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KEARNY – The University of Nebraska, Kearney College of Education, recognized two individuals Friday for their impact on early childhood education and outstanding service to children and families in Nebraska.
Samuel Meisels, founder of the Buffett Institute for Early Childhood Research at the University of Nebraska, was awarded the Lavonne Plumbeck Early Childhood Pioneer Award, and Nishi Johnson, Director of Early Childhood, Educational Services Unit 13, was the first early childhood practitioner. Approved. Award. Both awards were announced at the 6th Annual UNK-Community Early Childhood Conference held at UNK’s Nebraska Student Union.
Early Childhood Pioneer Award
A leading authority on the assessment of young children and early childhood development, Meisels has served as President Richard D. Holland Chair on Early Childhood Development at the Buffett Institute for Early Childhood Education and has served as a Director of Child, Youth and Family Studies at the University of Nebraska. I am a professor. – Lincoln. He has also been appointed Professor of Public Health, Education, and Public Administration at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the University of Nebraska Omaha, and his UNK.
Prior to coming to Nebraska in 2013, Meisels was president of the Erikson Institute in Chicago for 12 years. The institute is one of the best child development graduate schools in the United States, and at the University of Michigan he had a research career of 21 years. A former kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade teacher, Meisels has been an eight-year faculty member at Tufts University, principal of Tufts’ Elliott Pearson Children’s School, and senior advisor for early childhood development at Boston’s Developmental Assessment Clinic. was. Children’s hospital.
The author of over 200 publications, he holds master’s and doctoral degrees from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and an honorary doctorate in humanities from Roosevelt University in Chicago.
Meisels plans to retire later this year after more than 50 years of exemplary service to children and families. He gave a keynote at Friday’s Toddler Conference titled “How a Child’s Early Childhood Can Change Their Lives.”
The Early Childhood Pioneer Award was first presented in 2019 to the late Lavonne Kopecky Plumbeck. Lavonne Kopecky Plumbeck is a recognized leader in early childhood and Montessori education, supporting and investing in quality experiences for young children for decades. The early childhood committee then named her award in her honor.
Meisels shares his inspiring vision to make Nebraska the best place in the nation for babies, his efforts to meet the needs of the early childhood workforce, and his strong partnerships that benefit young children, families and educators. was evaluated for its ability to form
“Just as the name LaVonne Plambeck is synonymous with Nebraska Montessori, Sam Meisels is synonymous with Nebraska early childhood,” said Kathie Sweet, Interim Director of Montessori Teacher Education at UNK, at the award presentation. rice field.
“Under Dr. Meisel’s leadership, the Buffett Institute has laid the groundwork for prioritizing the early childhood workforce in Nebraska. To address workforce stability through education and better compensation,” added Sweet.
Early Childhood Practitioner Award
An Early Child Practitioner Award winner, Johnson has provided passionate service as an early childhood specialist for over 20 years. She is ESU 13’s inaugural Director of Early Childhood and leads a division of early childhood advocates who support the Panhandle region with a spirit of collaboration and a love of innovation.
As a member of the Panhandle Partnership community consortium, Johnson promotes the System of Care: Birth to Eight initiative, which focuses on improving the quality of life for families with young children in 11 county areas. She is also a partner on many statewide groups and advisory boards, including the Buffett Institute’s Evaluation Network team and First Five She’s ECE Shared Leadership and Fundraising Working Group in Nebraska, and the Nebraska Child Labor Commission. was also a member of
Johnson has supported early childhood programming and services in various capacities while at ESU 13. Her favorite parts of her job include helping people find the “why” of what they do, removing barriers that impede progress, and creating culture, especially in Nebraska. Panhandle is committed to long-term investments in early care and education.
She thanked her family and colleagues for their support in accepting the award.
“I have had so many mentors along my journey. ESU 13 has always been a special place where people want to develop their knowledge and passion, and I have certainly benefited from that.” ” said Johnson.
“Honestly, without the ESU 13 tribal early childhood specialists, we would never have thought of winning an award like this,” she added. Turning ideas into reality, traveling wherever knowledge leads, while they pave the way and change early childhood care and education for the better in the Panhandle, Nebraska, I am their You can walk by.”
The UNK-Community Early Childhood Conference is held over two days and provides hands-on learning opportunities and resources for current and future early childhood professionals. About 350 people participated in this year’s event. Sessions were presented by his UNK faculty and other experts from across the state.
The conference is sponsored by UNK College of Education, Buffett Early Childhood Institute, Nebraska Early Learning Connection, Nebraska Early Childhood Education Association, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Kearny Child Care Association and UNK’s Planbeck Center for Early Childhood Education.
Today, over 350 UNK students and early childhood professionals are attending the UNK Community Early Childhood Conference at the Nebraska Student Union. Here, you’ll get first-hand training in his early STEM Experience Lab. #BeBlueGoldBold @UnkCoe pic.twitter.com/46hf5Y1FnS
—UNK (@UNKearney) October 21, 2022
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