Kangaroo Kids Teacher, Diana Flores Receives National Honor

Diana Flores, Discovery Preschool Lead Teacher at Kangaroo Kids was awarded the 2019 National Teacher Award by the Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation (TLLCCF) in Philadelphia. The Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation started in 1994 to honor Teri Lokoff. The foundation “honors outstanding child care teachers for excellence, dedication and the incredibly important contributions they make to creating a strong future,” according to representatives from the foundation.

Diana is an outstanding teacher, who provides a developmentally appropriate and engaging environment for her students. She has taught at Kangaroo Kids for 17 years. Diana stimulates learning in children as young as 2 ½ years old learning through experiences like gardening and using the outdoor environment to teach, science, math and literacy. Executive Director, Kathy Feigley, says “She is an amazing teachers, children in her class enjoy the process of learning and enthusiastically come to school every day excited about the environment she creates in her classroom, parents form outstanding partnerships with her and recognize the quality of her teaching, and her staff are loyal and appreciative of her kind and supportive leadership style. ”

Diana partners with parents to provide the best environment for children where parents and teachers support each other. Parent Natalia Rubio, commented, ”Her creative way of teaching the children about current events and history made learning fun which is what they need at this tender age. She is very caring and incites their creative side and expands their imagination.”

Lisa Mirra, Kangaroo Kids Director, stated Diana is a “Messy but meaningful Guru. Her “Why not?” outlook and ambition to make every moment a teachable moment is exactly what gives young children the confidence to explore, create and love learning. She is an incredible leader and an exceptional teacher.” Diana leads a staff of 5 teachers by first and foremost being a excellent role model. She mentors’ teachers to strive to be the best possible educators. This is crucial for young children as this is the most important time in their lives for brain development. Early Childhood educators are building the foundation for all future learning.

The ceremony was heartfelt with a musical entrance, speeches by Pat Loeb of KYW News radio, Jamie Lokoff, TLLCCG Executive Director as well as a keynote by Distinguished professor Dr. Rebecca Isbell. The finale was the presentation of awards. Diana’s was awarded $1,000 some of which will be used to create a Butterfly Sanctuary at Kangaroo Kids.