The 2019 PCPI Annual Meeting was graciously hosted by Meg Kennedy-Shaw at the Michigan League at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor May 9-12. The meetings were ably chaired by President Mariah Battison from British Columbia and included attendees from British Columbia, California, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, and Virginia.  All enjoyed much camaraderie as they wrestled with the issues that are currently impacting cooperatives.  

Debbie Maxwell

Garden City Co-op Preschool, Garden City, Michigan

District Award

Debbie has been the sole Program Director at Garden City Co-op Preschool since 1996. Prior to this, her children attended the program where she also served on the parent board.  Using her teaching background and experience as a mother of three, Debbie has touched the lives of countless families.  She is involved in many professional organizations and serves as a mentor to other programs in the area. Parents believe Miss Debbie to be the foundation in the growth and development of their children making her the backbone of Garden City Co-op.

Nancy Renner

Fort Hunt Preschool, Alexandria, Virginia

District Award

Nancy's many talents - administrative, writing, and even her legal skills - were put to the test over the last two years as the Virginia Department of Social Services sought to change licensing regulations in a way that threatened the existence of cooperative schools throughout the state.  Nancy spearheaded a lengthy campaign with the regulatory bodies, enlisting the help of many volunteers across Virginia. When that route didn't prove successful, Nancy persevered and pressed on for a legislative solution, and as a result of her leadership, a law was passed giving Virginia cooperatives long-term protection from regulatory changes related to parent training.

Ashley Heacock

Williamsburg Parent Cooperative Preschool, Williamsburg, Virginia

Andrew Pennock

Chancellor Street Preschool Cooperative, Charlottesville, Virginia

Stafford Ward

Fort Hunt Preschool, Alexandria, Virginia

Outstanding Achievement Award

Parent cooperative preschools in Virginia have a more than 75-year history of providing affordable, high quality, safe preschools to Virginia's families. That history likely would be drawing to a close had three co-op parents not joined in efforts to save Virginia's co-ops from proposed regulations eliminating a long-standing training exemption for cooperative parents.  The collaboration of this group of parents played a critical role in securing a training exemption for co-ops via legislation.  Their united efforts helped to preserve Virginia's parent cooperatives.  

Julie Soper

Garden City Co-op Preschool, Garden City, Michigan

Outstanding Achievement Award

Julie held the office of Secretary, Membership, and President during her time at Garden City Co-op Preschool.  Since graduating she has come back to help with graduation every year.  She is also the school's substitute teacher, and she provides child care during co-op member meetings.  She has a heart of gold and a spirit that lights up a room, and everyone who knows her is better because of it.

Mariah Battison

Burnaby, British Columbia

National Award for Demonstrated Leadership

Mariah doesn't just stand on the sidelines to watch; she rolls up her sleeves and dives in. Her list of achievements is long and varied, including work within her children's preschool and their French language public schools.  Soccer and Scouting organizations have also benefited from her involvement as did the CPPP office where she worked as office administrator from 2008-2017.  She served as PCPI VP Membership for several years including publishing the Directory, and she jumped right into the position of PCPI President when her co-president needed to step back.  Mariah always attends the PCPI meetings with enthusiasm and thoughtful insight and ideas.

Dianne Rose

Hunters Woods Cooperative Preschool,  Reston, Virginia

National Award for Demonstrated Leadership and Recipient of the Robin Garthright Bunster Award for Excellence in Teaching

Dianne is one of the most inspiring, energetic and passionate people you will ever meet. She sees the best in every one of her students and strives to challenge and nurture them every day. She is a consummate professional, supporting colleagues and being actively involved in many professional associations. She doesn't know the word "no", only "how can we make that work?" Dianne does everything she can to support Hunters Woods Cooperative Preschool and the surrounding community. She has also served as the editor of Cooperatively Speaking since 2016, redesigned the PCPI website, and fills the role of Vice President (Resources). She is motivated by her belief that cooperative preschools are good not only for students and parents, but also for the entire community that is lucky enough to have one.

Honorary Life Membership

Anne has made a lifetime commitment, as an educator and an academic, to young children and their families.  In the mid-1960's, she became a member of PCPI, shortly after its founding as the American Council of Parent Cooperatives. For a number of years, she wrote the book review column in Cooperatively Speaking , and in 2007 she edited PCPI's publication Sharing Among Us: Parents, Teachers and Children Communicate .  The depth and breadth of Anne's skills are astonishing and she has not hesitated to share them with us. Additionally, she has been an extremely generous financial supporter of PCPI.