The Terri Lynne Lokoff Teacher Awards have honored outstanding early care and education teachers since 1994 – and this year, Sierra Jenkins from
The Malvern School of Valley Forge is one of the top 10 award winners! This is the ninth national teacher award earned by Malvern School educators over the past two years. Sierra began her career at The Malvern School in 2016 and most recently served as the Preschool Lead Teacher and Health & Safety Coordinator at The Malvern School of Valley Forge. In February 2023, she was promoted to Assistant Director, where she is now responsible for supporting teachers and students throughout the school. “After years spent teaching in each age group, I have learned that these are the most critical years of a child’s life,” says Sierra. “As an early childhood educator, I am a part of the building blocks of learning for my students. I have always tried to teach my students to look outside and dream – and look inside themselves to awaken their inner passion.” In Sierra’s classroom, each student “partied with a purpose,” which describes the joyful growth mindset she instilled in young children. This was encouraged through group activities, communication, creativity, hands-on diverse curriculum and independent learning. “The beautiful thing about being a teacher is that it allows you to learn new things every day. I can confidently say that my journey in early childhood education has prepared me, transformed me and guided me to become the role model I am today,” Sierra adds. Nearly 30 years ago, Kay and Fred Lokoff launched the Terri Lynne Lokoff Teacher Awards to honor their daughter Terri, who was a devoted child care teacher. Today, the awards are designed to recognize and celebrate the achievements of child care and early learning teachers and bring attention to the critical role these teachers play in the lives of young children. “We’re tremendously proud of Ms. Sierra and the hundreds of outstanding early childhood education professionals she represents from The Malvern School,” says Christle Seal, The Malvern School’s Director of Educational Programs. “This is a huge honor that highlights the expertise and energy Ms. Sierra brings every day as she helps young children – and other teachers – learn, grow and reach their highest potential.” All 2023 Terri Lynne Lokoff Teacher Award winners were honored at a ceremony on Saturday, April 29 at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown as part of First Up’s Annual Conference. Learn more about the Terri Lynne Lokoff Teacher Awards
here.
About The Malvern School
The Malvern School, founded in 1998, is a year-round private preschool for children six weeks to 12 years old. The Malvern School believes in developing the whole child in a nurturing, yet engaging environment and offers an innovative curriculum that has raised the bar in early childhood education. Today, The Malvern School has 27 locations throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and central and southern New Jersey and is dedicated to providing curriculum that is designed to meet or exceed the highest standards established by the
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation’s largest early childhood accrediting organization.