West Chester woman named Teacher of the Year with The Malvern School
A West Chester woman was named Teacher of the Year with The Malvern School.
A leader in the field of early childhood education, and the largest privately owned preschool in the region, The Malvern School honored outstanding educators and schools throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey at its 2019 annual awards Ceremony recently held at the Desmond Hotel in Malvern.
“The Malvern School’s commitment to quality and excellence in everything we do is something you see in each and every member of our team at every single one of our 27 schools and our executive office,” said Kristen M. Waterfield, president and co-founder of The Malvern School. “From teaching and leadership … to curriculum and culture … to health and safety, philanthropy and more, our annual award winners raise the bar for all of us. They are a force that drive us forward as an organization, enable us to offer some of the most advanced early childhood education programs for young children and make our schools such a vital part of more than two dozen local communities.”
Among the highlights of the program was the Teacher of the Year award, presented to Kerry Kauffman from The Malvern School of Oaks. Kauffman, of West Chester, is one of the lead preschool teachers and is a hardworking, key member of The Malvern School team. Her engaging teaching style and extremely well-run classroom are exemplary models for others to follow. Including her attributes that were recognized when her room received the highest score during the school’s re-accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) earlier this year.
Assistant Teacher of the Year was awarded to Rachel Siegfried from The Malvern School of Upper Gwynedd. Part of the team for almost 10 years, nearly as long as the school has been open, Siegfried continually exceeds expectations in the Infant classroom and across the school. Not only does she provide a warm, nurturing and engaging environment for some of the school’s youngest friends, she also supports new parents by sharing her own experience as both a mother and a teacher.
Katie LeVan from The Malvern School of Warrington was named Director of Education of the Year, recognized for exemplifying the characteristics necessary to lead a quality early childhood education program and contributing to the overall success of the school and the organization as a whole.
Angela Ludwig from The Malvern School of Blue Bell took home the honor for Executive Director of the Year. Angela is a two-time winner of this award, having also been named Executive Director of the Year in 2015 during her tenure at The Malvern School of Oaks. Her dynamic leadership is evident in The Malvern School of Blue Bell being acknowledged with five additional awards this year, including Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Top Fundraiser, raising more than $20,000 to fight childhood cancer, and the Presidents’ Choice Award, personally selected Malvern School President and Co-Founder Kristen M. Waterfield.
The full list of The Malvern School Annual Award winners includes:
Teacher of the Year – Kerry Kauffman, The Malvern School of Oaks (PA); Assistant Teacher of the Year – Rachel Siegfried, The Malvern School of Upper Gwynedd (PA);
Director of Education of the Year – Katie LeVan, The Malvern School of Warrington (PA); Executive Director of the Year – Angela Ludwig, The Malvern School of Blue Bell (PA); Big Q (Quality Standards) – The Malvern School of Downingtown (PA) (second consecutive win in the category); Health and Safety Coordinator of the Year – Dave Dadich, The Malvern School of Richboro (PA); Curriculum Coordinator of the Year – Sharon Tatinov, The Malvern School of Medford (NJ); Health & Safety – The Malvern School of Richboro (PA) (fourth win in the category); Best Place to Work – The Malvern School of Downingtown (PA); Families First – The Malvern School of Richboro (PA), (second consecutive win in the category); 100 Percent Club – The Malvern Schools of Glen Mills (PA) and Blue Bell (PA); Superior Achievement Program Assessment – The Malvern Schools of Frazer (PA), Erial (NJ), Richboro (PA), Downingtown (PA), Warrington (PA), Oaks (PA), Medford (NJ) and Blue Bell (PA); Superior Achievement Business Assessment – The Malvern Schools of Richboro (PA), Washington Township (NJ), Warrington (PA), Oaks (PA), Medford (NJ) and Blue Bell (PA); Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Top Fundraiser – The Malvern School of Blue Bell (PA); Platinum Performer – The Malvern School of Richboro (PA); Presidents’ Choice – The Malvern School of Blue Bell (PA); Rising Star – The Malvern School of Horsham (PA); Core Values – Maryann Hennelly, Executive Assistant, The Malvern School Executive Office.
