The Excelsior Springs Substance Abuse Free Environments (SAFE) Coalition has awarded Darla Sims, pre-school teacher at Treehouse Preschool, the Community Champion Award for May.
“Our focus for May was to recognize a community member who helped children build self-esteem.” Julia Mees, the Drug-Free Communities Program Director for SAFE, said.
Missouri City resident Cassidy Russell, who nominated Sims for the award, said that describes Sims perfectly. “My children are seven and 11 years of age now, but when they were four years old, they both attended Treehouse.” Russell said she was more than willing to drive the extra distance to the preschool, and she knows several other parents that travel from surrounding cities to have their children taught by Sims.
“She is just a great teacher,” Russell said. “She is always there for the kids – even if they are having a bad day, she is right there with them.”
The SAFE Community Champion Award program is designed to recognize a specific one of 40 developmental assets each month that have been found to be important to a child’s positive development and success in life.
The individual selected is honored with the Community Champion Award and a small gift of appreciation from the coalition.
Excelsior Springs SAFE is a coalition of volunteers from every sector of the community dedicated to creating a safe, healthy environment in which youth can thrive.
The coalition has been awarded a federal grant to support their prevention work and is provided administrative support from Tri-County Mental Health Services.
