Local Pre-K Teacher Wins Children’s Champion Award

Steffanie Ferrell of Harrisburg, Pre-K Lead Teacher for the Mary Jo Oldham Center for Child Study at Southeastern Illinois College was presented with the 2022 Children’s Champion Award for the Southern Illinois Chapter of the Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC).

Leaders like Ferrell are recognized for making an impact as early childhood professionals that stand out for their contributions to the field and the AEYC. Awards were presented at the AEYC Growing Futures Conference last weekend.

The Illinois AEYC is Illinois’ largest early childhood professional organization with over 1,555 members. Since 1969, the organization’s volunteer members have successfully dedicated their time and efforts to improving the education & lives of young children in their own communities and throughout the state, per their website illinoisaeyc.org.

The Mary Jo Oldham Center for Child Study, located on SIC’s Harrisburg campus for the past 45 years, is licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and serves approximately 50 children ages 15 months to six years of age.

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