The W hosts annual CHEER conference for early childhood educators
Mississippi University for Women’s School of Education once again recognized the contributions of early childhood educators in Columbus and Lowndes County with the fourth annual Celebrating and Highlighting Early Education Respect (CHEER) conference, Saturday March 29.
The event featured a full day of activities, chief among them being the recognition of the Educator of the Year finalists and the overall Educator of the Year winner.
There were four unique categories for educators, as well as Director of the Year and Overall Educator of the Year. The categories were Infant Birth (1 year-old), Young Toddler (1-2 years-old), Older Toddler (2-3 years-old) and Preschool (3-5 years-old).
The finalists for Infant Birth category were Jennifer Moorehead, Vibrant Kids Academy, and Lisa Smith, Columbus Christian School.
The finalists for Young Toddler were Sherriee Sanders, The W’s Child and Parent Development Center (CPDC), and Carla Clemmons, Vibrant Kids Academy.
Finalists for Older Toddler included Janice Prude, First Methodist Church of Columbus Early Learning Center, and Courtney Guadagno, Open Arms Christian Learning Center.
The last group of finalists, Preschool, included Rachel Edgeworth, Open Arms Christian Learning Center, and Hailey O’Mary, CPDC.
The 2025 Director of the Year was awarded to Shelly Pugsley of Open Arms Christian Learning Center.
The final award presented was the Overall Educator of the Year award. This year’s recipient was Guadagno, finalist from Older Toddler.
Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin presented the awards. Additionally, he signed a pair of proclamations declaring April 12, 2025 as Early Childhood Educator and Childcare Program Appreciation Day, and declaring the week of April 5-11 the Week of the Young Child.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Together We Shine,” focusing on how collaboration is important in the teaching profession.
“The CHEER Conference is our local rallying cry for early childhood educators. It’s a day to uplift and celebrate those shaping young minds with purpose and passion. Our community and business partners continue to support this work because they know that without quality childcare, parents can’t work, and businesses can’t grow,” said Penny Mansell, director of the Center for Education Support in The W’s School of Education.
“Early educators are preparing little brains for the future, and their teaching must be intentional and aligned with standards.”
There were breakout sessions throughout the event including the topics “Orientation to Learning Language and Loving It™: The Hanen Program® for Early Childhood Educators” and “High-Quality Teaching Practices: Team Lesson Planning.”
The conference ended with a call to action for the entire group, encouraging them to continue the momentum started during the event into their classrooms.
About the Center for Education Support
The Center for Education Support (CES) advocates for education as the foundation of progress by delivering impactful programs that inspire teacher recruitment, lifelong learning and regional development through innovation and excellence. The CES aspires to be a leader in educational support, transforming learning experiences through collaboration, innovation and partnerships that promote lifelong learning and regional growth.