Bucks County Teacher Honored With National Award

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — As early childhood educators continue to go beyond the call of duty during a pandemic, one Bucks County teacher has been honored for her efforts. Ashley Lester, a preschool lead teacher at The Malvern School of Warrington, has been recognized as a 2021 Terri Lynne Lokoff Teacher Award recipient. She is one of six Malvern School teachers receiving the honor this year.

Since 1994, the Terri Lynne Lokoff Teacher Awards have honored outstanding child care teachers for their dedication, expertise and commitment to providing high-quality early learning experiences.

“We are extremely proud of Ashley, who represents all of our incredible teachers and staff at The Malvern School,” says Kristen M. Waterfield, CEO & Founder of The Malvern School. “Early childhood teachers are often unsung heroes, but the past year has shined a light on just how critical they are to children’s well-being and development, the dynamics of modern families and the economy overall. For our teachers to be honored among many outstanding early learning professionals who have gone above and beyond to ensure young children and their families continue to thrive is a great honor.”

The full list of teacher award recipients from The Malvern School include:

• Ashley Lester, Preschool Lead Teacher at The Malvern School of Warrington
• Dana Auman, Preschool Lead Teacher at The Malvern School of Frazer
• Chelsea Moyer, Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teacher at The Malvern School of Blue Bell
• Christine David, Get Set Lead Teacher at The Malvern School of Erial
• CherylAnn DeStefano, Preschool Lead Teacher at The Malvern School of West Norriton
• Jennifer Plasha, LEAP Lead Teacher at The Malvern School of Glen Mills

“Early childhood educators are the cornerstone of our communities and they deserve to be recognized and celebrated,” says Carol Austin, Executive Director of First Up, the host of the awards. She continues, “This past year demonstrated more than ever the importance of early childhood education. Our communities realize now that the economy and society as we know it, cannot function optimally without high-quality child care.”

Founded in 1998, The Malvern School is a year-round private preschool for children six weeks to 12 years old. The school has 27 locations throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and central and southern New Jersey.