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Episode 16 - Inclusive Early Learning Week 2023 Jan 31, 2023

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Research tells us that, regardless of their abilities, children in high-quality child care programs are better prepared to enter school and more likely to develop healthy social and emotional skills. When child care providers offer inclusive child care, they’re supporting not only children with disabilities but also their parents who can work, go back to school, or just take a break. That’s why every year in February we celebrate Inclusive Early Learning Week here at DECAL. Here to talk about the importance of inclusion in early child care and Inclusive Early Learning week is Inclusion and Behavior Support Specialist Kelly Wilson; Leah Brockington is a Family Peer Ambassador who has a child with autism enrolled in an Inclusive early learning program; and Tierra Faulcon is one of our 2022-2023 Early Childhood Teachers of the Year.

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Episode 15 - A Day in the Life of Training Approval Specialists Jan 24, 2023

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The Georgia Professional Development System (GaPDS) for Early Childhood Educators is an innovative resource developed specifically for early care and education professionals. On GaPDS you make a profile that tracks your job history, diplomas, and certificates…along with conveniently searching and registering both you and your staff for training. Georgia Training Approval is under Workforce Supports in Professional Learning. On a daily basis, they work with state approved trainers or organizations that provide training for child care professionals. Joining us this week are Janet Herrera and Miranda Murphy, Training Approval Specialists with Georgia Training Approval.

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Episode 14 - Preview of the 2023 Georgia General Assembly Jan 17, 2023

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The 157th session of the Georgia General Assembly is now underway. For the first time this century, the legislature begins with a new Lieutenant Governor on the Senate side and a new Speaker of the House. But what role does an agency like DECAL play in the process? Joining us to talk about the 157th meeting of the Georgia General Assembly is Polly McKinney, Advocacy Director with Voices for Georgia’s Children; Liz Young, Director of Government Relations here at DECAL; and Rian Ringsrud, Deputy Commissioner for Finance and Administration.

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Episode 13 - GPEE Panel on Future of Education in Georgia Jan 10, 2023

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The Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (GPEE) recently held its annual Media Symposium where it released its 19th edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2023. Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs was part of a panel discussing the future of education in Georgia. She spoke along with Commissioner Greg Dozier from the Technical College System of Georgia, Chancellor Sonny Perdue from the University System of Georgia, and State School Superintendent Richard Woods from the Georgia Department of Education. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Dana Rickman, President of the Georgia Partnership.

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Episode 12 - Family Friendly Child Care Searches Jan 03, 2023

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Our Child Care Services Division has been hard at work making your search for child care in Georgia more family friendly. If you have ever searched for child care on qualityrated.org or decal.ga.gov, you know there is a lot of information there on every licensed child care program in the state, but sometimes that information can be technical at best with regulatory language not everyone understands. Joining us to talk about these improvements is Dana Morrison, Child Care Services Director of Field Operations, and April Rogers, CCS Director of Enforcement Operations.

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Episode 11 - 2022 Year in Review Dec 27, 2022

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As 2022 draws to a close, this episode takes a look back at our most popular episodes of DECAL Download, based on the total number of downloads, added together with your likes and comments across social media. With all that data, we determined our top ten podcast episodes for 2022, and to find your way to the top of the list, just follow the money.

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Episode 10 - Holiday Episode Dec 20, 2022

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On this episode of DECAL Download, light up your tree, grab some eggnog, and hang up the mistletoe. It’s our annual holiday special featuring members of the DECAL team, gift ideas for the birth to five year old on your list, and some helpful ways to eat healthy during the holidays. Joining us on this holiday episode is Quandra Obi, Special Assistant to Commissioner Jacobs; Savannah Ennis, Infant Toddler Specialist in Lowndes County; and Diana Myers, Nutrition and Physical Activity Supervisor from our DECAL Nutrition Team.

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Episode 9 - Recap of Quality Rated Tenth Anniversary Celebrations Dec 13, 2022

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From Dalton to Valdosta, and even Truist Park with the Atlanta Braves, we have been celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of Quality Rated. This week we take a look back at all the festivities with Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner for Quality Innovations and Partnerships.

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Episode 8 - Chat with Commissioner Jacobs Dec 06, 2022

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The year is winding down, the holidays will be here soon, and it seemed like a good time for us to sit down and Chat with the Commissioner. This is an episode where we take questions from our DECAL team and the general public through our social media and discuss a wide variety of topics with Commissioner Jacobs.

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Episode 7 - Quality Rated Honors Former Governor Nathan Deal Nov 29, 2022

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This year, Quality Rated is celebrating its tenth anniversary…a Decade of Stars…by naming 126 child care providers to the exclusive Quality Rated Class of 2012 in recognition of their unique status as early adopters that have consistently delivered high-quality, star-rated care and education to Georgia’s youngest learners. We’re also recognizing leaders who have been influential in making Quality Rated a success across Georgia. On this episode we take our listeners to the event held November 18 at Georgia Piedmont Technical College where former Governor Nathan Deal was honored.

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