Mayor John Gayle and State Rep. Dexter Sharper visited Valdosta City Schools recently to show their support for early childhood education by reading from a favorite children’s book to the center’s 4-year-olds as part of Georgia’s Pre-K Week.

Launched five years ago, Pre-K Week’s support from government, business and community leaders grows every year. The Georgia School Boards Association joined as a Pre-K Week partner, and Georgia Power, Synovus Bank and Scholastic returned as corporate sponsors this year. Additional key supporters included Gov. Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal.

During the state’s official Pre-K Week Oct. 5-9, Gayle and Sharper visited Pre-K centers in S.L. Mason Elementary and Pinevale Elementary to witness early learning in action and engaged children and educators, according to the city school system. The statewide celebration, which included all 159 counties, draws attention to early learning, including Pre-K, a hallmark program that was pioneered in Georgia 22 years ago.

“We were excited to have the important officials visit our centers to show our children their community cares about their education,” said Dara Holt, director of preK through fifth grade curriculum. “The enthusiasm and support we received from leaders across the state shows they understand the value of early learning to ensure school readiness, higher graduation rates and lifelong empowerment.”

“The support of such influential public and private organizations is a powerful statement about the value of children’s education and learning in the early years,” said Emily Pelton, Executive Director of Voices for Georgia’s Children, the child advocacy organization that organizes Pre-K Week each year, along with its partners. “Investment in early childhood education creates the foundation necessary for a child to succeed in nearly every phase of life, from learning to read successfully by third grade to graduating high school and entering the workforce.”

All of the pre-K classes in Valdosta City Schools received a field trip out to Raisin Cane to as a celebration of Pre-K Week. 

Valdosta City Schools has pre-K centers on the campuses of J.L. Lomax Elementary, Pinevale Elementary, S.L. Mason Elementary and W.G. Nunn Elementary. As the week drew to a close, the district was notified it had been awarded a class for pre-K at Sallas Mahone Elementary. Now each elementary school in the district can provide early learning opportunities for 4-year-old students. Enrollment will be prioritized for the new class will begin on Nov. 2.