Nanny of the Year™ Nomination Biographies
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Previous NOTY™s:
2009 Nanny of the Year™
2008 Nanny of the Year™
2007 Nanny of the Year™
2006 Nanny of the Year™
2005 Nanny of the Year™
2004 Nanny of the Year™
2003 Nanny of the Year™
2002 Nanny of the Year™
2001 Nanny of the Year™
2000 Nanny of the Year™
1999 Nanny of the Year™
1998 Nanny of the Year™
1997 Nanny of the Year™
1996 Nanny of the Year™
1995 Nanny of the Year™
1994 Nanny of the Year™
1993 Nanny of the Year™
1992 Nanny of the Year™
1991 Nanny of the Year™
1990 Nanny of the Year™
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2009 Nanny of the Year™
Introducing MaryAnn Meddish as 2009 INA Nanny of the Year™.
Read MaryAnn's acceptance speech
Being a nanny means that I am able to immerse myself in what I love. I love working with children, and I have been blessed with the
ability to follow my passions, enjoy my loves, and use my skills in my career. I want to know that I make a difference in others' lives
and being able to make children's lives fun and interesting, while also gearing their environment and activities to develop their skills
and interests, thrill me. What other job in the world allows you to arrive at work to smiles and squeals of delight, play and receive hugs
and kisses all day, and be sadly missed at the end of the day?
I am an excellent nanny who has always strived to do my very best. For years, I have looked to my mentors and seen areas in my own life that I would like to grow and develop. I have worked hard to become the person I am and to reach my personal goals. The thought of being considered a leader use to scare me, but then a wise friend told me, "You have the ability to use your knowledge to mentor others and to help the next generation of nannies reach their goals to be their very best, and that is what you should do." That is my current goal. I want to give back to the nanny community that has helped me become the person I am today.
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2008 Nanny of the Year™
Donna Robinson
Introducing Donna Robinson as 2008 INA Nanny of the Year™.
Read Donna's acceptance speech
Donna has been working with children for over 30 years. She said she first realized she had leadership ability when she
volunteered with Girl Scouts as a leader for teens. "Girl Scouting offered me a chance to stretch myself and not be afraid
to work out of the box," she recalls. Her first experience in teaching was with 3rd graders in California as a teacher assistant.
It was there she discovered she had special talents for working with kids who were considered a "little different."
When she moved to Kentucky, she worked with autistic children. Later she worked in a classroom for delinquents who taught her to never judge a kid from the outside. In New York, she worked with rural and migrant children and gained insight into working with children and parents of different cultures. Donna and her best friend started a youth group dealing with racial harmony issues. They typically attended 5 MLK Youth Peace Conferences.
When her husband's job moved them to Florida, she realized she had to reinvent herself and got a job as a nanny. "It was like I had been training for this job all my life!" she says. Four years later, she had a dream for traveling and working with families everywhere on a temporary basis. The Traveling Nanny was born.
2009 Update: Since receiving the NOTY™ award, Donna has continued to work as a traveling nanny. This past year, she enjoyed assignments that took her to such wonderful destinations as the French Polynesian Islands, Alaska and Turkey, to name a few. Donna has enjoyed being an active member of INA and regularly writes articles for INAVision, the association newsletter. "Carrying around a tote bag with INA's Nanny of the Year™ provided me with many opportunities to share my nanny experiences with curious folks who wanted to know more about what my bag meant," said Donna. Donna looks forward to serving on the 2009 INA NOTY™ selection committee, and attending the 2009 conference where she'll give a speech and take part in presenting the 2009 INA Nanny of the Year™ award.
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2007 Nanny of the Year™
Introducing Christy Ochs as 2007 INA Nanny of the Year™.
Read Christy's acceptance speech.
Christy Ochs is not your typical nanny. She is the
mother of four who took an unusual path to becoming a nanny, a professional
caregiver who is a genuine advocate for children, and she represents
a positive role model for the in-home child care industry and the
International Nanny Association (INA). On May 18, INA awarded Christy
its highest honor, The 2007 Nanny of the Year™ (NOTY™) Award during
its 22nd Annual Conference held in Alexandria, Virginia.
When Christy turned 42, she decided her child rearing days were not easily left behind—even though she had already reared four children, one with downs syndrome, and two step children. “I chose to be a nanny because the idea of doing for the parents what I would have loved to have had done for me as a young parent was very appealing. I loved the idea of not only providing a secure and loving environment for their children, but also taking some of the daily pressure off of their shoulders by doing their laundry, straightening up the house and helping the children with their school assignment.”
Christy is now working with her third family and cares for three-year-old Hawk who attended the conference with his mother. During the award ceremony, he presented flowers to Christy. “My boss, Jill, nominated me for the NOTY™. I was so honored and touched to have been nominated, especially by my employer. Lot’s of people go through their entire working lives without feeling appreciated. I can't tell you how much this nomination meant to me. Every time my little charges say "I love you Nana!" I feel like Nanny of the Year.”
What does it take to be INA’s Nanny of the Year™? Officially, it takes at least five years of professional nanny experience; an education in the field of child care; a nomination from a nanny recruiting agency or employer; and several references. Unofficially, it takes a lot of love and patience.
Christy is the founder/moderator of the Denver Area Nanny Association. She has been a member of INA since 2001, and is also a member of NANC (National Association of Nanny Credentialing) and Nanny Support Group Leaders. She was inspired to start the Denver Area Nanny Association in 2003 after attending her first INA conference. Now with 28 local members, the group arranges play dates, nanny dinners and coffee gatherings, and organizes and participates in CPR/First Aid training for nannies.
2009 Update: Since receiving the NOTY™ award, Christy has enjoyed working with the same family that nominated her. She has now been with that family for 6 years and her charges are now ages 6, 4 and 2. In January of 2008, the family moved into a new house and Christy was able to reduce her hours to 30 per week so that she could help out with her new grandbaby.
Christy continues to play an active role in her local nanny support group, Denver Area Nanny Association. Last spring she asked one of the other nannies in the group to take over leadership. "The new moderator is doing a super job and we have such a wonderful group of Nannies here in Colorado!" said Christy.
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2006 Nanny of the Year™
Left to Right: Cassie Peitzman, 19; Marissa Peitzman, 14; Alec Kunkel, 16 When I started they were: Cassie, 3 and Alec, 6 weeks -- Marissa was born in 1992 |
A former lead preschool teacher and day care assistant director, Becky has been a career nanny with the same family for over sixteen years. She has been an active member of the INA since 1989 and was one of the first members to pass the INA Nanny Credential Exam. Becky has served as INA President for two years and on the Board of Directors for six years, as well as on many INA committees. In 1998 Hillary Rodham Clinton presented Becky with one of Parents Magazine's awards for outstanding acheivment in the childcare field.
Becky was nominated for Nanny of the Year™ by Mary O'Connor of Nannies from the Heartland, a Plymouth Minnesota based placement agency in which she works part time as a placement counselor. For the past two years, Becky has served as the president of her local nanny group, Twin Cities Professional Nannies (TCPN). She has been an editor and contributor to the TCPN newsletter for over four years. She is an active volunteer in the Girl Scouts as the leader of two troops, also the event chair and in serves at the leadership level in Prairie Star Service Unit. Becky was awarded the Outstanding Leader and Valued Volunteer honor.
Becky is very special to many people:
"More than anyone else in my life Becky has taught me how to be
the father I hoped and dreamed I would be. For me she has been the "owner's
manual" that children don't come with." said Paul Kunkel, Becky’s
employer.
"She has a presence that somehow always communicates a sense of her absolute confidence in us, not only at every dance recital and orchestra concert, but every day. I have a deep and tremendous respect for Becky, and I consider myself profoundly lucky to have had her as my nanny." offered Cassie Peitzman, Becky’s oldest charge.
INA's 2006 Nanny of the Year™ selection committee had this to say, “Becky stood out because she has been with one family from the children's birth all the way through their teen years. On top of this, she saw the family through divorce and the blending of two households, all the while staying very active in her community and in the in-home child care industry on a local, regional and national level. She is a totally selfless and giving person.”
2009 Update: In 1998 Becky received one of Parents Magazine's awards for outstanding achievement in the child care field! After serving on the INA Board for six years in the late 90's and early 2000's, Becky took a hiatus for a few years. Now Becky is back in full swing, and serving in her second year as INA board secretary. She has also returned to serve on her local nanny group's board of directors. Becky enjoys contributing regularly to several newsletters and working part time at a nanny placement agency. Becky has been a nanny for 19 years, has worked with children of all ages and is celebrating 26 years in early childhood education.
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2005 Nanny of the Year™
Congratulations to the 2005 International Nanny of the Year™ award recipient, Jenny Brown from Kirkland, Washington.
A former lead preschool teacher, Jenny has been a career nanny for over ten years. She has been a member of INA since March, 2004 and passed the INA Nanny Credential Exam at the 19th annual conference that was held in Boston, MA. Jenny is Heartsaver First Aid certified and holds her CPR certification in Pediatric Basic Life Support.
For the past six years, Jenny has served as the President of her local nanny group, Northwest Nanny Association. She is active in her community, participating in several charitable organizations, including organizing annual holiday projects for the patients at her local Children's Hospital and filling Christmas stockings for the Seton House, a transitional home for unwed mothers and their children.
In September 2004, Jenny organized a National Nanny Recognition Week social event that united nannies, families and agency owners to honor those dedicated to working in the in-home childcare industry.
Jenny has written several articles for her nanny group newsletter, taught and attended several educational workshops and has been interviewed for newspaper articles relating to the nanny industry.
Jenny's portfolio was amazing and consisted of letters of recommendation from past employers, agency owners and heartfelt letters of support from her former charges, with whom she still remains close.
A true professional, Jenny will be a dynamic representation of today's professional nanny.
2009 Update: Since receiving the 2005 NOTY™ award, Jenny has done many new things. First, she went back to school and completed a yearlong Early Childhood Education program. "It was difficult at times to manage working fulltime and attending school full-time, but I loved the program and was sad when my coursework ended," said Jenny. Jenny is now just a few classes away from earning her Early Childhood Education degree.
Jenny has also expanded her career skills and completed a doula training program. "This has been an interest of mine for many years and I am eager to start the process of becoming DONA (Doulas of North America) certified," said Jenny.
On the nanny front, Jenny is no longer with the family that nominated her. "The unfortunate piece of the nanny puzzle is the fact that the family/children grow up and no longer need a nanny," she said. Jenny has remained close to the family, and the kids hold a special place in her heart. "I have been fortunate to have gone from one great family to another amazing family in my nanny career," she said.
"One thing remains the same," said Jenny, "My passion for the nanny industry." Jenny has continued her position as the Northwest Nanny Association's president and is constantly looking for speakers, meeting topics, classes and finding ways members of the nanny group can help out in their community; all on top of her day job, caring for a two year old boy and his one year old sister. "After being a nanny for 14 years, I am happy to say that I love it now as much as I did when I started, and I remain honored to have been chosen as the 2005 NOTY™."
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2004 Nanny of the Year™
Michelle LaRowe
For the past 10 years, Michelle has been a career nanny who specializes in caring for twins. She has been with her current family since her charges were 10 days old. They recently celebrated their fifth birthday. Although she holds a bachelor of science degree in chemisry, Michelle says that she truly knows what it means to find what you love to do and then find out how to earn a living doing it. According to Michelle, there is no other job that is more satisfying and rewarding then working with children as their nanny.
Michelle is an active member of the nanny community on the local, national and international level. In 2001, she founded Boston Area Nannies Incorporated, a local non profit educational organization dedicated to improving the quality of in home childcare. Michelle holds membership in the National Association of Nannies as well as serves on the Board of Directors of the International Nanny Association. Michelle chairs the INA Cookbook Committee and co-chairs the INA Nanny Mentor Program. She has also passed the INA Nanny Credential Exam.
One of Michelles' greatest accomplishments of this past year was organizing Back to Basics, Boston's first nanny conference day. There were 130 attendees from 9 states present. This was a free educational event for the nanny community supported by over 13 industry businesses. The most rewarding part of the day for Michelle was that "For the first time, some of these woman realized that 'hey, I am not just a babysitter, I am a nanny!'"
In her spare time, Michelle enjoys traveling domestically for snowmobile excursions, playing on a basketball league and keeping current with her Creative Memories scrapbooks.
2009 Update: After receiving the NOTY™ award, Michelle was featured in several newspaper and magazine articles and she appeared on several different television programs. As a result, she was contacted to write a parenting book, and has since authored Nanny to the Rescue! Nanny to the Rescue Again! and Working Mom's 411. Her fourth book will be out in 2010. Michelle also wrote a chapter in the Experts' Guide to the Baby Years and she regularly contributes articles to several magazines, including TWINS Magazine.
Michelle continued working with the boys she cared for since 1999 until they relocated across the country in December of 2006. She still talks to them often and has had the opportunity to visit them in their new home.
In 2007, Michelle got married, relocated to Cape Cod and in July 2008, Michelle and her husband Jeff welcomed their first baby, Abigail into the world. "Being a nanny for so long has certainly prepared me for all the ups and downs motherhood has to offer" says Michelle. "Abigail is amazing and although everyone kept telling me I'd do things so differently with my own, I haven't experienced that yet."
Michelle recently became an employee of the International Nanny Association and enjoys manning the office from home. You can learn more about what Michelle is up to at www.michellelarowe.com.
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2003 Nanny of the Year™
Michelle
McNabb
An active member of INA since 1993, Michelle McNabb of Seattle, Washington,
was among the first to take - and pass - the INA Nanny Credential Exam.
She also serves on the organization's Membership and Nominating Committees
and is an active participant in the INA-sponsored Nanny Mentor program.
"The definition of being a nanny has evolved so much over the years. No longer considered 'just a babysitter,' nannies are respected, dedicated professionals responsible for and entrusted with the care of young children," stated Pat Cascio, president of INA.
"Michelle McNabb is a true representative of our organization. She is committed to her job and to her families, and understands the value of education in terms of in-home childcare and safety, as well as the need to adapt to an ever-changing childcare environment. We are very proud to have her represent INA as Nanny of the Year™."
"Being named Nanny of the Year™ means so much to me," added McNabb. "It is truly an honor, and I am especially privileged to have a job that I thoroughly enjoy. Not only do you get to teach children in a one-on-one environment, but you learn from them and laugh with them. It doesn't get any better than that."
McNabb, 34, was nominated by Annie Davis of Annie's Nannies, Inc. in Seattle, WA. She has been with the company since 1995 and according to owner Annie Davis, "Michelle is committed to children's educational, social and emotional well-being. She contributes to their overall development through lesson plans that she creates, play dates and lots of tender, loving care."
In addition to INA, Michelle McNabb is involved with Seattle-based nanny associations and participates in a number of related volunteer activities. She stays current on topics including children's literature, parenting issues and child development research, as well as age-appropriate toys and products. Prior to becoming a nanny, Michelle served as a preschool teacher. She also holds bachelors degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from the University of Idaho.
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2002 Nanny of the Year™
Marni
Kent!
Marni started her nanny career in 1987. She currently lives in Highlands
Ranch, Colorado. Marni understands the responsibilities of nanny as
well as a household manager and has experienced live-in as well as live-out
roles in her years in the industry. Her hobbies and interests include
reading, gardening, exercising, walking with her English Bulldog Kramer,
caring for her three birds and mentoring other nannies. Marni's current
employer writes, "Marni allows (us) to pursue our passion for our
work while providing a loving, safe and nurturing environment for our
children. Our kids know that we love them because we care enough to
have someone like Marni spending time with them when we can't."
Ginger Swift of ABC Nannies, who nominated Marni, wrote this; "We are very pleased to nominate Marni Kent as Nanny of the Year. She is experienced, dedicated and a credit to her profession."
2009 Update: Marni has been working as a professional nanny for 23 years. She will soon be starting a new job in Greenwich, CT. Since receiving the INA NOTY™ award, Marni has been working with families of multiples, and teaching parents and newborn babies to sleep through the night. She has also worked with families of older multiples. Marni is approaching her 17 year wedding anniversary. She says that she is as passionate as ever about the nanny profession!
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2001 Nanny of the Year™
Our International Nanny Association's Nanny of the Year™ 2001 was CAROL ANDERSON from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Carol has been an INA member since 1998. Carol is a live-out nanny for one charge, age four. Along with several various teaching positions she has held seven nanny jobs. Carol holds a B.A. in Child Development and an M.A. in Education. From 1990 to 1992 Carol served in the Peace Corps in the Kingdom of Lesotho. She was the primary resource trainer for 70 teachers and assisted in the education of over 3000 students. She traveled by foot up mountainsides to reach local villages to introduce materials and various teaching methods.
Her employers say, "Carol is trustworthy, reliable and a hard worker. She is a mother, teacher, playmate and friend. She challenges herself to understand children and always searches for ways to develop and teach our son. Carol, you are outstanding!" Carol's goal is to bring awareness of the Nanny Profession to the public. She is proud of her accomplishments. And so are we of Carol and all the nominees. Congratulations!
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2000 Nanny of the Year™
Tess Krier
Tess has continued her work as a professional nanny for a fabulous family. She now has 25 years of experience under her belt. Tess has enjoyed traveling with her work family and mentoring her twin sister, Julia, as she is becoming involved in the nanny profession. Tess also continues to help spread the word about INA, the local Twin City Nannies group and to raise awareness about our profession.
How receiving the NOTY™ award has impacted her career: Tess says that "The award validated me as a professional and gained me new respect from my peers, employers and others interested in the nanny profession." Tess says that she has also "given my mother and mother in law something to brag about."
Words of wisdom: Plan on working hard and steady to achieve your goals. Find a family that you can love and that will love you back. Do not stay where you are not appreciated. So many nannies stay because of the children, but it benefits no one if you are not appreciated. So many nannies crave that high profile job, and although the perks are there, if you are not appreciated the number of trips you have gone on or the number of private jets you've been on just doesn't matter. None of that matters if they don't love you.
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1999 Nanny of the Year™
Heidi Kuehner
No information on Ms. Kuehner is available.
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1998 Nanny of the Year™
Cynthia Wilkinson
Cynthia divides her time between her nanny career and her career as a professional musician. In 2000, Cynthia released her first children's CD called Jumpin' Up to the Moon and in 2003, she released Jumpin' On Down the Road. Cynthia is still very involved as a nanny for her 5 year old charge, Blake, and has enjoyed serving as a nanny mentor for INA. In 2004, she launched her website, jumpinwithcindy.com, where she can now market her CD's to a national audience. Cynthia is also a faculty member of the Swallow Hill Music School and the Denver Center Theatre Academy, as well as an Artist in Residence with Young Audiences and the director of the children's choir, "Sound Seekers". Her work with children also includes serving as Master Teacher for the Metropolitan State College of Denver's Child Development Center and presenting at conferences throughout the country.
How receiving the NOTY™ award has impacted her career: Cynthia says "It was a wonderful experience to serve the nanny profession as NOTY™. One highlight was being featured on a local PBS program. I was not filmed or interviewed, but journalists from the Denver area discussed a story about me that was written in the Denver Post. They focused on my high level of education and professionalism. It was such an honor to be treated with respect by the press and not to be involved in a "tabloid level" of reporting. I was proud to be able to spread the word that there are many true professionals who have chosen to become career nannies."
2009 Update: Cynthia is working as a nanny in the Denver area for an 18 month old girl and is celebrating her 10th year as a member of the faculty at the Denver Center Theatre Academy. In her spare time, she assists with a children's choir, and recently performed with the choir on her hammered dulcimer. Cynthia also enjoys being active in INA and writes for the associations newsletter, INAVision. Cynthia hopes to release her first lullabye CD, Jumpin' Into Dreamland, this spring.
Words of wisdom: Be creative in finding new ways to make your nanny career interesting. Look "outside the box" for new avenues to travel on your nanny journey.
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1997 Nanny of the Year™
Kellie Geres
Since receiving the award, Kellie has lived and worked near Atlanta, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. She has spent the past 10 years working with divorced families as a nanny/household manager. In 1998, Kellie joined the INA Board of Directors and has since worked on several committees. She also has served as Vice President, Treasurer and as conference chair for many years. Kellie also worked part time in an agency in Atlanta, facilitating placements with families and nannies, training nannies and providing general office management. She found that experience, where she could see both sides of the placement process, to be valuable. One of Kellie's greatest accomplishments was writing and obtaining a grant for $56,000 from AT&T. This grant provided all day training to daycare workers for AT&T employees in the metro-Atlanta area.
How receiving the NOTY™ award has impacted her career: "It was an honor to be recognized by my peers and industry professionals for the work that I love to do and my dedication to my profession" says Kellie. "Receiving NOTY™ allowed me to really seek out jobs that would treat me as the true professional that I am and to be recognized and appreciated for the professionalism and ethics I bring with me to the job." The children in Kellie's care also recognize the importance of being a NOTY™ and are quick to correct anyone who mistakes her for a baby-sitter. "They take pride in the fact that their nanny is a NOTY™." A highlight in my term of NOTY™ was being invited to Nashville to meet with local nannies and assist them in starting a local nanny group for nannies in their area. In the fall of '97 (Louise Woodward)?? was sentenced, and as a result I was sought out by the media for comments.
2009 Update: In July 2004, Kellie moved to the Washington, DC area, where she has been with a family for four years. Kellie is currently the President of ADCAN - Association of DC Area Nannies (www.dcareanannies.com) and is co-moderator of Nanny Island (www.nannyisland.com). Kellie also holds membership in INA, NANC and APN.
Words of wisdom: Be creative in finding new ways to make your nanny career interesting. Look "outside the box" for new avenues to travel on your nanny journey.
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1996 Nanny of the Year™
Laurie Crowfoot
No information on Ms. Crowfoot is available.
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1995 Nanny of the Year™
Gail Bittle
Like most other career nannies, Gail did not intend on becoming a nanny, but fell into the profession after graduating from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Family Relations and Child Development. In 1987, she moved to Dallas to be a nanny for the Silcok Family. She continued to be a nanny for 16 1/2 years to that same family, the family she was with when she received the 1995 Nanny of the Year™ Award.
Gail worked as a nanny full time until May 2004. She currently teaches Kindergarten at Westminster Presbyterian Preschool & Kindergarten in Dallas, Texas. She also works as a part time nanny four afternoons per week. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and watching sports and is an active member of her church. Gail is still in close contact with the family she served when she received the award. Gail shares with anyone that will listen how she has been blessed by her relationship with James and Hunt. She still spends time with James, watching his soccer games, talking on the phone and doing lunch. Unfortunately after a brief illness in December 2002, Hunt passed away.
How receiving the NOTY™ award has impacted her career: Gail says that she felt it reconfirmed that her choice of being a nanny was the right one and it confirmed that being a nanny is a significant and extremely important role in today's world.
2009 Update: Gail still teaches Kindergarten at the same school and enjoys working as a part-time nanny 3 days per week with the same family. Gail still remains close to James, who is beginning his junior year at Princeton University and is still an active volunteer with the children's ministry at her church.
Words of wisdom: Stand up for yourself and what you feel strongly about. It is impor¬tant and beneficial to be involved with an organization like INA, espe¬cially when you are a young nanny and just starting out.
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1994 Nanny of the Year™
Madison Myers
Madison has enjoyed working as a nanny and for seven years, worked as a full time nanny for the most amazing parents ever - Bruce Willis and Demi Moore. Over the years, she also started placing nannies with exclusive families. Madison was sought out by the one and only Gary Peskin of Roses Agency to work in Los Angeles in 2001. Madison now resides in San Fernando Valley with her fiancée Gary and her 7 year old daughter Kistler, and continues to work as a freelance nanny headhunter for exclusive families. Madison continues to maintain a loving relationship with all of her charges and incorporates them into her life as much as possible. She also mentors nannies across the country and encourages a positive attitude pertaining to all the aspects of being a nanny.
How receiving the NOTY™ award has impacted her career: Madison says "Honestly receiving the NOTY™ Award didn't impact my career. I am a strong believer that only you can impact yourself. In the moment it was fun and I loved receiving the award, but I was hoping it would help connect me to more nannies as I traveled."
Words of wisdom: To me a nanny is someone that has a long term relationship with a family - longer than a year. Stay connected - you are an intricate part of the family and your relationship is special and unique.
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1993 Nanny of the Year™
Glenda Durst
Glenda has been a nanny for 21 years. She holds Bachelor's of Arts degree in Social Work and in early Childhood Education. She also holds certificates for teaching infants, toddlers and Sign Language. Glenda has attended 16 annual INA Conferences and served on the INA Board of Directors for 7 years. While on the board, she created the Special Needs Resource list on the INA website. She has also chaired the NOTY™ Award Development Committee and served on the Mentoring committee.
How receiving the NOTY™ award has impacted her career: Glenda says she felt proud and humbled that her peers thought her worthy to represent all nannies. "I believed I was a professional before I received the award, but having the award showed potential employers that I was a true professional." Glenda says it was also a catalyst for her to continue her education and to read more professional books and articles.
2009 Update: Glenda has worked with special needs children and children with learning disabilities, delayed speech, low muscle tone and central auditory processing issues throughout her career. In the fall of 2006, she moved back to her home state of Minnesota and has since moved back to the Chicago area where she is currently working with 10 month old twins. Glenda now has 18 1/2 years of nanny experience and has passed the INA Nanny Credential Exam.
Words of wisdom: Be the best person and nanny you can be. Remember you are very important in children's lives; be aware that what you do or say can impact young minds. Make an effort to develop interests outside of work and develop a circle of colleagues, people you can go to with questions or for moral support. Also, be thinking about what you want to do in 5, 10 or 15 years from now. Do you want to specialize in a certain area? Infant care, special needs or multiples are growing areas of expertise.
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1992 Nanny of the Year™
Janet Schilling
Janet worked for the Flores family for 11 years (1986-1997) and received her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education while working as a nanny. From 1992-1995 she taught kindergarten while Whidden, her charge, went to school. In 1996, she moved to the Lamplighter School in Dallas, TX to teach first and then second grade where she remained until 2000. Her father passed away July of 2000 and it was then that she decided to return to her home state. She currently teaches kindergarten at Oregon Episcopal School in Portland, Oregon.
How receiving the NOTY™ award has impacted her career: Janet says that she felt a responsibility to nannies that lived in her area and sought to provide support and friendship to them. She went on to become a member of the INA Board of Directors, where she worked on the ethics and evaluation standards for the association.
2009 Update: Janet's former charge Whidden, just became engaged! She will be graduating from the University of Washington sometime next year and will continue to teach at Oregon Episcopal School. Janet recently went to Dallas, TX to present a workshop at the NAEYC conference where she was surprised to see Gail Bittle the 1995 Nanny of the Year™ in her workshop.
Words of wisdom: Be professional! Your presence provides stability and continuity in the lives of children who generally have parents who are very active both professionally and in the community. As nannies, we nurture the future and it is by our example that each child learns to become the best that he/she can be. I value the years I spent as a nanny, as I learned from both my employers and other nannies about so many aspects of professionalism. Through the close relationship with my employers, I developed the communication skills which have become valuable in my current job. I admire the commitment and energy that it takes to be a nanny. I will always consider my 11 years to have been critical to my personal and professional growth and development.
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1991 Nanny of the Year™
Glenda Willm Propst
In 1992, Glenda worked with the late Harriette Grant, Eva Harkness (now Dr. Eva Harkness, Ph.D) to form the National Association of Nannies.
After 8 years with her first family (the one that nominated her for NOTY™) she left, and in 1993 she went back to work as a Child Care Center Director. Completely miserable, after 4 months she decided to go back to the nanny profession. Ironically she found her next nanny job through a parent in the center. She was hired for that job in September of 1993, and started working in December of 1993. She is now approaching her 14 th year with that family and has been honored to help raise 2 wonderful, beautiful and bright children. Her charges are now 9 and 14 and although she only works for them 2 days a week, her employer recently told her that she wants her to be there for as long as she wants to stay.
The children in her first family are now 37, 35, 23 and 20. She still sees the youngest ones fairly regularly, talks to another on the internet and was privileged to have the two youngest participate in her 1996 wedding. In 1995, at the age of 42, Glenda finally got it right and met a wonderful man. They were married in June of 1996. Glenda says that he is the best thing that ever happened to her and that he loves the children she nannies for. Her charges don't have family in St. Louis, so Glenda and her husband have become their "St. Louis family." Glenda and her husband both love attending birthday parties and school activities, being a part of childhood milestones and hosting lots of overnight and weekend visits.
How receiving the NOTY™ award has impacted her career: Glenda says that receiving the NOTY™ award was the most wonderful day in her life- that is, until her wedding day. Receiving the award gave her the confidence, self esteem and validation she needed to carry her through the tough times she encountered the next 2 years of her life.
2009 Update: Glenda is still working part time for the same family and celebrated 15 great years with them in December 2008. She considers it such a privilege to be able to start with a newborn baby and stay until the job is finished. "So many nannies do not have that opportunity and it is one of the highlights of my nanny career" says Glenda. Still married to Terry, they stay very busy as part owners of the local airport. Glenda feels fortunate to have a husband that has always supported her professional activities. "My work in INA and NAN helped prepare me and give me the confidence I needed to jump on many of the opportunities that have come my way over the years. My life has truly been enriched by being involved in the nanny profession on a national level. I've met so many amazing people along the way."
Words of wisdom: Communicate, Communicate, Communicate! Know what you want, know what you need, stand up for yourself, but also try to be supportive of your employers. Don't present a problem without offering a solution and always be ready to meet in the middle.
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1990 Nanny of the Year™
Harriette Edythe Abigail Grant
In July, 1961 Harriette Grant began her career as a nanny. At that time there were no newspaper articles about nanny salaries or benefits, formal nanny training programs in the United States, or nanny support groups available. There weren't even any nanny organizations in existence. Harriette was just 19 when she started taking care of Sylvia Whitman and in the book Like a Second Mother Sylvia wrote affectionately about the woman who cared for her for 9 years, the woman she nicknamed "Rat." Sylvia remained close to Harriette over the years and was with her in her final hours when she passed in 2002.
In 1970 Harriette moved to Washington D. C. to care for the Brown children, where she stayed for 20 years watching "her children" graduate from High School and then college. While she was in D.C., Harriette began to get serious about creating a support system for nannies. She was a founding mother of the very first nanny support in the US, the Association of D.C. Area Nannies (ADCAN). This group is still running strong today and prides itself on being the oldest nanny support group in the nation.
Harriette was also a founding member of the International Nanny Association, has served on its board of directors, and was the INA's first Nanny of the Year™ in 1990. In 1992, she was one of the three founders of the National Association of Nannies. Harriette moved to New York City in 1991 and became a founding member of the Professional Nannies of New York nanny support group.
The pioneer of our field, a friend of many and an inspiration to all, Harriette's contributions to the nanny industry will never be forgotten.