Tiffany Sheets Honored with Nonprofit Excellence Award

Tiffany Sheets (second from left), pictured with the full cohort of 2026 Light of Dawn awardees and scholarship winners.

Ellis Early Learning is proud to announce that Tiffany Sheets, Assistant Vice President of Programs, has been named a recipient of the 2026 Light of Dawnn Awards. The awards honor Dawnn Ashley Jaffier, a young nonprofit worker who was killed in 2014, by recognizing nonprofit workers who demonstrate Dawnn’s spirit of compassion and unwavering commitment to serving those in need.

Tiffany has been part of Ellis for more than 25 years, always demonstrating a selfless focus on the needs of others, her energy never flagging when new challenges arise. A Roxbury native and mother of four, Tiffany brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her work. Her deep understanding of the challenges families face informs her compassionate, family-centered leadership style. She is dedicated to creating nurturing learning environments where children feel safe, valued, and supported, while building trusted partnerships with families.

Tiffany is grateful for the award, saying, “I am so blessed and honored to be recognized this way. Everything I do at Ellis is out of love for our children, respect for our families, and pride in this community. This award reinforces the importance of investing in families and communities.”

Tiffany is also grateful for her path at Ellis. “When I started at Ellis at age 15, I never imagined it would go this far,” she says. Tiffany has steadily advanced from a part-time aide to assistant teacher, lead teacher, center Director, and now Assistant Vice President of Programs. As her career has progressed, Tiffany’s focus and span of influence has moved from an individual child to a group of children, to the teachers who directly support children, and now to the directors who support the teachers.

Tiffany started as an aide at age 15, following her mother into early childhood education. For two years she worked one-on-one with a child with autism who had serious developmental delays, and she saw how trust and patience could help him develop necessary skills. “When I saw I could make a difference, I knew I loved this work.”

Today Tiffany helps Ellis directors bring teachers under one umbrella. “I focus on how teachers can meet state early education and care regulations, take advantage of the Ellis curriculum, and support the needs of both children and parents.” The work is challenging; it takes an open and understanding mind. In weekly meetings Tiffany encourages directors to speak honestly and share differences. “Sharing feelings like this is the best way to come to common ground,” Tiffany says.

Tiffany’s commitment has remained strong even during times of significant challenge. During the early 2000s recession, when financial uncertainty forced Ellis to make salary cuts, some teachers’ dedication to their work succumbed to financial pressures. Yet Tiffany remained steadfast, driven by her love for children and her belief in the importance of early education. “I would do this work for free if I had to,” she says. "I love working with children and making a change.”

For CEO Lauren Cook, Tiffany is the model of Ellis values and goals. “Tiffany is beloved across Ellis. Her impact is evident every day in the relationships she builds with children, families, and educators. Her dedication to strengthening our community reflects the very best of Ellis, and this recognition is richly deserved.”