Virginia Assocition for Early Childhood Education
620 London Street
Portsmouth, VA 23704
1.888.228.2323
vaecehotline@aol.com


VAECE Past Presidents:

• 1957-1959 Jane Moncure
  
• 1959-1960 Alice Powell*
  
• 1960-1961 Bonnie King* (completing Alice Powell’s term)
  
• 1961-1963 Bonnie King*
  
• 1963-1965 Alice Powell*
  
• 1965-1967 Margaret Browning
  
• 1967-1969 Jane Goldman
  
• 1969-1971 Florence Mason
  
• 1971-1973 Mildred Dickerson
  
• 1973-1975 Charles Caldwell* (first time a president-elect was designated in the minutes)
  
• 1975-1977 Shirley Farrier
  
• 1977-1979 Lois Fears
  
• 1979-1981 Evelyn Bickham
  
• 1981-1983 Johnnie Humphrey
  
• 1983-1985 Helen Richardson
  
• 1985-1987 Ruth Steinbrunner
  
• 1987-1989 Lucille Everhart
  
• 1989-1991 Janet Sawyers
  
• 1991-1993 Victoria Fu
  
• 1993-1995 Pearl L. Waxman
  
• 1995-1997 Carole B. Whitener
  
• 1997-1998 Malcom Cole*
  
• 1998-1999 Ann Marie Leonard (completing Malcom Cole’s term)
  
• 1999-2001 Ann Marie Leonard
  
• 2001-2003 Toni Cacace-Beshears
  
• 2003-2005 Mary Margaret Gardiner
  
• 2005-2007 Edyth Wheeler

(*deceased)

Organizational History
Highlights of VAECE History


1956

• Virginia Council of Social Work sponsored an institute for training child care personnel. Fifty people attended.
• A study committee was appointed for future planning endeavors. A study Committee consisting of twelve members with Jane Moncure as chairperson, met. A constitution was prepared for an organization to be called the Virginia Association for Early Childhood Education. An annual membership fee of $1.00 was recommended.

1957

• Two hundred participants at a Virginia Council of Social Work Institute became charger members of VAECE. The proposed constitution with four basic objectives for the organization was adopted.
  
• A planning committee was appointed for the 1958 conference. A Virginia Association for Early Childhood Education was published.
  
• Three groups became the first informal affiliates of VAECE: Tidewater Preschool Association, Northern Virginia Private Schools Association, and Northern Virginia Cooperative Teachers.
  
• Two VAECE leaders contributed to the revision of the Virginia Department of Education publication, Nursery Schools & Kindergartens: A Guide to Self-Improvement. This work instated the organization's position as a professional resource within the state.

1958

• The first VAECE Conference was held at the Roslyn Episcopal Conference Center, the only Richmond area facility which would accept a racially integrated group.

1958-63

• VAECE members worked on behalf of a preschool registration bill. Although the bill never passed, the effort represented the first significant legislative initiative for VAECE.

1963

• Cooperative efforts were initiated between VAECE and the Virginia Department of Welfare and Institutions to provide training for child care and nursery school workers across the state.

1963-64

• VAECE unsuccessfully sought a revision of Nursery Schools & Kindergartens: A Guide to Self-Improvement.

1966

• The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation, supported by VAECE, providing for state funding for public school kindergartens-the organization's first major public policy success.

1966-67

• Two VAECE members served on a thirteen-member committee appointed by the State Department of Education for the preparation of A Guide for Kindergarten Education, published n 1968.

1967

• VAECE Awarded scholarships to graduate students in early childhood education to help answer the state's need for prepared kindergarten teachers.

1969

• VAECE affiliated with NAEYC.
  
• Piedmont AECE affiliated with VAECE.

1971

• A formal policy for local chapter affiliation was adopted.
  
• Southwestern Virginia AECE became the first chapter to be affiliated under the new procedures.
  
• The first two-day board retreat was held. NAEYC provided assistance for a leadership workshop to plan for more comprehensive programs for child advocacy.
  
• The newsletter's name was changed to Viewpoint.

1972

• VAECE hosted the annual SACUS Conference in Richmond. VAECE affiliated with SACUS. Thereafter, VAECE membership included SACUS/NAEYC membership.

1973

• VAECE Established the office of Vice President for Affiliate Chapters.
  
• Valley AEYC affiliated with VAECE.
  
• A former VAECE was named chairperson of the Week of the Young Child Committee for NAEYC.
  
• VAECE members participated actively in the Governor's Conference on Day Care Needs in Virginia. VAECE endorsed the conference recommendations and provided financial assistance for publishing the conference report.

1974

• The office of Vice President for Commissions was established by appointment. Commissions were named and charged with responsibility for developing white papers on current children's issues.
  
• The VAECE Award for Outstanding Service to Young Children in Virginia was instituted.
  
• Northern Virginia AEYC was affiliated with VAECE.

1974-75

• VAECE supported a resolution creating a VALC (Virginia Legislative Committee) study on the needs of young children in Virginia. Testimony by VAECE members contributed to the committee's work.

1976

• House Bill 612, resulting from VALC study, was introduced to the General Assembly. VAECE supported the bill which proposed a Division for Children.
  
• Richmond Area AECE and Williamsburg AECE became affiliate groups.

1977

• HB 612 creating a Division for Children under the Governor's office passed the General Assembly.
  
• VAECE Kindergarten Position Paper was printed and distributed.

1978

• The Division for Children was established. Two VAECE members were appointed to the Division for Children's Advisory Board. One served as the first Chair.
  
• Richmond Area AECE developed a publication and a slide-tape presentation of A Guide to Child Advocacy.
  
• A student affiliate at James Madison University was established.

1979

• House Bill 276, established exemption for church-related child care centers from licensure, passed the General Assembly.
  
• VAECE contributed $1,000 to the legal fund to challenge HB 276. The International Year of the Child was celebrated. Three VAECE members received the International Year Distinguished Service Award.

1980

• VAECE hosted the annual SACUS Conference in Roanoke. SACUS re-organized governance with direct representation from each state. VAECE elected its first SACUS representative.

1981

• VAECE established a Week of the Young Child Subsidy and a newsletter Subsidy for affiliate groups.
  
• VAECE published a position paper on Care and Education of Infants and Toddlers in Virginia.

1982

• Central Virginia AEYC was affiliated with VAECE.

1983

• VAECE published a revision of Kindergarten in Virginia.

1984

• Prince William AEYC and the New River Valley AEYC were affiliated with VAECE.
  
• The constitution is changed to allow for election of officers by mail ballot.
  
• VAECE published a position paper on The Primary Years in Virginia.
  
• A past VAECE president was elected SACUS president.

1985

• A VAECE member was elected to the NAEYC Governing Board for a 1985-89 term.
  
• VAECE presented a resolution to the NAEYC Board emphasizing the importance of the primary years and seeking the establishment of a Primary Track at the annual NAEYC conference.
  
• VAECE Adopted a Legislative Agenda for the 1986 General Assembly.
  
• Attendance at the annual VAECE conference exceeded 1,000 participants.

1986

• Thirteen Virginia programs were accredited during the first year of the NAEYC's Center Accreditation Program.
  
• Radford University AEYC, a student group, was affiliated.
  
• VAECE unsuccessfully opposed recommended changes of the Governor's Commission on Excellence in Education related to early childhood teacher education and to programs for "at risk" four-year olds.

1987

• A second VAECE member was elected to the NAEYC Governing Board for the 1987-91 term of office.
  
• VAECE membership adopted a position statement on Missing Children/Child Abuse.
  
• The Governor's Conference on Child Care: Everybody's Business was supported by VAECE's contributions to planning and participation.

1988

• VAECE membership adopted three position statements:
  1. Programs for Four Year Old Children in Virginia.
  2. Professional Development, and
  3. School-Age Child Care in Virginia.

1989

• VAECE published a position statement on Quality Child Care.
  
• VAECE hosted the Fortieth Annual SACUS Conference in Richmond. VAECE supported the Virginia Department for Children's Child Advocacy Day.
  
• Adopted and distributed the SACUS position paper on Multi-Cultural Education.
  
• VAECE Primary Component Committee was formed.
  
• Liaisons from the Family Day Care Association and Council for Exceptional Children were added to the VAECE board.

1990

• The first history of VAECE published.
  
• VAECE adopted and distributed two NAEYC position papers on Developmentally Appropriate Practices in Early Childhood Programs for Infants and Toddlers.
  
• VAECE supported the Commonwealth of Virginia's Day of Recognition for Early Childhood and Day Care Providers.
  
• Cooperated with the State Department of Home Economics by providing workshops for Occupational Child Care teachers.
  
• Funded first grant for an original early childhood-oriented radio production.

1991

• Developed a position paper on Parents as Partners.
  
• Cooperated with the Virginia Department of Licensing in developing and implementing "A Program to Assist Certain Parents Choose and Monitor Child Care."
  
• Retained services of a public policy consultant to maximize advocacy efforts.

1992

• VAECE awarded a State Training Plan block grant bringing together relevant major state organizations to examine and develop an early childhood career development plan.

1993

• First VAECE Summer Institute on Developmentally Appropriate Practices in the Primary Grades, held in Charlottesville.
  
• VAECE Board structure re-organized.

1994

• VAECE awarded grant from Virginia Council on child Day Care and Early Childhood Programs to sponsor training for child care providers in honor of Provider Recognition Day.
  
• Liaison from Virginia School Age Child Care Network joined the VAECE Executive Board.

1995

• VAECE adopted a new organizational logo using the outline of the state including the Eastern Shore as well as two representative children.
  
• Two new liaison members joined the Board representing the Virginia Alliance for Children and Youth and The Virginia Cooperative Extension Service.
  
• Affiliate groups numbered twenty-two.

1996

• VAECE membership exceeded 2,800.
  
• Virginia Education Association joined VAECE as a liaison group.

1997

• VAECE had 21 Affiliate groups, but only 17 were active groups.
  
• Toll free VAECE Hotline was established.
  
• Viewpoint format was changed. Started to include paid advertisement.
  
• President put together "Reflections" as year end report.

1998

• First Affiliate Presidents Newsletter went out.
  
• Public Policy committee developed a six year plan.
  
• Produced and distributed "Virginia Works if Child Care Works" cards to the state legislators. Each one contained a fact about early care and education.
  
• Board voted to develop a VAECE web page.
  
• Orientation meeting for new members began at the Summer Board Retreat.

1999

• Board voted to move VAECE files to a storage facility.
  
• Liaison from Head Start appointed to serve on VAECE Board.
  
• Head Start was a partner in the 2000 conference.
  
• Policy manual revised.
• New filing system for reports submitted at Board Meetings.
  
• Conference Advisory Committee created, headed by a chair that would become a non-voting member.
  
• Contracted out Commercial Exhibits and Registrations for the 2000 conference.
  
• Current President dies during his second year term.

2000

• Adopted mission statement " To speak and act on behalf of all young children in Virginia."
• NAEYC asks affiliates to modify their dues so the total dues end in a "5" or a "0".
  
• Added Web page and office supplies/ storage for storage of historical records.
  
• Purchased two computers for conference chair and conference program chair.
  
• SECA representative will serve a 3 year term.

2000

• President, Ann Marie Leonard appointed first Affiliate Representative to the NAEYC Affiliate Council for a 3-year term.

2001

• Special presentation to Jane Goldman for all her many years of work as VAECE Historian.
  
• Dedicated a day of training to Elisabeth Forsyth, at VAECE conference.
  
• SECA's Presidential Award for Child Advocacy awarded to Peg Spangenthal.
  
• Board signed agreement to work with NAEYC on restructuring.
  
• New mission statement approved by membership vote.
  
• New conference guidelines were distributed.
  
• Added Virginia State Occupational Child care.
  
• NAEYC became the VAECE dues collecting agency.

2002

• Treasurer of 2003 conference and future conference treasurers will be bonded and paid for by the affiliate conference committee.
  
• Ballots for yearly election will be sent out by first class mail.
  
• Dan River Regional Association of Early Childhood Education became an affiliate chapter of VAECE.
  
• Jessica Flowers, from NVAEYC, received a SECA DivDev award for "Strengthening Family Connections Through Positive Approaches to Discipline."
  
• Dissolution of Northern Virginia Private Schools Association.
  
• Amendment to by-laws: Minutes and board business can be distributed to board members through a variety of means so that all Board members have access.

2004

• January, submitted application for reaffiliation with NAEYC.

How to Join?

Call the VAECE Hotline for the membership application for the Affiliate Group nearest you.

1-888-22VAECE (1-888-228-2323)

Join NAEYC to help build better futures for all young children--and all of us. Since 1926, NAEYC has led the way toward a vision of excellence in early childhood education. Our 100,000-plus members are teachers, administrators, parents, policymakers, and others committed to bringing high-quality early education and care to all young children.

Membership Options
Choose either Affiliate Group Membership or Independent Membership, and get information on membership dues.