INA’s Nanny of the Year Award

THIS YEAR’S SUPER NANNY – THE REAL DEAL!

 

 New Orleans, LA May 2006 – She doesn’t have a cape or sporty hat.  
She doesn’t speak with an English accent or send children to the
“naughty chair.”  But, for 16 years Becky Kavanagh has been taking
care of other people’s children and she’s been doing a better than
prime time job.  On May 23rd, Becky Kavanagh was named The International
Nanny Association’s Nanny of the Year at its 21st Annual Conference held
in New Orleans. 

What does it take to be Nanny of the Year?  Officially, it takes at
least 5 years of professional nanny experience; it takes education
in the field of child care, a nomination from an agency or employer,
and several references. Unofficially, it takes a whole lot of love
and patience, not only with kids but with parents too.    “More than
anyone else in my life Becky has taught me how to be the father I
hoped and dreamed I would be. For me she has been the “owner’s manual”
that children don’t come with.” said Paul Kunkel, Becky’s employer.

A former lead preschool teacher and day care assistant director,
Kavanagh has been a career nanny with the same family for over sixteen
years. “Alec, who is 16 1/2 was 6 weeks when I started – Cassie, 19,
had just turned 3.” Becky recalls.   She has been a member of the INA
since November, 1989 and passed the INA Nanny Credential Exam. 
In 1998 Parents Magazine recognized Becky as one of their childcare
award recipients.

“She has a presence that somehow always communicates a sense of her
absolute confidence in us, not only at every dance recital and orchestra
concerts, but every day.  I have a deep and tremendous respect for
Becky, and I consider myself profoundly lucky to have had her as my
nanny.”  offered Cassie Peitzman, Becky’s oldest charge.

Becky was nominated for Nanny of the Year by Mary O’Connor of Nannies
from the Heartland, a Plymouth MN based placement agency in which Kavanagh
works part time as a placement counselor.   The selection committee had
this to say, “Becky stood out because she has been with one family
from birth to teen years.  On top of this, she saw the family through
divorce and the blending of two households, all the while staying very active in the nanny community and in home child care industry on a local, regional and national level.  She is a totally selfless and giving person.”

For the past two years, Kavanagh has served as the President of her
local nanny group, Twin Cities Professional Nannies (TCPN).  She has
been an editor and contributor to the TCPN newsletter for over four
years.  She is an active volunteer in Girl Scouts as a troop leader
for two troops, event chair and in the leadership level in Prairie
Star Service Unit, and was awarded the Outstanding Leader and Valued
Volunteer honor.

Comments are closed.