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Episode 30 - POWER Supplemental Payments to Pre-K and Child Care Mar 13, 2021

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Governor Brian Kemp and Commissioner Jacobs recently announced plans to provide a one-time, $1,000 bonus payment to every Georgia’s Pre-K Program teacher, assistant teacher, and birth-5 child care teacher in the state. The bonuses will be funded through the federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Joining us to talk about POWER (Providing Our Workforce with Essential Recognition) is Susan Adams, Deputy Commissioner of Georgia’s Pre-K Program and Instructional Supports; Barbara McWethy who is Manager of Workforce Support in our Professional Learning Group, and Yiet Knight who is owner of the Universal Child Care and Learning Center in Augusta, a three-star Quality Rated program, and part of our Quality Rated Peer Support Network.

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Episode 29 - Applications for Georgia's Pre-K Program Teachers of the Year 2021-2022 Mar 09, 2021

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It’s that time again! DECAL is seeking applications for Georgia’s Pre-K Program Teachers of the Year for 2021-2022. DECAL will select a winner from a local public school system and a winner from a private child care center. Joining us to talk about applying for Georgia’s Pre-K Teachers of the Year is Meghan McNail, Summer Transition and Outreach Manager for Georgia’s Pre-K Program; Channie Frazier is a pre-K teacher at Kids World Learning Center in Statesboro and was our Pre-K Teacher of the Year for 2016-2017; Nathan Leatherwood is a Pre-K teacher at Calhoun City Pre-K and was Pre-K Teacher of the Year for 2017-2018; and Stephanie Westhafter is a Pre-K teacher at Georgia Kids Academy in Hoschton and was Pre-K Teacher of the Year for 2018-2019.

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Episode 28 - COVID-19 Guidance for Georgia Child Care Programs + Vaccine Information for Teachers and Staff Mar 01, 2021

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Last summer, DECAL joined the Governor’s Office and the Georgia Department of Public Health in providing COVID-19 guidance for Georgia Child Care facilities. Now, at almost a year into the pandemic and public health emergency, we have updated that guidance to support providers, teachers, and of course Georgia’s children and families. Joining us to talk about Updates and Changes to our COVID-19 Guidance for Georgia Child Care Facilities is Pam Stevens, Deputy Commissioner of Child Care Services, April Rogers, CCS Director of Enforcement Operations, and Ebony Thomas, Epidemiologist with the Georgia Department of Public Health. PLUS we have the latest information o n COVID-19 vaccines for Pre-K and child care teachers and staff.

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Episode 27 - Community Impact Grants Feb 23, 2021

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Communities across Georgia who are interested in promoting high-quality early childhood care and education are applying for three separate Community Impact Grant opportunities from DECAL. Funding for these grants was made possible by the $11.2 million Preschool Development Renewal Grant that Georgia received in January 2020 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Education. Joining us to talk about the Community Impact Grants is Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner for Quality Innovations and Partnerships, Laura Wagner, Community Outreach and Partnerships Director, and Jill O’ Meara, Community Partnerships and Projects Manager.

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Episode 26 - Summer Transition Program Feb 16, 2021

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For the 11th year, DECAL is offering a six-week intensive academic program for rising Pre-K and rising Kindergarten students called the Summer Transition Program. The program was created to support students who either did not attend Georgia’s Pre-K Program or Head Start or who need additional help before taking that next step. Joining us to talk about the Summer Transition Program is Meghan McNail, Summer Transition Program and Outreach Manager, Ashley Manning, whose son attended the Summer Transition Program at Little Ones Learning Center in Forest Park, and Jeff Randa, Director of Quality Implementation for Easter Seals of North Georgia, who hosted five Summer Transition classes, even last summer during the pandemic.

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Episode 25 - Summer Food Service Program 2021 Feb 09, 2021

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Many of Georgia’s kids became especially vulnerable last March when schools closed because of the pandemic. Families were left struggling to feed their children. And, with many parents out of work, it’s likely that more kids—as many as one in four—may face hunger in the months ahead, especially when school is out for the summer.

DECAL’s Summer Food Service Program is one solution that helps children get the nutrition they need. This program benefits the whole community by closing the food insecurity gap and providing local economies with federal reimbursement funds. Joining us today to talk about how the Nutrition Division will ensure Georgia’s kids will have access to meals and snacks this summer is Tamika Boone, Director of Nutrition Services and Cindy Kicklighter, Manager of Marketing and Outreach.

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Episode 24 - Inclusive Early Learning Week 2021 Feb 02, 2021

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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 are Lindsey Urry, Regional Supervisor of Inclusion and Behavior Support, and Inclusion and Behavior Support Specialists Roseanne Hamrick and Megan McGraw.

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Episode 23 - GPEE Top Ten Issues to Watch Jan 26, 2021

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In January, the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (GPEE) presented its 17th edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch Report. The report identifies and analyzes key education issues Georgia will be or should be addressing in the coming year. Joining us to talk about the Top Ten Issues to Watch is Dr. Dana Rickman, Incoming President of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, and Dr. Robert Gaines, GPEE Director of Communications.

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Episode 22 - Meet Georgia's Pre-K Program Teachers of the Year 2020-2021 Jan 19, 2021

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For the fifth consecutive year, DECAL has named two Georgia’s Pre-K Program Teachers of the Year recognizing the outstanding efforts of all Pre-K teachers and assistant teachers who implement this nationally recognized program every day. Joining us today on the podcast is Alderine Healey from the YMCA Paulding Early Learning Center in Hiram, Heather Melillo from West End Elementary School in Rome, and our own Meghan McNail, Summer Transition and Outreach Manager for Georgia’s Pre-K Program.

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Episode 21 - Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Jan 12, 2021

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Last year, the Georgia State Legislature created a new position here at DECAL designed to help support social and emotional health in a child’s critical early years of life. Despite the budget challenges caused by COVID-19, the Legislature approved an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Director for Georgia. Joining us to talk about Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health is Laura Lucas, the new Director of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health here at DECAL; and Dallas Rabig, who holds a similar position as Laura, in the state of Alabama as the State Coordinator for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health.

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