Nominations Now Open for Tennessee Early Educator Awards

Special to the State Gazette

Nashville, Tennessee--Tennesseans for Quality Early Education (TQEE) is thrilled to announce the launch of the inaugural Tennessee Early Educator Awards. These awards aim to honor exceptional early childhood educators, elevate the early childhood education profession, and highlight the critical role high-quality early education plays for Tennessee’s children, families, and communities.

“We are delighted to introduce the Tennessee Early Educator Awards to spotlight the extraordinary dedication and impact of our state's early educators,” said TQEE CEO Blair Taylor. “These awards are designed to showcase the importance of the early educator profession and to recognize those who demonstrate excellence in nurturing and educating our youngest learners.”

The awards will recognize 20 outstanding educators across the state, with ten awards in each of the following categories: birth through preschool; and kindergarten through third grade. Each awardee will receive a $1,000 cash prize, a shopping spree at Lakeshore Learning, an all-expenses-paid trip to Nashville, and a variety of other surprise gifts.

To be eligible for the award, an early educator must:

*Be currently employed full-time in Tennessee, caring for and teaching children: Within the birth through preschool age range in a regulated center, family child care home, or school-based program OR within grades K-3 at a state-accredited public or charter school.

*Have been an early childhood educator for three or more years

The nomination window is open from Monday, July 15 to Friday, August 2 at noon Central Time. Anyone may submit a nomination, and self-nominations are also welcome. Nominations can be submitted at www.tqee.org/educators/early-educator-awards. Qualifying nominees will be invited to submit an application. Awards will be announced in late October.