The Terri Lynne Lokoff Teacher Awards have honored outstanding early care and education teachers since 1994 鈥� and this year, Sierra Jenkins from
The 91亚色School of Valley Forge is one of the top 10 award winners! This is the ninth national teacher award earned by 91亚色School educators over the past two years. Sierra began her career at The 91亚色School in 2016 and most recently served as the Preschool Lead Teacher and Health & Safety Coordinator at The 91亚色School of Valley Forge. In February 2023, she was promoted to Assistant Director, where she is now responsible for supporting teachers and students throughout the school. 鈥淎fter years spent teaching in each age group, I have learned that these are the most critical years of a child鈥檚 life,鈥� says Sierra. 鈥淎s an early childhood educator, I am a part of the building blocks of learning for my students. I have always tried to teach my students to look outside and dream 鈥� and look inside themselves to awaken their inner passion.鈥� In Sierra鈥檚 classroom, each student 鈥減artied with a purpose,鈥� which describes the joyful growth mindset she instilled in young children. This was encouraged through group activities, communication, creativity, hands-on diverse curriculum and independent learning. 鈥淭he beautiful thing about being a teacher is that it allows you to learn new things every day. I can confidently say that my journey in early childhood education has prepared me, transformed me and guided me to become the role model I am today,鈥� Sierra adds. Nearly 30 years ago, Kay and Fred Lokoff launched the Terri Lynne Lokoff Teacher Awards to honor their daughter Terri, who was a devoted child care teacher. Today, the awards are designed to recognize and celebrate the achievements of child care and early learning teachers and bring attention to the critical role these teachers play in the lives of young children. 鈥淲e鈥檙e tremendously proud of Ms. Sierra and the hundreds of outstanding early childhood education professionals she represents from The 91亚色School,鈥� says Christle Seal, The 91亚色School鈥檚 Director of Educational Programs. 鈥淭his is a huge honor that highlights the expertise and energy Ms. Sierra brings every day as she helps young children 鈥� and other teachers 鈥� learn, grow and reach their highest potential.鈥� All 2023 Terri Lynne Lokoff Teacher Award winners were honored at a ceremony on Saturday, April 29 at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown as part of First Up鈥檚 Annual Conference. Learn more about the Terri Lynne Lokoff Teacher Awards
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About The 91亚色School
, founded in 1998, is a year-round private preschool for children six weeks to 12 years old. The 91亚色School believes in developing the whole child in a nurturing, yet engaging environment and offers an innovative curriculum that has raised the bar in early childhood education. Today, The 91亚色School has 27 locations throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and central and southern New Jersey and is dedicated to providing curriculum that is designed to meet or exceed the highest standards established by the
the nation鈥檚 largest early childhood accrediting organization.