For More Information Contact:
Katie Sproles, 341-1850
Eugene Water & Electric Board
Wendy Hubacek, 341-8575
EWEB Child Development Center

Sept. 22 , 2006

Child Development Center teacher wins national award

Eugene Water & Electric Board Child Development Center (CDC) teacher Wendy Butler-Boyesen has received the first-ever national Story Reader Preschool Teacher of the Year Award.

The makers of the Story Reader products, Publications International, Ltd. (PI), recently announced four winners selected to represent the south, central, east and west regions of the country. The award is the first and only program to solicit grassroots nominations from parents, teachers and school administrators across the United States.

“While it was difficult deciding on the winners, they all stand out because of their dedication, and also because of the innovative methods they use to ensure that our youngest students receive a strong start to their school careers,” said Kerry Cunnion, PI executive vice president.

An independent panel of academics in early childhood education evaluated hundreds of pre-kindergarten teachers. Criteria included the teachers’ use of creative teaching techniques, their approach to generating excitement about learning, and their ability to evaluate and address individual students’ needs. 

“As the center’s director, I most value Wendy’s dedication to her students,” explains Wendy Hubacek. “Parents have repeatedly told me that their kids were more advanced than their peers when they entered the school system after having been in Wendy’s class.”

Butler-Boyesen says the center’s location provides access to great learning opportunities.

“We are able to provide children with the types of experiences that I would have given my own children if I were a stay-at-home parent,” she says. “We regularly hike nearby Skinner’s Butte, observe wildlife at local parks, walk along the Willamette River and visit cultural destinations such as the Hult Center and Science Factory.”

As the state winner, Butler-Boyesen’s school will receive a 50-title library of books for their classroom, with a retail value of approximately $625. As one of the four national winners, she will receive a cash prize of $1,500, as well as a matching donation of $1,500 for the center.   

EWEB’s Child Development Center was started in 1988 by a group of EWEB employees needing childcare for their kids. The center is open to the entire community and offers programs for children, ages two months to six years. For more information about EWEB’s Child Development Center call (541) 341-8575.