CCSA’s 2022 Triangle Child Care Awards

Every two years, Child Care Services Association (CCSA) gathers community leaders, child care providers and advocates to celebrate the dedicated individuals working to ensure the Triangle’s children receive the highest quality of early care and education. On March 18, 2022, community leaders, child care providers and advocates joined us in person for the 2022 Triangle Child Care Awards.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in recognizing a group of dedicated professionals who work each day to guarantee our children have the best possible start in life as we recognized three early childhood champions and presented the Child Care Services Association Public Service Award, the Dorothy B. Graham Early Childhood Leadership Award and the Mary Y. Bridgers Early Childhood Teacher Award.

Congratulations to the 2022 Triangle Child Care Award Winners and Special Recognitons!

The 2022 Mary Y. Bridgers Early Childhood Teacher Award finalists and semi-finalists were…

Finalist: Pebbles Lucas from First Chronicles Daycare Center in Durham

Finalist: Bernita Mavhura from Early Preschool and Learning Center in Raleigh

Semi-Finalist: Daniel Mabini from The Whitted School in Durham

Semi-Finalist: Aisha Hassan from Wanda’s Little Hands Educational Center in Raleigh

“Congratulations to all our early childhood champions and award winners,” said Marsha Basloe, president of CCSA. “These award winners remind us that good things can happen for young children in child care, Head Start and public school settings, that leadership for early childhood is needed and can be found in all three settings and that leadership and advocacy matter.”

“While many North Carolina businesses have re-opened, the situation on the ground for child care workers hasn’t changed for the better. Parents returning to the workforce need access to child care. The supply of child care depends on a stable and qualified child care workforce,” said Basloe. “Our experience with COVID offers all of us in the early childhood community an opportunity to plan for a stronger child care system post-COVID. We cannot go back to the way it was before the pandemic.”

Missed the Awards? Watch it back here!

---

About the Awards

CCSA presented the following three awards recognizing the impact of early childhood educators, public servants and the community on young children and their families.

Child Care Services Association Public Service Award

Because young children cannot speak for themselves, they are often dependent on public officials and community advocates to speak on their behalf and to create public policies that will protect them and enrich their lives. Therefore, the Child Care Services Association Public Service Award was created in 2000 to recognize and honor volunteers and elected public officials who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the quality of early education and have made a difference in the lives of young children in the Triangle.

Dorothy B. Graham Early Childhood Leadership Award

The Dorothy B. Graham Early Childhood Leadership Award is given to an individual who has been a leader in improving early education and who has made a difference in the lives of young children in the Triangle. This award was created in 1998 and was named for Dorothy B. Graham in recognition of her more than 25 years of leadership and dedication to the early care and educational needs of young children in Durham County and statewide.

Mary Y. Bridgers Early Childhood Teacher Award

The Mary Y. Bridgers Early Childhood Teacher Award is given to an early childhood teacher and three finalists in recognition of their professional commitment and outstanding care to children in the Triangle. Created in the 1980s, the Mary Y. Bridgers Early Childhood Teacher Award is named for Mary Y. Bridgers in recognition of her more than 30 years of service in Orange County as an early childhood teacher and advocate for children.