the minnesota division

for early childhood

Kudos to 2020 Award Recipients


Professional of the Year 

       Megan McQueen Stewart  
Lifetime Excellence in Leadership

       Louise Raths  

Leadership

        Linda Rymanowski 

  


Centers of Excellence for...

An initiative designed to regionalize professional development systems in Minnesota. Visit MNCOE website

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MN DEC Calendar of Events

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MN DEC Members- Awards


MN DEC presents two annual awards:  the MNDEC Practitioner of the Year Award and MNDEC Leader of the Year Award.  Any early childhood professional (ECSE, ECFE, Head Start or preschool teacher or administrator, childcare provider/director or other professional) may be nominated by MNDEC members.  Please click here for the nomination form. Nominations are due  2/21/2022.


The high quality of Early Childhood Special Education in Minnesota is due to the talented and dedicated staff leading programs and providing services to young children with disabilities and their families. The work is hard and complex, each year MN DEC, takes the opportunity to recognize one outstanding leader and one outstanding practitioner from the many in the field. There are many leaders and practitioners in the state who demonstrate these characteristics, however each year the number of people nominated has been small, though of exceptional quality.  

MN DEC encourages nominations of any early childhood professional: ECSE, ECFE, Head Start or preschool teacher or administrator, childcare provider/director or other professional, who has made a difference in the lives of young children with special needs and their families and/or in the lives of their colleagues by:

• Performed their job in an exemplary manner
• Have made significant contributions or provided leadership that has improved or will improve the lives of young children with special needs and their families
• Demonstrated through their work evidence of knowledge and skills consistent with recommended practices in the field
• Demonstrated high ethical and professional standards. 


Please go to Historic Highlights  to read more about past Practitioner Award Recipients


Awards

The Minnesota Division for Early Childhood (MN DEC) is a statewide membership organization for those who work with or on behalf of young children with disabilities and other special needs.






Promoting policies, advances practices…