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Parent Link Centre educator recognized by province

As an early childhood educator at the Western Rocky View Parent Link Centre, Jane Donnelly spends her days running children and parenting programs, interacting with local families and scoring developmental screenings.
Jane Donnelly
Jane Donnelly

As an early childhood educator at the Western Rocky View Parent Link Centre, Jane Donnelly spends her days running children and parenting programs, interacting with local families and scoring developmental screenings.

But May 10, Donnelly was the one being recognized as she was honoured with the Parent Link Centre award during the 2013 Early Learning and Child Care Professional Awards of Excellence in Calgary.

“It didn’t all come together for me until the awards on Friday night,” said Donnelly, who began working at the Cochrane Parent Link Centre six years ago. “But it seemed like it came full circle. I was up there accepting the award for the community, as well as myself. I felt like I was bringing it home to share.”

She was one of 14 professionals recognized during the ceremony. More than 140 early learning and childcare professionals were nominated.

“Alberta’s focused approach on early childhood development depends on attracting and retaining individuals like these, who do so much to help children reach their full potential,” said minister of Alberta Human Services Dave Hancock in a media release. “They are invaluable in supporting young children and their parents who work or go to school and we thank them for their commitment to the children and families they serve.”

Donnelly was nominated for the award by two parents who have been long-term attendees of the programs at the Cochrane Parent Link Centre. Nominees were then assessed by a selection committee based on leadership, creativity, innovation and collaboration in their work, along with their contributions in achieving a positive and stimulating learning environment to engage children and their families.

In her role as an early childhood educator, Donnelly creates and executes a variety of programs, such as a Baby Steps, Making Connections, as well as parent education programs.

“There are just so many best parts to my job,” she said. “I enjoy putting programs together, presenting the programs to parents, seeing the children’s reactions to the programs. Working with children, you never get the same day twice. There’s variety — always something new to learn.”

While it may be Donnelly’s name that was announced during the awards ceremony, the prize will be put to good use. A bag of goodies from Wintergreen Learning Materials included puzzles and a puppet theatre, which the humble winner said will get good use from the families at the centre.

Donnelly wasn’t the only member of Cochrane’s Parent Link Centre to be a finalist in the category, another early childhood educator, Eleanor Marr, was nominated as well for the work she has done with children with special needs, said Kim Krawec, coordinator at Western Rocky View Parent Link Centre.

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