IGNITE! AWARDS
CELEBRATING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS
We’ll be sharing the stories of our award recipients for 2026 Early Childhood Educator of the Year and Beginning Beacon after the Ignite Awards event.
View photos from the 2025 awards here.
Visit the Ignite! Conference page.
Celebrating early childhood education across our community!
Honoring Our Early Childhood Champions
CORE Network believes that early childhood educators should be celebrated and honored in every early education setting where they work to support young children and their families. The Ignite! Early Childhood Champion Awards honor our community’s early childhood educators and legislative champions, highlights their important work, and encourages community engagement in early childhood education.
The 2026 awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, July 21st. We are excited to shine a spotlight on the incredible educators shaping the future of our youngest learners! For questions, please contact CORE Network at corenetwork@unitedwaygn.org.
2026 IGNITE! AWARD SCHOOL-LEVEL HONOREES
2026 Early Childhood Educator of the Year
1. Allison Smith of Glengarry Elementary School
2. Beth Thouin of Pre-K at Smith Springs Elementary School
3. Breanne Adcock of Little Wonders Early Learning Center – Stem Prep
4. Bridgette S. McCormick of Norman Binkley Elementary School
5. Cecelia Pleasant of McNeilly Center for Children
6. Debbie Vermillion of St. Mary Villa Child Development Center
7. Emily Zbock of DuPont Elementary School
8. Erin Twarog of Harris Hillman Elementary School
9. Jamie Golobish of Little Wonders Early Learning Center- Nashville Prep
10. Jen Ortiz of Cole Elementary School
11. Jessica Satterfield of First Presbyterian Church Early Preschool
12. Jessica Trice of Thomas Edison Elementary School
13. Kaitlyn Calhoun of St. Luke’s Community House Child Development Center
14. Kara Shackleford of Tulip Grove Elementary School
15. Keiani Jones of 15th Ave N. Learning Academy
16. Kendi Hayes of The Acorn School at Vanderbilt
17. Kristin Lurton of Gower Elementary School
18. Lynn Guthrie of Henry C. Maxwell Elementary School
19. Meggan Nave of Dan Mills Elementary School
20. Melissa Long LaRosa of Park Avenue Elementary School
21. Michaelle Torchon of Blessed Babies Learning Academy
22. Michelle Burkley of Nana’s Playland
23. Morgan McCranie of Susan Gray School
24. Patrice Mayes of Old Center Elementary School
25. Pratibha Ghare of Calvary Young Children’s School
26. Rachel Coode of Woodmont Baptist Weekday Prschool
27. Stacey Coons of Joelton Elementary School
28. Stephanie Clark of Glen Leven Presbyterian Church Day School
29. Tabitha Bass of Woodmont Christian Preschool
30. Taylor Pritchett of First Steps, Inc.
31. Teresa Hanna of Ivanetta H. Davis Early Learning Center
32. Terriann Schukert of Robert Churchwell Elementary School
33. Traci Bryant, LMSW of Casa Azafran Early Learning Center
34. Xena Tran of King’s Daughters Child Development Center
35. Yafa Baer of Micah Children’s Academy
2026 Beginning Beacon Early Educator of the Year
1. Amari Bryant of King’s Daughters Child Development Center
2. Ashley Demmons of St. Luke’s Community House Child Development Center
3. Ella Hewitt of Susan Gray School
4. India Smith of First Steps, Inc.
5. JaNiya Motley of 15th Ave N. Learning Academy
6. Kimberly Owens of McNeilly Center for Children
7. Kiyler Dowdy of Little Wonders Early Learning Center – Stem Prep
8. Sydney Price of Woodmont Christian Preschool
9. Talisa Watkins of Ivanetta H. Davis Early Learning Center
10. Tawana Mitchell of Taylor Stratton Dual Immersion Magnet School
11. Uriah Vaughn of Saint Mary Villa Child Development Center