LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
When 37th Mission Support Group Commander Col. Bob LaBrutta and Chief of Services Jerry Stanfill showed up at Renata Cooper's doorstep last week, she had no idea why they were there.
Entering the house, Colonel LaBrutta shook Mrs. Cooper's hand and congratulated her on being Air Education and Training Command's provider of the year.
It didn't sink in.
"I don't think you heard him," said Mr. Stanfill, stepping up to take his turn shaking Mrs. Cooper's hand. "You are AETC's provider of the year."
"Oh, my goodness!" said the family child care provider, covering her mouth with her hand in shock. "I didn't hear him. This is such a surprise!"
Earning a major command's provider of the year award is a high honor, one Donna Goodman, FCC coordinator, said Ms. Cooper more than earned.
"She just received accreditation from the National Association of Family Child Care," she said. "That is a difficult process to go through. She goes above and beyond. She's just a natural. She's very enthusiastic, and she's continuing her education. We just love working with her."
Mrs. Cooper, who has been with the FCC for three years, provides care out of her home for children of active-duty military, federal civilian employees and contractors. While she runs her own business, she is monitored by the FCC.
"Renata's availability is better than most providers," said Ms. Goodman. "She does extended care, so she looks after kids on the weekends, too."
Mrs. Cooper, whose husband, Staff Sgt. Jose Cooper, works for Security Forces, keeps a child-centered and clean home. It's evident in the way she interacts with the children that she is not only good at her job but loves it.
"When my son was out sick, she called every morning to check on him and talked to him to make sure he knew she loved and missed him," said Christina Boisley, whose son Xavier has been cared for by Mrs. Cooper, in her recommendation letter for the award. "[She] has various themes for each month to teach the children different academic and life needs. Renata Cooper has taught my toddler how to become a great child."
The road, though, has held many bumps for Mrs. Cooper.
"This past year was a challenge for me. God has taken me through a lot and to get this at the end is a real blessing," she said.
"My husband was deployed for nine months, so I was here by myself. While he was gone, I was getting ready for my accreditation, so I made a lot of changes to my day care environment and myself. I had to calm down a lot. My daycare parents helped me through everything, and I started going back to church and getting deeper into it. All of that made me grow as a provider, mother, wife, everything."
FCC Coordinator Lynn Salazar said Mrs. Cooper is a natural when it comes to not only caring for children but educating them as well.
"[Renata has] family photo mobiles, activity plans, pictures of holiday and special activities, photos of cultural food experiences, [language development opportunities] and opportunities [for children to use Spanish as a second language on a daily basis]," said Ms. Salazar in her recommendation letter. "Renata is an outstanding family child care mentor, role model and supporter to fellow providers."