Provider of the Year Award
The Provider of the Year Award is presented annually at the CCPC Conference. Being selected as a Provider of the Year is not an easy task, but a well-deserved award. It begins by someone nominating a deserving provider during our call for POY nominations in our November e-newsletter. After all Nominees are received, they are sent a self-assessment form and notebook to be completed and returned, usually within a 6-8-week period. After notebooks are judged by three competent judges selected outside of the CCPC board. The judges will judge providers solely on the information submitted (following a rubric of CCPC Standards for quality childcare), not on their personal knowledge of the provider.
All providers will then be sent a letter of thanks for participating and notifying them if they are a finalist.
The selected provider is then notified so that they may prepare a short speech to deliver at the CCPC Conference, when the award is presented. The recipient is also welcome to invite the family members to be a part of their celebration.
Needless to say, a recipient of the Provider of the Year Award should feel greatly honored as it is a Great honor and recognition of all the hard work they do.
Provider of the Year will receive a complimentary event registration, one night hotel stay and one year CCPC of Kansas membership.
2020 Provider of the Year

This year we had 7 nominees for provider of the year. Each nominee in this large and competitive field of providers was nominated by someone in their community who recognized their unique and exceptional commitment to providing quality child care. We would like to acknowledge their accomplishments and applaud their hard work!
Amy Ornelas - Chanute
Stephanie Timmons - Wichita
Tammy Starkey - Wichita
Tammy Terry and Lisa Lamphier - Wichita
Heather Patrick - Wichita
Karen Clemens - Wichita
Although all the nominees were excellent and the decision was tough, one provider was judged to be the most outstanding: Congratulations to our 2020 Provider of the Year Tammy Starkey!
Tammy has been dedicated to promoting the growth and development of the whole child for 23 years! She holds two degree in early childhood education and business management, and she is a participant in the Links to Quality pilot program. She’s a loving wife of 33 years and enjoys spending time with her two grown children and 5 grandchildren. Tammy says her program is focused on “providing children with a safe environment, where they may thrive in the experience of a happy and fun early childhood development program through play.”
When asked for a statement about the care Tammy provides, many people offered glowing praise for her work:
“Tammy’s passion for these children shows in everything she does, from her devotion to her families as a whole, to ensuring feels loved individually.” – Jean Kootz
“I have never seen anyone work as hard as she does on a daily basis” - Jennifer
Past Providers of the Year
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2019
2020
Donna Becker
Becky Woerz
Reva Wywadis
Bernetta Hlad
Jessica James
Chris Saner
Dawn Kemble Brown
Brenda Thomas
Pam Elliot
Janelle Newsome
Darlene Gillespie
Rebecca Thill
Shannon Zaring
Karen Korl
April Utt
Cathy Gray
Tracey Schmidt
Linda Meinert & Kelly Crowder
Lynette Weinman
Brenda Schoen
Melissa Patterson
Cassandra Campbell
Tammy Wolfley
Jayme McKinney
Stacy Hook
Terria Ashby
Dusty Davenport
Christy Randall
Tammy Starkey
McPherson
Emporia
Topeka
Salina
Topeka
Gardner
Dover
Enterprise
Praire Village
Wichita
Pleasenton
Lyndon
Bonner Springs
Abilene
Ogden
Wichita
Abilene
Leavenworth
Overland Park
Olathe
Topeka
Topeka
Osawatomie
Topeka
Emporia
Ulyssess
Eskridge
Frontenac
Wichita