2007 Award Winners

Khadijat Enessy
Infant Welfare Society of Evanston
2200 Main St., Evanston
Toddlers (15-24 months)

While some people still believe early childcare to be babysitting, no one walking in to the classroom of Nigerian-born educator Khadijat Enessy could possibly maintain that false belief. “Khadijat is one of the most encouraging, positive and inspiring people I have ever known,” says Candice Dowd, Enessy’s director of programs at the Infant Welfare Society of Evanston's NAEYC-accredited Baby Toddler Nursery for children from birth to three. “Nothing in her room happens by chance,” Dowd continues, “yet it is all very experiential. Khadijat, along with her two assistant teachers, is able to turn most every moment into a teachable moment for each of her eight young learners.”

Enessy’s toddler learners come from families of very diverse economic backgrounds, but everyone enters her classroom as an equal. “Each child, regardless of where they come from, carries a divine spark within, and the potential to grow into countless combinations of ability,” she says. “As a classroom, we respect where each of us comes from, and dream of where each of us is going. Creating a strong and trusting relationship with a child, and following a child’s lead, helps increase a child’s self-esteem and self-confidence, both important as the child is discovering who he or she is in the context of the larger world.”

Enessy is an ideal guide for that journey into the larger world that occurs between birth and age three. “She creates a nurturing environment in which all the children feel loved and special,” says Suzanne Kaufman, the parent of one of Enessy’s former students. “Every morning when I’d arrive at the classroom door with my daughter, Khadijat would sing out Isabelle’s name and welcome her into the room. She would announce to all the other children, ‘Isabelle is here,’ and everyone would say ‘hi.’”

Visitors to Enessy’s classroom marvel at her ability to have the feeling of spontaneity, while clearly being very deliberate and intentional about everything. “Khadijat displays an intuitive understanding of the needs of the very young children in her care,” says Tobey Scafidi, a former winner of the Kohl McCormick Teaching Award who visited Enessy’s class as part of the selection process. “She also displays a genuine understanding of, respect for and interest in each child’s family. Each family has created a house of photographs that represents the people important to the child.”

Early efforts to develop literacy skills are emphasized as well. She’ll make books with the children, such as We Went Walking, What Did We See? “By putting the children’s own stories into books, it gets them excited about reading,” says Enessy. “It is at this age that you can really see learning taking place. There is little language at the start of the year, and then suddenly, you can see language exploding!”

“She really enjoys spending time with children,” concludes Kaufman. “When you combine this kind of joy with her solid training and dedication, you get an innovative teacher who inspires others around her.”