Last week, teachers from both our Hampton and Newport News campuses attended the annual conference hosted by the Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children (VAAEYC), a gathering dedicated to strengthening early childhood education across the Commonwealth. The conference offered our educators valuable professional development, with breakout sessions focused on creative classroom strategies and research-based practices that support young learners.
While the conference was a time of learning for our staff, it also became a moment of celebration. During the event, our Executive Director, Dr. Jennifer Parish, was honored with the 2026 Outstanding Service to Young Children Award, recognizing her exceptional leadership and lasting contributions to early childhood education in Virginia.
Before joining Peake, Dr. Parish built a distinguished career in public education, serving as a teacher, principal, and Chief Academic Officer with the York County School Division and later as Superintendent of Poquoson City Public Schools. Today, her work at Peake bridges public education, community partnerships, and early childhood systems to expand access to high-quality, affordable care for families across the Virginia Peninsula. At the state level, she serves on Virginia’s Early Childhood Advisory Committee, advising the Board of Education as part of the Commonwealth’s unified early childhood system and advocating for increased funding, higher wages for early childhood educators, and broader access to quality programs.
With strong leadership and passionate educators, Peake continues growing promising futures for children and families on the Virginia Peninsula.
