Release:

DECAL Seeking Applications for Georgia’s Pre-K Teachers of the Year

Winner from Public School and Private Child Care Center Will Be Chosen

ATLANTA, Ga., – The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (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.  

“All Georgians can be proud of Georgia’s Pre-K Program that helps lay a solid foundation on which the  academic careers of the state’s four year olds can be built,” said DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs.  “Since its beginning in 1992, more than 1.6 million children have entered kindergarten better prepared to  succeed. That preparation, however, would not have been possible without the dedicated Pre-K teachers and assistants who implement this program every day. Recognizing these committed professionals by  choosing Pre-K Teachers of the Year is one way to thank them for their efforts.” 

The application for Pre-K Teacher of the Year is available on the DECAL website home page at  www.decal.ga.gov. Completed applications must be postmarked or hand delivered before 5:00 PM on  March 17, 2021. Finalists will be announced in May 2021 with the two winners announced in the early  fall.

To be considered for Georgia’s Pre-K Program Teacher of the Year, the teacher must meet the following  qualifications: 

• Employed as a full-time Georgia’s Pre-K lead teacher during the 2020-2021 school year.
• Taught as a full-time lead teacher in a Georgia’s Pre-K classroom for a minimum of three years.
• Meets Georgia’s Pre-K lead teacher credential/certification requirements and is enrolled in the  Georgia Professional Development System (GaPDS). 
• Planning to continue as a lead teacher in a Georgia’s Pre-K classroom during the 2021-2022  school year. 
• Employed by a Georgia’s Pre-K Program provider in good standing with all programs  administered by DECAL (Pre-K, Child Care Services, Childcare and Parent Services [CAPS] and  Nutrition Services). 
• Willing to serve as an ambassador for Georgia’s Pre-K Program. Duties may include but are not  limited to: public speaking, representing Georgia’s Pre-K at meetings, and modeling effective  classroom practices. 
• Willing and able to travel as needed – including some overnight stays. 
• Willing to have a classroom evaluation and interview conducted if chosen as a finalist.  

For more information, contact Meghan McNail, Summer Transition Program and Outreach Coordinator,  at meghan.mcnail@decal.ga.gov or 770-357-4911. 

This school year approximately 81,000 four year olds attend Georgia’s Pre-K Program. The voluntary,  lottery-funded Pre-K program has been recognized as one of the top programs in the nation, based on  quality standards, teacher qualifications, and enrollment. Georgia’s Pre-K Program is universal – meaning  that any age-eligible child residing in Georgia may attend the program regardless of family income.  Georgia’s model for providing the Pre-K program is unique in that it is offered through a public-private  partnership in local school systems, in private child care centers, and in other facilities.  

About Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning  

Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is responsible for meeting the child care and early  education needs of Georgia’s children and their families. It administers the nationally recognized  Georgia’s Pre-K Program, licenses child care centers and home-based child care, administers Georgia’s  Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program, federal nutrition programs, and manages Quality Rated,  Georgia’s community powered child care rating system.