A good egg - Youth Center assistant bounces into magazine award

  • Published
  • By Dylan Laurie
  • 1st SOW Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Kathy Moore, 1st Special Operations Services Squadron lead program assistant, was named one of five Grand Prize Professional Award Winners for 2006 named by "Scholastic Early Childhood Today," and was featured in the November/December 2006 publication of the magazine.

Mrs. Moore won the award for her professional commitment to military children, according to Liz Porath, 1st SOSVS (acting) school-age coordinator.

"Many of the children experience parent deployments, relocation from family - grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles," Mrs. Porath said. "Kathy is one of the constants in their lives."

Mrs. Moore manages the general operations of the arrival and departure of up to 120 children to and from school, as well as plans for summer camp and mini camps.

She has established a pen pal program with children in a village in Rwanda, Africa, as well as children at other military bases, helped organize a clothing drive for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, and this year became a certified CPR and First Aid Instructor.

Mrs. Moore also motivates children to succeed academically, according to Mrs. Porath.

"Mrs. Moore finds their learning style whether it is learning through books or hands-on activities," Mrs. Porath. "Then she finds a way to reach each one."

Although it can be difficult sometimes, cleaning up and dealing with children whose parents are deployed or going through divorce, it allows for the greatest of rewards.

"I enjoy being able to make a child smile," Mrs. Moore said.

"Ronda Brin was doing a science experiment with raw eggs and vinegar, and she let the egg sit for a week in the vinegar to make it rubbery. A week later Hope Hardman showed me that it bounced, then she said, 'Ms. Kathy you bounce it.' Next thing I know the egg broke and I had raw egg and vinegar smell all on my shoes and clothes."

After it happened, Mrs. Moore discussed different smells with the children, but they would not come to close to her.

"The kids would tease me and say they could smell me a mile away," Mrs. Moore said.

The award included an all-expenses paid trip to the National Association for the Education of Young Children 2006 Annual Conference held Nov. 8-11 in Atlanta.

She was also awarded a scholarship for her continued education in the field of early childhood education.

Mrs. Moore says of her professional development, "Each year with new experiences and training programs, I feel that I am continuing to grow and welcome new opportunities to better myself."