Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children recognizes two Head Start/Early Head Start of Bennington County staff members

The Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC) recognized Tammy Gosley and Betsy Rathbun-Gunn, both of Head Start/Early Head Start of Bennington County, at the annual VTAEYC Awards in Stowe, VT. Gosley received the 2023 Vermont Early Childhood Educator of the Year award for exceptional early childhood educators, and Rathbun-Gunn received the Distinguished Service award for excellence and advocacy in support of early childhood education.

Gosley has worked with Bennington County’s youngest at Head Start/Early Head Start for over 23 years and knows that social-emotional learning is the foundation of education. “I’m shaping their ideas of what school is,” says Gosley. “I want them to have in their minds that school is a place where they are cherished, where they are learners, and where they are teachers as well.” Rathbun-Gunn started as a teacher and now leads Head Start/Early Head Start by developing and implementing its four components—health, education, social services, and parent development. She also supervises the UCS Infant and Toddler Center. “I am extremely honored and proud to receive this award,” says Rathbun-Gunn. “I have been committed for over 30 years to helping children, families and communities grow and thrive. It has been my passion to provide the very best early education services in the best facilities. I am so proud to be part of UCS and Bennington County Head Start/Early Head Start programs that provide excellent services to our community with caring and dedicated staff.”

The Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children advances excellence and equity in early childhood education as the state’s largest membership organization for early childhood educators and is the state affiliate of NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children. As a nonprofit organization formed by a grassroots effort 50 years ago and now with 500+ members, VTAEYC offers advocacy, workforce development, professional development and other resources to its membership and others in the early childhood education field. VTAEYC aims to meet the needs of today’s early childhood education workforce and create a stronger, more equitable early childhood education system for the future. Learn more: vtaeyc.org.