Last month, Anca Neacsu, local childcare nonprofit PC Tots’ newly appointed Center Director, received the 2021 Leadership Award from the nationally affiliated Utah Association for the Education of Young Children (UAYEC) at its annual conference.
As center director, she believes it's essential to attract quality teachers. As part of the conference, Neacsu said she and her teaching staff attended two days of training sponsored by the UAYEC. The conference provides professional enrichment via the sharing of best practices and opportunities to network with peers in the early childcare industry.
For 75 years, the UAEYC has worked toward its mission to empower children by engaging and inspiring early childhood professionals.
PC Tots interim executive director Julie DeLong said she nominated Neacsu because of her dedication and professionalism. She said that the center director also has a great attitude in the way she interacts with children and staff.
"We have a really great opportunity to recognize Anca and the amazing dedication that she has shown to the position,” DeLong said. “She's fairly new to being a center director at PC Tots. She started back in July when PC Tots was able to open back up. But she was promoted from the ranks of teacher in the infant room. She has a degree in early childhood education, and she also has a bit of medical background. She's just really smart, really committed."
DeLong said Neacsu, a native of Romania, went to school in London and moved to Park City with her family.
“Her work ethic is incredible,” DeLong said. “She has a darling two-year-old daughter, Jess, who is also a PC Tots kid, and we're just really proud of the work that Anca does every day."
DeLong said it was exciting that the UAYEC recognized Neacsu's leadership through the award and elevated the PC Tots childcare model throughout the state.
"Many of our families, about one-third are scholarship families,” DeLong said. “So, the children come to PC Tots and don't pay the full tuition rate. We are actually in the process of strategic planning right now and looking at that business model to see how that will work long term. We don't see any changes being made right now. All of that being considered and hiring the permanent long-term executive director at PC Tots means there's a lot in play right now. A lot of changes on the horizon."
The PC Tots Board of Directors is searching for a permanent executive director. They have long waiting lists in nearly all age groups, and with the upcoming strategic planning work, DeLong said there would be announcements coming soon.
KPCW News reports on issues affecting children ages 0 through three years old are brought to you by the Early Childhood Fund at the Park City Community Foundation. For more information, visit earlychildhoodalliance.net.
