Alabama Center of Excellence in Early Childhood at JCCEO The Alabama Center of Excellence in Early Childhood at JCCEO is one of ten in the nation, funded to Head Start programs for five years ending in 2015 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.The goal is for the centers to share information on strategies for providing high quality early childhood education programming.JCCEO will provide information on its continuous quality improvement activities and innovations to other programs and early childhood staff via its website, visits to the program, and presentations.JCCEO will also develop and implement an Alabama Early Childhood Leadership Academy for early childhood leaders from all types of programs across the state.Academy classes will include up to 40 participants and Academy sessions will provide early childhood leadership training and enrichment to promote the development of increasingly effective programs for young children.The first Academy class is also the mentor coaching network developed with additional support from the grant described below.The next, and first of four additional, academy classes will include early childhood leaders selected from programs across Alabama, and it will begin in September 2011.
Alabama Coaching of Coaches Network at JCCEO
The Alabama Coaching of Coaches Network at JCCEO is funded by one of 131 Early Learning Mentor Coach grants provided to Head Start programs by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.This 17-month grant, ending in February 2012, will provide training on mentoring and coaching teaching staff for staff developers (education coordinators, managers, and specialists) working in 13 programs in Alabama. The training provided will be on assessment including the CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System), the ELLCO (Early Language and Literacy Classroom Observation), and the LELA (Language and Early Literacy Assessment); on the mentoring and coaching relationship and techniques; on effective practices in early education; and on a variety of specific curriculum topics.Participants will also have a guided coaching experience with a master coach.The first Coaching Network session is in January 2011.
JCCEO Head Start Scholarship Fund
Thanks to the JCCEO Head Start Scholarship Fund, made possible through fundraising efforts by Head Start staff and parents since April 1995, the JCCEO Head Start-Alabama Asset Building Youth Scholarship Individual Development Account (IDA) Project is available for participation to high school juniors and seniors who graduated from JCCEO Head Start.
YOU can touch the future! Make your tax deductible contribution! Your check should be payable to the JCCEO Head Start Scholarship Fund. For more information, please call 205-327-7500.
JCCEO Program One of First Ten National Head Start Centers of Excellence in Early Childhood
The Office of Head Start at the Agency for Children and Youth, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has announced that the JCCEO Head Start-Early Head Start Program has been named one of ten Head Start Centers of Excellence in Early Childhood in the United States. The program will receive one million dollars during the next five years to maintain its outstanding programming, to share strategies for seeking and achieving excellence with other early childhood programs, and to establish an Alabama Early Childhood Leadership Academy. Read more...
JCCEO Executive Director Receives National Award for Excellence
JCCEO Executive Director Gayle Cunningham was recently awarded the Sargent Shriver Award for Excellence by the National Head Start Association. This award "recognizes individuals whose exceptional leadership and demonstrated dedication are consistent with Sargent Shriver's legacy of applying common sense strategies to promote the ideals of social and economic justice" and was presented to a standing ovation for Ms. Cunningham at the NHSA gala dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C. in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Head Start program. Read More...
In 2007, the JCCEO Headquarters building was
placed on the National Register of
Historic Places by the U.S. Department of Interior!
JCCEO Teacher Excels!
For the second consecutive year, JCCEO is on the national forefront for excellence in teaching! Vickie Mauldin, an early childhood JCCEO Early Head Start Program teacher, was selected as one of 50 winners of the Terri Lynne Lokoff/Children's TYLENOL National Childcare Teacher Award. Ms. Mauldin's innovative project proposal centers on collecting mathematical and scientific data and learning about nutrition. The parents and children in her nursery at the JCCEO Early Head Start Center will plant in the garden area at the center's site, tend to, and through photographs at various intervals, track the progress of vegetable seedlings for eventual harvesting and data compilation. Ms Mauldin traveled to King of Prussia, Pennsylvania to receive the prestigious award that included $500 to fund her project proposal and $500 for her personal use. One of the first to extend congratulations to Ms. Mauldin was JCCEO's 2009 Terri Lynne Lokoff/Children's TYLENOL National Childcare Teacher Award recipient Mildred Bearden, a JCCEO Head Start Program Pre-K Teacher at the JCCEO Head Start Festival Center. The JCCEO family congratulates and is very proud of Vickie Mauldin!
JCCEO considers applicants for all services without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.
Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity 300 Eighth Avenue, West Birmingham, Alabama 35204-3039 Phone: 205-327-7500 Fax: 205-327-7549 Email: vmims@jcceo.org
