ATLANTA – State Representative Sheila Jones (D-Atlanta) celebrated Georgia’s Pre-K program week by visiting Herrington Elementary School and reading to a group of 4-year-olds as part of Georgia Pre-K Week. Around the state, attention has turned to the tens of thousands of Georgia’s youngest children in celebration of the work that they are doing to prepare for school success.
“Early childhood education is critical to one’s future success, and preparing for elementary school is an important part of life for a child in their early years,” said Rep. Jones. “I was pleased to honor some of our youngest learners by visiting Herrington Elementary School.”
Rep. Jones visited Herrington Elementary School on Wednesday, October 8, 2014. While there, she participated in a reading activity with children, took a tour of the facility, talked with staff, and got an up-close look at the ways that the center is supporting early learning. Rep. Jones was invited to visit Herrington Elementary School by Sonni Jackson and Shirley Herrington.
“We were privileged to have Rep. Jones visit our center and experience our children’s enthusiasm for learning,” said Shirley Herrington, Director of Herrington Elementary School. “Seeing firsthand the tremendous difference Pre-K makes can create advocates for early childhood education, which builds life-long benefits for our children and our community.”
October 6 through October 10 is the state’s official Pre-K Week, hosted by Voices for Georgia’s Children and its Pre-K week partners. Rep. Jones is one of nearly 150 officials who will visit some of the approximately 3,800 Pre-K classrooms located in all 159 counties in Georgia.
“Georgia’s Pre-K program is an exceptional program that can serve as a model for our country,” said Pat Willis, Executive Director of Voices for Georgia’s Children, a child advocacy organization. “About 84,000 four year olds in Georgia benefit from this remarkable program, a milestone in the critical phase of education that takes place from birth to age eight.”
Joining Voices for Georgia’s Children as partners on Georgia Pre-K Week are Black Child Development Institute Atlanta, Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy, Georgia Association for Young Children, Georgia Child Care Association, Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, Georgia Family Connection Partnership, Georgia Public Library Service, JumpStart, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, multiple Junior League chapters, Quality Care for Children, United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, and YMCA.
Voices for Georgia’s Children is a nonprofit child policy and advocacy organization that envisions a Georgia where children are safe, healthy, educated, employable, and connected to their family and community.
Representative Sheila Jones represents the citizens of District 53, which includes portions of Cobb and Fulton counties. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2004, and currently serves on the Appropriations, Health & Human Services, Juvenile Justice, and Transportation committees.
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