The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Men in Education Network (M.E.N.) Interest Forum gives out two awards each year at the national conference. The first is the Champion for Men and Children Award which goes to a man, woman or organization that has made significant contribution to furthering our efforts to increase the number of men working with children. The recipient does not work directly with children.
This year’s winner is Dr. Jill Klefstad from the University of Wisconsin – Stout (you can read more about her work here).
The second award is the Leader of Men and Children Award and goes to a man that works directly with children and has made significant contribution to furthering the efforts to increase the number of men working with children. The man must currently be working directly with children.
This years winner is Mike Huber. You can read more about him here.
Men In Education Network (M.E.N.) Interest Forum
Past Champion for Men and Children Award
2001 – Bruce Cunningham – Washington (Anaheim, CA)
2002 – Coleman Baker – Vermont (New York City, NY)
2003 – Bryan G. Nelson – Minnesota (Chicago, IL)
2004 – Michelle Soltero – California (Anaheim, CA)
2005 – Donald E. Piburn – Hawaii (Washington, DC)
2006 – Maurice Sykes – Washington, DC (Atlanta, GA)
2007 – Dorothy Hewes – California (Chicago, IL)
2008 – Bonnie & Roger Neugenbauer – Washington (Dallas, TX)
2009 – Frances M. Carlson – Georgia (Washington, DC)
2010 – Kenny Spence – Scotland (Anaheim, CA)
2011 – Eileen Smith, Bright Horizons – Massachusetts (Orlando, FL)
2012 – Jeffrey Robbins – New Hampshire (Atlanta, GA)
2013 – Peter Pizzolongo – Washington DC (Washington, DC)
2014 – Jerry Parr – New Hampshire (Dallas, TX)
2015 – Dr. Jill Klefstad – Wisconsin (Orlando, FL)
Men In Education Network (M.E.N.) Interest Forum
Past Leader of Men and Children Award
2001 – Bruce Sheppard – Minnesota (Anaheim, CA)
2002 – Moises Roman – California (New York City, NY)
2003 – Bob Capuozzo – Indiana (Chicago, IL)
2004 – Greg Uba – California (Anaheim, CA)
2005 – John Suur – Washington, DC (Washington, DC)
2006 – Doug Moeller – Georgia (Atlanta, GA)
2007 – Thomas B. Solomon – Illinois (Chicago, IL)
2008 – Darío de León – Texas (Dallas, TX)
2009 – Craig Simpson – Massachusetts (Washington, DC)
2010 – Jim Clay – Washington DC (Anaheim, CA)
2011 – Todd Seabury-Kolod – Minnesota (Orlando, FL)
2012 – James Peas – Georgia (Atlanta, GA)
2013 – Brian Silveira – California (Washington, DC)
2014 – Jason Williams – Texas (Dallas, TX)
2015 – Mike Huber – Minnesota (Orlando, FL)