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As 2022 draws to a close, this episode takes a look back at our most popular episodes of DECAL Download, based on the total number of downloads, added together with your likes and comments across social media. With all that data, we determined our top ten podcast episodes for 2022, and to find your way to the top of the list, just follow the money.  

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On this episode of DECAL Download, light up your tree, grab some eggnog, and hang up the mistletoe.  It’s our annual holiday special featuring members of the DECAL team, gift ideas for the birth to five year old on your list, and some helpful ways to eat healthy during the holidays. Joining us on this holiday episode is Quandra Obi, Special Assistant to Commissioner Jacobs; Savannah Ennis, Infant Toddler Specialist in Lowndes County; and Diana Myers, Nutrition and Physical Activity Supervisor from our DECAL Nutrition Team.  

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From Dalton to Valdosta, and even Truist Park with the Atlanta Braves, we have been celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of Quality Rated.  This week we take a look back at all the festivities with Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner for Quality Innovations and Partnerships.  

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The year is winding down, the holidays will be here soon, and it seemed like a good time for us to sit down and Chat with the Commissioner.  This is an episode where we take questions from our DECAL team and the general public through our social media and discuss a wide variety of topics with Commissioner Jacobs.  

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This year, Quality Rated is celebrating its tenth anniversary…a Decade of Stars…by naming 126 child care providers to the exclusive Quality Rated Class of 2012 in recognition of their unique status as early adopters that have consistently delivered high-quality, star-rated care and education to Georgia’s youngest learners. We’re also recognizing leaders who have been influential in making Quality Rated a success across Georgia. On this episode we take our listeners to the event held November 18 at Georgia Piedmont Technical College where former Governor Nathan Deal was honored.

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While many private-sector jobs have fully rebounded from problems presented by COVID-19, this has not been the case for the early childhood workforce in America which has actually shrunk by close to ten-percent from what it was in February, 2020.  To better understand the impact of COVID-19 on the early childhood workforce, our partners at GEEARS…Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students…have been conducting focus groups all this year with child care learning centers, family child care learning homes, Head Start programs, and Georgia’s Pre-K Program.  Joining us to talk about supporting the early childhood workforce is Callan Wells, Senior Health Policy Manager at GEEARS; Donnis Pace is President of the Georgia Head Start Association and Director of Tallatoona Community Action Partnership….operating a Head Start and Georgia’s Pre-K Program in Cartersville and surrounding areas, and Allison Setterlind is Georgia’s Head Start Collaboration Director here at DECAL.

Full report available here:   https://geears.org/research/publications/ 

The Head Start Heals Campaign helps programs apply a trauma-informed approach that builds the protective factors necessary for resiliency and healing. https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/mental-health/article/head-start-heals-campaign

The Georgia Head Start Association (GHSA) is a statewide non-profit organization with the mission to provide education, leadership and advocacy to support the agencies providing Head Start services, and the communities they serve. https://georgiaheadstart.org/ 

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Two of our websites used for lesson planning are coming together for a new website starting in January.  The PEACH (Planning Educational Activities for Children) site is being combined with the GELDS (Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards) site. Joining us to talk about the new GELDS site is Barb McWethy, Workforce Supports Manager here at DECAL, and Shenae Holms, Workforce Development Specialist. 

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It all started with 750 four year olds in 1992 under then Governor Zell Miller.  Now, 30 years later, it serves over 70,000 students across the state under Governor Brian Kemp.  It’s Georgia’s Pre-K Program, celebrating a milestone birthday this year and laying a solid foundation for academic excellence and future success in the lives of nearly 2-million children.  Joining us to talk about Georgia’s Pre-K Program and the 30th birthday is Marla Reisman, Pre-K project director at North Fulton Child Development Center in Roswell, and Stephanie Thompson, Pre-K project director with the Glynn County Schools, part of their Family and Children’s Education Services (FACES).

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Last month, DECAL named our Georgia’s Pre-K Teachers of the Year for the 2022-2023 school year just in time for the annual Georgia’s Pre-K Week October 3-7. The public school winner is Shannon Gibson from Baldwin Elementary School in Baldwin, and the private child care center winner is Alaina Jones from Akers Academy in Cumming.  Joining us this week to talk about their experience of being selected Georgia’s Pre-K Teachers of the Year are Shannon and Alaina, along with Meghan McNail, our Summer Transition Program and Outreach Manager, who oversees the Teacher of the Year recognition each year.

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October is Farm to School and Farm to Early Care and Education Month…an innovative way to build children’s relationship with food and the local food system through hands-on food education and gardening experiences, interactive and adventurous taste testing, and inclusion of local items into CACFP meals and snacks.  Joining us to talk about Farm to School and Farm to Early Care and Education Month is Diana Myers, Nutrition and Physical Activity Supervisor here at DECAL, and Akia Lewis with Georgia Family Connection Partnership and Get Georgia Reading.  

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