Congratulations to our Butterfly teacher, Deanna Satzger who recently won a mini-grant. Lakeshore Learning Materials sponsored 11 mini-grant awards announced at the recent SCAEYC Annual Conference in Columbia, SC. Applicants described how the SC Early Learning Standards could be supported and assessed with materials for a particular learning center or interest area. We were proud to learn that from the 60 applications, Deanna won the mini-grant for the Library center. Deanna received a large crate full of new books and storytelling props that our children are already happily using!

Our teachers and director have been very busy with research, writing, coursework, and other professional activities over the past semester and summer. Mary White took a graduate science methods course with Dr. Veal. Deanna Ramey Satzger completed six credits of coursework in Spanish, and Phyllis Gates and Stephanie Johnston did an independent study on grant-writing.  Three of our teachers also updated their mentor-teacher training with the ADEPT system. Ms. Mary and Dr. Mary Blake from the SOEHHP have a presentation accepted to the upcoming Southern Regional International Reading Association conference based on the research they did together over the past two years on the role of personal storytelling in the writing development of kindergarten children; they have an article underway about that research as well. Dr. Jaruszewicz co-authored two book chapters and an article for the Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education that address the issues surrounding technology and young children. She and and Ms. Mary White also have an editorial piece coming out in the next issue of Early Childhood Education Journal about creating contexts for meaningful professional growth. More information about research and writing at ECDC will be available soon on our “Research” page. Congratulations to all our lead teachers and program director on these accomplishments!