By University Affairs
Effie Swinarski, lead toddler teacher with the UNO Child Care
Center, found out how much her peers appreciated her last December when she was
named Employee of the Month. She received additional kudos as Employee of the
Year last week. The award was presented at annual Faculty Senate/Staff Advisory
Council recognition dinner May 2.
|
"It was an honor to have been recognized," she said. "I was very
surprised. I knew I was eligible but never gave it a second thought."
Along with the recognition of a job well done, Swinarski also
received a monetary award, which she plans to put toward a savings account
for her foster child. She said she is appreciative of both her Employee of
the Month and Employee of the Year honors.
A love of children is one reason Swinarski excels at her job. On
a daily basis, Swinarski sings, dances and blows bubbles to help make the day
fun for her small charges.
|
|
|
Photo by Tim Fitzgerald
Effie Swinarski with UNO Chancellor Nancy Belck
|
She said that knowing she touches a child's life in a special way,
even if he or she is only in her care for one semester, is why she enjoys her
job so much.
"I am responsible for what occurs during the time the children are
in my care," she said. "I am a supervisor for three teacher aids but am also
responsible for overseeing as many as 45 teachers who work here at the center."
An 18-year employee of the university, co-workers say Swinarski
has become a role model for her peers. One nominator said, "Effie started
working at the UNO Child Care Center in 1987 as a part-time teacher assistant
one year after the center opened. In 1989, she was promoted to the lead toddler
teacher position, which she has held ever since. She has brought continuity,
consistency and structure to the toddler program, as well as to the child care
center. She inspires others to be the best they can be and promotes
professional excellence at all times."
A graduate of the UNO Goodrich Program, Swinarski said her background
in early childhood education has been beneficial to her work at the center. "I
also worked at Bergan Mercy Child Development Center for six months in 1987,"
Swinarski said. "I was a preschool teacher aid. Working with children has come
natural to me. I enjoyed working with preschoolers but find toddlers to be a
blast!"
She said singing with the children at UNO is her favorite task,
but she spends a lot of time helping them with their social skills, and they
learn a lot from each other, too. Colleagues said the children also greatly
benefit from working with Swinarski.
"She has done a tremendous job over the years," another co-worker
said. "Effie has a great caring for the children who attend the center and has
their best interests at heart. She works well with the staff and the parents of
the children who attend the center."
In her leisure time, Swinarski likes to travel and practice
photography, which she is currently incorporating into a family scrapbook. In
addition, she is a board member for the Omaha Association for the Education of
Young Children (OAEYC) and completes a variety of volunteer work.
For more information, call 554.2321.
