Photo L-R: Judy Glenney, Program Specialist, Child Care Resource, Referral, Recruitment and Training; Tammy Herman, CCSNH-Berlin child care worker; Susan Blais, award recipient; Governor John Lynch; Patricia Finnigan-Allen, Early Childhood Education Professor at CCSNH-Berlin; and Suzanne L'Heureux, CCSNH-Berlin child care worker
The College community at CCSNH-Berlin has always known that Susan Blais, Director of Child Care Services, is a winner. Now, the entire state knows it too. On November 16, Blais was presented with the Early Learning New Hampshire Excellence in Child Care Award at a ceremony in Concord. The award was presented by Governor John Lynch.
This is the second year a staff member at CCSNH-Berlin has been recognized with the award. Last year Sandy Alonzo, a 1992 NHCTC graduate in Child Care Management, received the award. At the time, she was the NHCTC Preschool Director and currently works as a Program Specialist for Child Care Resource, Referral, Recruitment, and Training.
Blais was nominated for the award by Patricia Finnigan-Allen, Professor of Early Childhood Education and a long-time co-worker and friend of Blais. In her letter of nomination, Finnigan-Allen stated that Blais exhibits phenomenal qualities as a caregiver. "Susan nurtures children, parents, teachers and teachers-in-training in the child care industry. She is a forward thinker who embodies the spirit of early care and education." Blais is a 26-year veteran of the child care industry. According to Finnigan-Allen, her tenure has had an enormous impact throughout Coös County. "Susan has excelled in every position on the NH early childhood education career ladder: associate teacher, lead teacher, director, trainer, mentor, and supervisor. She was involved in the creation of the first licensed and Title XX contracted infant toddler program in Coös County. To insure quality and to set the standard high, Susan made sure that this center was nationally accredited, the first to be accredited in Coös County," said Finnigan-Allen. "Susan grows teachers who excel in the field," continued Finnigan-Allen. "Since 1992, she has nurtured students in the NHCTC Early Childhood Education program by teaching, guiding, and modeling NAEYC standards for students."
Blais' qualities worth noting are not limited to the caregiver aspect. According to Finnigan-Allen, Blais also possesses qualities as an educator that are worthy of recognition. "Regardless of whom Susan is teaching: preschoolers, child care teachers or college students, she first creates a community of learners by modeling and quiet leadership. After nurturing an atmosphere of trust, Susan begins to work her magic. She makes courses real, relevant, and, best of all, unforgettable." According to Finnigan-Allen, "When Susan wants to infuse math and science into the preschool environment, she fills the center with fish, frogs and creates indoor gardens filled with native North Country plants. She then creates plenty of opportunities for one-to-one correspondence, graphs, child-initiated hypothesis and data analysis along with the fun." Susan's leadership in the classroom and throughout Coös County mirrors Mt. Washington, the highest mountain in New Hampshire, continues Finnigan-Allen. "She reaches to set the quality bar high for all to see."
According to College President Katharine Eneguess, "Susan Blais epitomizes the definition of child care excellence. Every step she takes is with the best interest of the children in mind. She has worked tirelessly to provide quality child care to North Country families and is currently working to grow the NHCTC center into a year-round, extended hours, community-based child care center. Quality and affordable child care is of utmost importance to Susan," said Eneguess.
The award was presented by Early Learning New Hampshire, a non-profit organization committed to ensuring that all New Hampshire children have the opportunity to reach their full potential by expanding access to affordable quality child care and early education, supporting the child care industry, building public-private partnerships, and helping families balance work and family.
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