We are pleased to announce the two winners of our 2016 Early Educators Leadership Conference (EELC) High School Leaders Scholarship. Our winners are Mary Matthews of Highland, Utah, and Tracy Westog of Woodstown, New Jersey. Mary is a family and consumer science teacher at Lone Peak High School, and Tracy is a childcare and early education teacher. Congratulations to them both!
Our committee had a difficult time making a selection; the finalists were all excellent, and they all wrote eloquently about their commitment to the early care and education field. What we were struck by was their ability to articulate their achievements, accomplishments, and even their concerns about the programs in their respective high schools.
Mary MatthewsWe asked for a lot from every person who applied: an application, a written description of their current high school or CTE child development program, details on what the program offers, a short essay about enhancing a development program, another essay about how EELC would be beneficial, and a letter of recommendation. That’s a ton of information to gather!
Both Mary and Tracy wrote about “expanding my knowledge base.” This desire to learn is key, not just for attendees to our conference, but for the students they work with on a daily basis. Curiosity leads us to take on new challenges, to ask tough questions, and to admit what we don’t know.
Tracy WestogWe’re really looking forward to meeting Mary and Tracy in October. We were really proud of how EELC turned out last year, and this year is going to be even better. Speakers, panelists, and leaders that will be in attendance are coming from outstanding organizations such as NAEYC, Child Care Aware of America, McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership, Knowledge Universe, Head Start, ZERO TO THREE, Wolf Trap Foundation, and so many others. We’re confident that all of our attendees, including Mary and Tracy, are going to love it.
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Chief Operations Officer
Andrew Davis serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Council. In this role, Andrew oversees the Programs Division, which includes the following operational functions: credentialing, growth and business development, marketing and communications, public policy and advocacy, research, innovation, and customer relations.
Andrew has over 20 years of experience in the early care and education field. Most recently, Andrew served as Senior Vice President of Partnership and Engagement with Acelero Learning and Shine Early Learning, where he led the expansion of state and community-based partnerships to produce more equitable systems of service delivery, improved programmatic quality, and greater outcomes for communities, children and families. Prior to that, he served as Director of Early Learning at Follett School Solutions.
Andrew earned his MBA from the University of Baltimore and Towson University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland – University College.
Chief Financial Officer
Jan Bigelow serves as Chief Financial Officer at the Council and has been with the organization since February of 2022.
Jan has more than 30 years in accounting and finance experience, including public accounting, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. She has held management-level positions with BDO Seidman, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Pew Center for Global Climate Change, Communities In Schools, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization and American Humane. Since 2003, Jan has worked exclusively in the non-profit sector where she has been a passionate advocate in improving business operations in order to further the mission of her employers.
Jan holds a CPA from the State of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lycoming College. She resides in Alexandria VA with her husband and dog.
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