September 17, 2021
CARSON CITY, Nev. – The Nevada Department of
Education (NDE or Department) recognizes two Washoe County educators as the inaugural
recipients of the Nevada Early Childhood
Educator of the Year Award. Kaitlin Farley Cortes, a Pre-Kindergarten teacher, and Avis Moore, an infant-toddler teacher, have been selected as recipients of this
honor.
"Early childhood educators are integral to not only
our education system, but our community as a whole,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Jhone Ebert. “These teachers serve in fundamental
roles, supporting Nevada’s youngest learners during critical stages of
development. I am grateful for this opportunity to celebrate the outstanding work
of Avis Moore and Kaitlin Farley Cortes, and to use this opportunity to shine a
well-deserved spotlight on every early childhood educator in our State!”
Kaitlin Farley Cortes is a pre-Kindergarten
teacher at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Child and Family Resource
Center (CFRC). Ms. Cortes has worked with pre-K students for 12 years and is
currently pursuing her graduate degree in the Human Development and Family
Science program at the University of Nevada, Reno. Ms. Cortes was selected for
recognition due to her passion for continuous learning and commitment to elevating
the early childhood field. In addition, Ms. Cortes works with university staff
to develop curriculum that prioritizes diversity and advocates for quality
access to care for young children through a stronger teacher pipeline.
“I have always believed that every child is a complete
person worthy of respect and love,” said Ms. Cortes. “I look forward to
participating in research and work that allows me to encourage future early
childhood teachers, both in my current program and throughout the field.”
Avis Moore is an Infant/Toddler educator at the University of Nevada, Reno’s Early Head Start Program. Ms. Moore
has served as an early childhood teacher for both Head Start and Early Head
Start for more than 30 years, and she was selected due to her unwavering
commitment to the field of early childhood education and passion for nurturing
young children as they grow and flourish. Ms. Moore consistently places emphasis
on partnering and building relationships with families, which supports her
students to success in and out of the classroom.
“Working at Early Head Start opened my eyes to the
potential impact I could make in the life of not only a child, but an entire
family,” said Ms. Moore. “I love what I do, and I feel grateful that families trust me to help
them maneuver through the early years of their child’s life.”
“The importance of early childhood educators cannot
be overstated,” said Dr. Donald Easton-Brooks, Dean of the UNR College of
Education & Human Development. “We are elated that Kaitlin Farley
Cortes and Avis Moore have earned this recognition, as both have shown a deep dedication
to the field of early childhood education and a commitment to diversity,
equity, and inclusion.”
The Nevada Early Childhood Educator of the Year award
was spearheaded by the NDE Office of Early Learning and Development to recognize,
elevate, and celebrate the important work done by early childhood educators in
the State. This is the inaugural year that NDE has recognized teachers for this
honor.
Any Nevada educator who is employed as a full-time
lead teacher serving in an early childhood classroom, defined as serving children
between the ages of zero and five, is eligible to be recognized for this honor.
Educators must have served in this capacity during the 2020-21 school year and plan
to serve in a similar role during the 2021-22 school year.
From the pool of applicants, eight finalists were
selected and interviewed in August 2021. The six other outstanding finalists for
Nevada 2021 Early Childhood Educator of the Year were:
- Marybel
Arreguin-Lopez, Early Head Start Infant/Toddler
Teacher at Acelero Learning, Clark County
- Isabella
Cryder, Pre-K Teacher at Aleph Academy, Washoe
County
- Emilia
Gonzales, Pre-K Teacher at Rita Cannan
Elementary School, Washoe County School District
- Samantha
Russel, Pre-K Teacher at Sun Valley Elementary
School, Washoe County School District
- Turia
Stewart, Pre-K Teacher at Consolidated Students
of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV/CSUN) Preschool, Clark County
- Chandra
Waner, Early Childhood Special Education
Teacher at Grass Valley Elementary School/Early Learning Center, Humboldt
County School District
Ms. Cortes and Ms. Moore were celebrated with a
surprise visit to their classrooms by NDE and UNR staff on September 14. Both awardees
will receive generous donations from Lakeshore Learning and The Children’s Cabinet and will
represent early childhood education in Nevada as ambassadors and thought
leaders throughout the 2021-22 school year.
Attachments: Photos of Nevada Early
Childhood Educators of the Year Recipients
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