Readfield woman is Maine Mother of the Year

AUGUSTA — Patricia Morris Clark, of Readfield, has been chosen as the 2022 Maine Mother of the Year and will join 49 other mothers representing their states at the annual American Mothers, Inc. conference in April in Washington, D.C.
Clark is a University of Maine at Augusta professor and director of the Early Childhood Studies program. For her platform, Clark has chosen early childhood literacy and “closing the million word gap” among children entering kindergarten. According to a recent Ohio State study, children whose parents frequently read to them can enter kindergarten having heard an estimated 1.4 million more words than children who are rarely or never read to.

“In our current world where televisions, i-pads and phones are everywhere, we sometimes forget the benefits and bonding of carving out just 20 minutes a day to read to our children,” Clark said.
Clark lives with her husband, Bill, cat Tobi and puppy Pedro. She has two adult daughters and two grandchildren.
Clark taught elementary and kindergarten for 20 years before earning a master’s degree in special education. In collaboration with Head Start, she designed one of the first all-day kindergartens in Maine, Super K. She started teaching at UMA in 2001. She also earned a CAS in Early Intervention/Special Education and Public Policy, was a Head Start Fellow in Washington D.C., and a National Women’s Law Fellow in 2008, advocating for Maine children and families.
She is also a former president of Maine Association for the Education of Young Children; is active St. Andrew’s Church, in Winthrop, and is a member of the Readfield Community Library board, Healthy Communities of the Capital Area, UMA Senior College and Southern Kennebec Child Development Center.
One of her greatest joys is reading and playing with children. She has helped coordinate the Readfield School play group for preschoolers and began the Story Times at the Beach five years ago. By choosing a platform of early childhood literacy she hopes to “shine a new LED light” on the very real vocabulary gaps when children enter school. This gap often continues and grows, affecting reading development and understanding. No computer can take the place of an adult lap.
Clark represents the 61st Maine mother chosen by American Mothers Inc. since the program began 87 years ago. Its mission is to recognize mothers and their positive impact in families and communities. The women come from diverse backgrounds and experiences across the nation.
“We at American Mothers for the last 87 years have had the privilege of recognizing the impact mothers have in our lives,” said Joyce Stevens, president. “Now more than ever, people are seeing the work that goes into motherhood and truly recognizing the resiliency of mothers.”