Every year at the New York Association for the Education of Young Children (NYAEYC) Annual Conference, early childhood education (ECE) professionals from across the state are recognized as leaders in their field by their peers. These awards are given to ECE professionals who have dedicated their work, time, and resources towards the education and development of New York’s youngest learners.
This year, we are proud to announce that our very own Quality Improvement Specialist, Kathy Moss, has been chosen by her peers as an Early Childhood Leader to be celebrated during the conference. Kathy is an integral member of our team, and we couldn’t think of anyone more deserving of this recognition. In preparation for this achievement, we spoke with members of our leadership team about what Kathy’s dedication to her work has meant for QUALITYstarsNY and the children and families she has impacted, and with Kathy herself about what this lifetime achievement award means to her.
Kathy has been a member of our team since 2012. Regional Coordinator JoAnn Toth, a founding staff member of QUALITYstarsNY, has worked with Kathy closely over the years and detailed just how much Kathy’s enthusiasm, spirit, and energy keep things moving:
“Kathy works tirelessly behind the scenes to support her colleagues at QUALITYstarsNY. She shares her expertise and knowledge, enabling her team to better serve the programs they support. Furthermore, Kathy plays a key role in shaping policies and procedures that guide QUALITYstarsNY, ensuring that the organization remains adaptive and responsive to the evolving needs of early childhood programs statewide.
“It is essential to have experienced professionals like Kathy who are dedicated to working behind the scenes, sharing their knowledge, and fostering growth in others within the field. Kathy has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to leading and mentoring. Her contributions are immeasurable, and her work will have a lasting impact on programs and children for years to come. Kathy’s role allows her to touch the lives of thousands of programs across the state, creating a ripple effect of positive change. She is always willing to go above and beyond for others. Her dedication, expertise, and leadership have made a profound difference in the early childhood community.”
– JoAnn Toth, Regional Coordinator
Jenna Pettinicchi, Regional Coordinator for the Mid-Hudson and Long Island Regions, on what makes Kathy stand out as a Champion for Children and leader in her field:
“Everything Kathy stands for and promotes in her work with early childhood professionals puts children at the center. The practices she promotes are steeped in a deep respect for children and their natural development. Kathy is also a strong supporter and advocate for those early childhood professionals who are doing this very important work with children; our family childcare educators, program directors, teachers, and school leaders. She extends support and cares for them so that they can care for the children and families they serve.
“Kathy is amazing at sharing excitement with others. When she begins working with a new program and they start to make progress on goals and feel a sense of pride and excitement for the changes they have made she shares in this excitement in a big way. She is their biggest cheerleader. Anytime a program leader thanks her for her support she always responds with, ‘No, thank yourself. You are the one who did the work! Look what YOU accomplished!'”
– Jenna Pettinicchi, Regional Coordinator
Yessenia Rosario-Adon, Director of Quality Improvement of QUALITYstarsNY, also had much to share about the impact Kathy’s work has had on our community and the early childhood education workforce as a whole:
“I have many stories that highlight Kathy’s commitment to the early childhood education workforce. One of those stories is Kathy’s work with a family child care (FCC) educator who joined QUALITYstarsNY under the Child Care Desert Grant initiative. Kathy was beyond excited that this FCC educator was beginning to see herself as an ECE professional, and that she was eager to implement some of the strategies that Kathy shared with her to support the children in her program. Kathy was glowing as she told me how this educator was thrilled to see the rewards of her work, such as room arrangement and expanding on the children’s interest. I remember Kathy saying, ‘This is what makes our work so important, this provider came to us looking for support and validation. She put her trust in us, and now the children in her care have a provider that is motivated and eager to do more to enhance their learning.’ This is one of many examples that show that Kathy is a champion!”
– Yessenia Rosario-Adon, Director of Quality Improvement
At the Champions Dinner, Kathy accepted her award with grace, enthusiasm, and her usual humor. Reflecting on this incredible moment in her career, here’s part of what Kathy shared with the room during her acceptance speech:
“When Kristen called to share that I had been nominated for the Early Childhood Education Leader award, I was completely blindsided. I’m not currently in a leadership position, and I struggled with that. I did a lot of soul searching and reflecting and I’ve come to realize that leaders don’t always hold the title. Leaders come in many different forms. I like to think they are the ones who create a path for others, the ‘do-ers’, the ones who move the work forward and show up day after day because that’s the fire that fuels them. We’re not looking for the spotlight or the accolades, we just want to make things better. We are the mentors and resources for others, which helps impact the work we do. I believe that leaders are defined by the actions they take every day, and I hope my actions speak for themselves. Let’s not forget, being able to have fun and genuinely enjoy your role is a crucial part of being a leader. That joy and excitement is contagious. Leaders who embody these qualities become catalysts for positive change and make a lasting impact on the lives of children. I believe I align with that definition and because of that, I’m on this stage accepting the ECE Leader award.“
Since I started in this field in 1991, I’ve endeavored to impact more and more children in each position that I’ve taken. I hope to continue that goal and make the path to high-quality care a bit easier. I am committed to making systems in our state smoother and better for everyone.
A few concluding thoughts to everyone in this room: if you see an opportunity, grab it. Hold the door open for others behind you, and don’t be afraid to stand out and stand up. Inspiration can come in many forms, and by letting your passion for the work guide you, every person in this room is capable of developing their unique brand of effective leadership. I hope my story can ignite a spark in you to better recognize your leadership abilities, and I look forward to coming back, year after year, and honoring the future leaders amongst us who have found their voice.
– Kathy Moss, NYAEYC Early Childhood Leader 2025
