By Juli A. Metzger—
MUNCIE, IN—Austin Scales, a lead educator in the 3-and 4-year-old pre-school room at Muncie’s United Day Care Center was recently named recipient of the prestigious Hoosier Educator Award at the 2026 Early Childhood Education Award ceremony in Indianapolis.
“Ninety percent of the brain is developed by age 5 and in that time, it’s like fireworks in the brain,” explains Scales, 27, whose worked at United Day Care since 2022. “During that time, the brain is rapidly growing, and children are rapidly learning. It’s a huge time to set kids up for success, for lifelong success. The things we do at United Day Care has a lasting impact on children but also on the families we’re supporting.”
Scales holds a dual bachelor’s degree in special and elementary education from Ball State University. A recipient of a scholarship from Indiana’s T.E.A.C.H. program, he is working on a master’s degree in early childhood education.
His supervisor, Carol Johnson, Executive Director at United Day Care, nominated Scales for the award from the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children.
“Austin is everything an early childhood educator should be,” wrote Johnson. “After joining the field from his experience in elementary education and special education, Austin also came to the field with experience working with children with autism through ABA therapy and has included this in his role at United Day Care Center, creating an inclusive and developmentally appropriate classroom for 3- and 4-year-olds.
Scales says as a male educator, he’s aware of the impact he can have on young lives.
“I realize there can be a stigma about male educators, but male educators are modeling in the classroom and showing how males can be nurturing and that has a huge impact on the kids and their families.”
Other award recipients were:
- Penny Zellers, Early Childhood Education Program Chair at Ivy Tech Community College-Kokomo.
- Liz Richards, Ole Miss Preschool Director, Westview Elementary, Mississinewa Community Schools.
- Kristen Lopshire, Regional Manager, Indiana Lakeshore Learning Materials
- Terri Kosik, Director, Ready to Grow St. Joe Early Childhood Coalition.
Hoosier families are looking for affordability, flexibility and safe environments for their children, according to a 2025 survey by Bright Futures Indiana.
Among respondents to the survey, 26 percent of families with a child or children under the age of 5 used licensed or regulated care; 16 percent asked family members, friends or neighbors to care for their children; 17% use a combination and 41% do not use any kind of childcare.
Another letter of nomination came from Emma Grace Dragoo, Assistant Director of Childcare Resources for Muncie and Delaware County BY5 Early Childhood initiative. “I was over the moon surprised; I had no idea,” Scales said when he heard the news.
Asked what he’d say to parents about the value of the childcare experience, Scales said: “I would say come into our building and let me know you. “I see these children grow by leaps and bounds when it comes to skills and confidence. It’s like night and day from the moment they walk into the classroom to the moment they leave.”
Juli Metzger is a former educator and newspaper editor and publisher. She is Past Chair of the Indiana Youth Institute Board of Directors, Project Leadership Board of Directors, and on the C2Cmuncie.org Collaborative Action Network team.
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