The Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative, in partnership with We Care for Kids, launched a year-long campaign to highlight the importance of the early childhood workforce. Each month for the next 12 months, we will highlight two winners who were nominated by their communities to win the Early Childhood Champion award. Each winner receives a $1,000 gift and a plaque in honor of their commitment to excellence and service to their communities. Learn more about our winners below!
Tasha McNeil | Omaha, NE
Tasha is the owner of Brilliant Brains Learning Center in Omaha, NE. Her passion for helping children stems from growing up as an only child, and she has provided various forms of child care for over 24 years! Tasha’s career in child care began seven years ago, with her first five years as an in-home provider.
Tasha says winning this award is meaningful because being a child care provider has allowed her to give children quality experiences that encourage positive outcomes. She works hard to change each child’s physical, mental and emotional well-being. “I love and serve children from all walks of life, and I love to accommodate their various different needs.”
Since beginning her career in child care, Tasha has grown to recognize the importance of quality early childhood education. She is proud to give children opportunities that set them up for the rest of their lives. “I love that I get to help prepare children for early childhood, school and beyond!”
Congratulations, Tasha!
“Tasha McNeil is the director of the Brilliant Brains Learning Child Care Services, and she has been wearing many hats to meet the needs of her child care center. Tasha’s child care center has a 5-star review, and she takes time to organize team-building activities during a day off so that her staff feels appreciated. Her passion and dedication to children make her a great candidate for this award.”
Tasha McNeil Nomination Submission
Amber Hosch | Blair, NE
Amber is the owner of Sprout Family-centered Childcare in Blair, NE. Her child care program has been providing in-home care for five years! Along with owning her child care program, Amber has worked in various roles involving child care, including center-based education.
Amber’s passion for early childhood development led to her becoming an in-home child care provider. She says this award and being recognized for her dedication is an honor. “I am so appreciative of my child care families and community for their positive support and continuous encouragement!”
The quality of early childhood education is one of Amber’s priorities, and she hopes her community will recognize the significance of early learning. “Child care as a whole is continuously improving. However, there is still a long way to go for society to understand and acknowledge just how important quality early child care is and how crucial quality child care providers are.”
Congratulations, Amber!
“Amber is an awesome child care provider who always strives for the best for the kids under her care. She has a bright, fun and inviting environment that immediately engages the kids and gets them interested in learning through play. She has daily activities and weekly themes planned for the children to help them learn about the world around them. Ambers uses a variety of techniques to keep the kids engaged in learning while having fun as well. Best of all, Ambers treats all of the children under her care as if they are family and one of her very own! She is awesome at her job and we are so thankful for her love, care and dedication to our children and her career.”
Amber Hosch Nomination Submission
The Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative is a proud partner of We Care for Kids, a statewide campaign to build support for quality early childhood education in Nebraska. Join us and sign up to receive campaign updates, learn about events in your community, and get access to resources to help raise awareness.
