GILL — Giving Tree School founder Betsy Evans has received the David and Phyllis Weikart Achievement Award for her lifelong commitment to advancing early childhood education.
According to a press release about the award, Evans was presented the award at the 2019 HighScope International Conference in Detroit before an audience of 1,100 people.
The award recognizes Evans’ “tireless efforts to improve the lives of all children and their families as founder and director of the Giving Tree School; behavioral consultant and conflict resolution specialist; author and video producer; HighScope field consultant; and passionate advocate for providing children with crucial conflict resolution skills that last a lifetime,” the release states.
In addition to her contributions as author, video script writer and director, during the past 30 years, Evans has provided training sessions for people from 42 states and seven other countries.
Evans remains president of the board of directors at the Giving Tree School, a program she founded with Jeff Coulson in 1976. She continues to write, travel and train early childhood teachers, coaches and administrators, nationally and internationally. Giving Tree is entering its 43rd year, providing certified indoor and outdoor classrooms for children aged 2.9 months to 5 years.