholding the accreditation principles of NAFCC quality standards, while working collaboratively and cooperatively with the early care and education community to move the field of Family Child Care forward.

This provider has shown outstanding leadership and integrity to the field , while actively and confidently serving as a model of excellence and champion for children.

Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children

Accreditation Facilitation Project of the Year

Each year, NAFCC honors an Accreditation Facilitation Project with an award for their commitment to supporting high quality Family Child Care within their state and/or respective communities. This award acknowledges programs or agencies who demonstrate an unwavering investment and support of Family Child Care providers’ career ladder in the field, while strengthening their knowledge of the accreditation process and developing them professionally to successfully achieve accreditation.

Maria Otto Leadership Award

Maria Otto was an incorporating officer and the first Vice President of NAFCC. She was well respected and loved by the provider community. Maria demonstrated leadership, advocating for the profession, and leading as a trainer and mentor to family child care providers. NAFCC commemorates her memory each year by identifying a former board member to recognize with an award in her name. Awardees demonstrate commitment to NAFCC’s mission during their board service and continue to do so in their efforts as leaders in the early care and education field.

Corinne Carr

Presidential Award

This award was created in 2004 by the NAFCC Board of Directors to recognize a person or organization that made a substantial impact on the leadership of NAFCC. The Board recognizes the significant impact that partner, collaborator, or mentor can have on the President and to advance NAFCC’s mission and goals. This award is given by the Board President in final year of the term to an individual or organization that made a substantial difference in the success of the presidency.

Mavelin Morales

Annette Eberhart

Co-Observer of the Year Award Recipients

Each year NAFCC recognizes high performing Observers for their commitment to conduct effective observations in a professional, consistent and timely manner. We appreciate their unwavering support for the field of Family Child Care. As an Observer of the Year Honoree, they’ve shown tremendous dedication to the Observation process and a willingness to go the extra mile to support FCC providers in achieving their accreditation status, while serving as a NAFCC Ambassador.

Vantoinette Savage

Emily Barnes

Friend of Family Child Care Award

The Ruby Brunson Community Advocate Award was created by the NAFCC Board of Directors to recognize a family child care provider who has shown dedication and commitment to advocate on behalf of family child care. The award was named in Ruby Brunson’s honor to recognize her remarkable leadership in Oakland, California. She dedicated her life to the professional development of providers, and her advocacy efforts lifted family child care as a viable and valuable child care option for young children and their families. Awardees demonstrate a commitment to NAFCC’s mission to promote the power of family child care through advocacy at the local, state, or federal level. Dedication and commitment to advocate on behalf of family child care.

Tom Copeland

Lifetime Achievement Award

In 2004, the NAFCC Board of Directors created a Lifetime Achievement award to recognize outstanding and long-standing leaders in the early care and education profession who have specifically encouraged and supported family child care throughout their career. Honorees of this award are true heroes within the family child care field, with career-long commitment to the power of family child care.

Linda Schumacher

Friend of Family Child Care Award

Formerly known as the “Friends of NAFCC Award”, this is presented annually to an individual, organization, or company to recognize specific contributions to the field of family child care or to NAFCC. NAFCC has presented the “Friend” award since the 1989 NAFCC conference. Since that time, the list of award recipients has grown to include awardees across a spectrum of supports: foundations, policy leaders, the military branches, community colleges, the professional development community and more. Awardees demonstrate a commitment to NAFCC’s mission of promoting the power of family child care.