Congratulations to long time SYC teacher, Ann Rigney for being honored as the 2013 Ohio Teacher of the Year by the Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children. Ann is an early childhood professional in the best sense of the word professional. She takes her teaching seriously but always with nurture and support as a part of her curriculum.
Ann came to SYC as a parent with her two children and was hired as a teacher in 1973. Recently she became the inspiration for her daughter Heather Shumaker to write a parenting book about what she learned from her mother’s decades of teaching in our program.
Ann helped nurture and support me when I was a new teacher in our school. She was a patient, encouraging co-teacher to whom I’ve always looked to for wisdom and experience since that first year. Since then she has helped train many new teachers as she works along side. Her toolkit of teaching experience has been invaluable to keeping our program philosophy consistent and in helping teachers understand child development and the individual needs of each child in the class.
Her ability to encourage and guide young parents is her hallmark. She mentors parents as an important aspect of the complete developmental picture for each child. Ann creates strong bonds with children and their families—providing a great support system as they move through the preschool years.
Ann has also mentored many OSU, Columbus State student teachers and students from local high school programs. She is giving of her time and experience to these young teachers and students. Ann has dedicated her professional life to the field of early childhood education and truly deserves the title of Ohio Teacher of the Year.
On Friday, April 26, 2013 the Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children, the Ohio Department of Education, Office of Early Learning and School Readiness and the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services will celebrate and honor Ann and the other 2013 Ohio AEYC award recipients selected to be recognized for their dedication to early care and education and for the impact their work has had on behalf of children, families and professionals from across Ohio.