MNAFEE Awards
We are thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2022 MNAFEE Awards - Lois Engstrom Leadership Award, Innovative Programming Award, and Friend of the Year Award. These outstanding individuals and groups have made significant contributions to the field of early childhood and have demonstrated significant visionary and cutting-edge work to transform practices, policies, and systems at the local and state level. These leaders reflect our mission to promote, advocate for, and strengthen parenting education, Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE), and early childhood programming in public schools.

Sally Nault-Maurer, Early Childhood Program Coordinator, was chosen as the Winner of the Lois Engstrom Leadership Award for 2022. Ms. Nault-Maurer is an exemplary leader and educator with Osseo Area Schools located in Hennepin County.
Ms. Nault-Maurer’s career spans 38 years, all but two of them in school-based early childhood programs. Over those years, she has held a variety of positions: classroom assistant, early childhood teacher, screener, parent educator, special events/field trips, outreach, and coordinator. Ms. Nault-Maurer has also demonstrated her commitment to parent education, Early Childhood Family Education and/or early childhood programming in public schools through her involvement in MNAFEE where she has been a board member for more than a decade and a recent chair of the organization.
Learn more as you read the press release about the 2022 Lois Engstrom Leadership Award.
Ms. Nault-Maurer’s career spans 38 years, all but two of them in school-based early childhood programs. Over those years, she has held a variety of positions: classroom assistant, early childhood teacher, screener, parent educator, special events/field trips, outreach, and coordinator. Ms. Nault-Maurer has also demonstrated her commitment to parent education, Early Childhood Family Education and/or early childhood programming in public schools through her involvement in MNAFEE where she has been a board member for more than a decade and a recent chair of the organization.
Learn more as you read the press release about the 2022 Lois Engstrom Leadership Award.

The Elders for Infants group was chosen as winner of the Friend of the Year Award for 2022. Members of this group are: Glenace Edwall, Dave Ellis, Sandy Heidemann, Jane Kretzmann, Jim Nicholie, Glen Palm, Mary Kay Stranik, and Katie Williams.
Elders for Infants is a group of retired professionals who have worked and advocated for families and young children throughout their careers. In retirement they have come together to form a highly regarded and influential group advocating for legislation and programming supportive of families with infants.
The dedication and commitment of Elders for Infants helps ensure that the quality of the programming and services we provide to families of our youngest children continues for years to come. Families in Minnesota will experience a lasting impact as a result of the Elders for Infants efforts.
Learn more as you read the press release about the 2022 Friend of the Year Award.

PEERFECT Connections was chosen as winner of the Innovative Programming Award for 2022. The program was developed by Dr. Susan Walker at the University of Minnesota.
Heather Cline, who nominated PEERFECT Connections for the Innovative Programming Award sums it up, “PEERFECT Connections is one of the bright lights that came out of the pandemic and Susan is a bright light to all the educators involved."
Learn more as you read the press release about the Innovative Programming Award.
Heather Cline, who nominated PEERFECT Connections for the Innovative Programming Award sums it up, “PEERFECT Connections is one of the bright lights that came out of the pandemic and Susan is a bright light to all the educators involved."
Learn more as you read the press release about the Innovative Programming Award.