Nanny of the Year Nomination Biographies
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Previous NOTYs:
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
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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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."
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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!