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Episode 46 - DECAL FAST Aug 02, 2026

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This week we’re talking about an exciting new resource from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning: DECAL FAST, which stands for Family Access to Services & Tools. For families looking for high-quality child care or early education, DECAL FAST is designed to make the search easier, faster, and more user-friendly. Joining us to talk about DECAL FAST and how you can use it for your next childcare search is Sushma Sanissetty, Developer; Shravanthi Korada, IT Business Analyst; Sonja Steptoe, Assistant Director of Business Supports & Operations; and Bridget Ratajczak, Child & Family Development Manager.

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Episode 45 - Preparing for Pre-K + We Care Childcare Sweepstakes Jul 24, 2026

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Across Georgia, a new school year is beginning, and that means thousands of four-year-olds are walking into Georgia’s Pre-K classrooms for the very first time. For many children and families, Pre-K is a first school experience, a chance to build confidence and independence, and an important step toward kindergarten and lifelong learning. Joining us to talk more about Georgia’s Pre-K Program and the start of a new school year is Susan Adams, Deputy Commissioner of Georgia’s Pre-K Program and Instructional Supports, Janika Young is Assistant Director of Pre-K Operations, and Maria Moor is Quality Support Specialist. Then we check in with Bethany Whetzel with Georgia's Office of the State Treasurer as the July 31 deadline approaches for this year's We Care Child Care Sweepstakes.

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Episode 44 - Small Wonders Jul 21, 2026

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The early years of birth to five are a time of rapid growth in a child’s body, brain, and social-emotional development, and they can shape lifelong health and learning. Today, we’ll explore what parents, caregivers, and early childhood professionals should know about preventive care, nutrition, sleep, safety, developmental milestones, and when to seek support if something doesn’t seem quite right. This is our regular feature Small Wonders, partnering with the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Our special guest is Dr. Nicola Chin, President of Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Chin is a pediatrician in Atlanta and is affiliated with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. She received her medical degree from Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and has been in practice for more than 20 years.

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Episode 43 - Georgia's 2Gen Leadership Academy Jul 13, 2026

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This week our focus is on Georgia’s 2Gen Leadership Academy…a first-of-its-kind, cross-agency program that brings together leaders from state government and nonprofits. Their goal is to help families thrive by supporting both children and the adults who care for them. The academy was developed by the Georgia Children’s Cabinet and facilitated by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Joining us to talk about Georgia’s 2Gen Academy are four recent graduates of the 4th cohort of the program, all from DECAL. And they are Colette Bolds, CCS Special Investigations Manager; Shayna Funke, Director of Research Partnerships & Business Support; Melinda Knowles, CAPS 2Gen Strategies and Partnerships Project Manager; and Mia Obiwo, Workforce Policy and Process Administrator.

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Episode 42 - Meet the CCR&Rs Jul 06, 2026

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This week we’re highlighting an important partnership that helps support the quality of child care in Georgia and strengthens the professionals who provide this care every day: our work with Child Care Resource and Referral agencies, or CCR&Rs. Joining us are Kristin Blevins, Professional Learning Specialist here at DECAL; Dana Driggers is Assistant Director of Operations for Child Care Resource & Referral of Southeast Georgia in Savannah; Cindy Fick is Operations Director for Child Care Resource and Referral of Southwest Georgia in Albany; Ricci Lewis-Johnson is an Early Childhood Specialist with Leap Early Learning Partners in Augusta; and Kristen Groover with Quality Care for Children: Central West in Atlanta.

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Episode 41 - Judge Glenda Hatchett Jun 27, 2026

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Her name may strike fear in the hearts of litigants across the nation and around the world, but now TV’s Judge Hatchett has published a new book encouraging children ages 3-8 to dream boldly, build confidence, and see themselves as leaders, creators, and changemakers. Joining us for this week’s DECAL Download is Atlanta native, attorney, former Fulton County Juvenile Court Judge, and nationally recognized TV personality Judge Glenda Hatchett.

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Episode 40 - STP & Alliance Theater Jun 23, 2026

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This week we’re talking about the transformative power of arts education for young learners. All across Georgia, DECAL partners with the Alliance Theater in a program bringing drama, music, puppetry, and dance to enhance language, literacy, and math skills for rising Pre-K and Kindergarten students participating in our Summer Transition Program. Joining us to talk about our partnership is Chris Moses, Artistic Director with the Alliance Theater, Susan Adams is our Deputy Commissioner for Georgia’s Pre-K Program and Instructional Supports, and Devon Porter is Summer Transition Program and Outreach Manager.

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Episode 39 - Commissioner Jacobs on Georgia Focus Jun 22, 2026

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Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs is the guest on this episode of Georgia Focus with John Clark, heard on more than 170 radio stations statewide on the Georgia News Network.

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Episode 38 - Meet the Interns Jun 16, 2026

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On this week’s episode we’re joined by a remarkable group of college interns who have spent the semester working with us. Throughout their time here, they’ve contributed their talents, learned new skills, and become a valued part of the DECAL team. Let's meet Gabrielle Banks- Communications- Kennesaw State; Kiersten Harris- Pre-K- GA Military College; Tanvi Kattula- IT -University of Georgia; Zeniya Lukonde- Legal- Spelman College; Ana Onofre- Communications- Kennesaw State; and Shreya Shankar- QIP -Emory University.

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Episode 37 - Meet the 2025-2026 Georgia Early Childhood Educators Jun 08, 2026

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This week’s episode spotlights our Georgia's Early Childhood Educators of the Year. On Friday, April 24, these inspiring teachers were honored along with our Georgia’s Pre-K Program Teachers of the Year at a luncheon hosted by the Metro Atlanta Chamber and sponsored by MTX Group Inc., the Georgia Lottery Corporation, and more. Joining us to talk about the Early Childhood Educators of the Year is Miranda Murphy, Practice and Support Services Outreach and Project Manager; Laura Wagner is Executive Director of the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning; and our Early Childhood Educators of the Year are Gleydis Estrada, The Golden Age Family Child Care Learning Home in Lawrenceville; Kenyetta Robinson, Lifetime Youth Learning Center in Union City; and Gloria Linley, Towne Lake Academy, South Campus in Woodstock. Dawan Barfield from GEEARS serves as Gleydis’s interpreter for this podcast.

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