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Delaware Readiness Teams gather to celebrate early successes

November 15, 2013

More than 100 people gathered Oct. 29 at the Duncan Center in Dover to celebrate the development of 19 Readiness Teams representing communities throughout Delaware. These teams are developing and implementing school readiness plans for their communities. Members join as representatives from schools, families, early learning providers, and other community groups, including healthcare providers.  Each team completes a profile and an action plan that focuses on Ready Families, Ready Schools, Ready Early Learning Providers and Ready Communities.

At the Readiness Team Celebration, participants heard from Harriet Dichter, executive director of the Office of Early Learning, and Madeleine Bayard, Rodel Foundation, chair of the advisory committee. The teams’ work is part of Delaware’s Early Learning Challenge grant under the goal to align the systems serving children from birth to 5 years with the educational system serving children in kindergarten to grade 12. Their remarks were followed by a presentation by Camille Catlett from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and Samtra Devard, family partnership consultant, who presented, “Together We Really Are Better: How Collaborative Efforts Supports Each Child and Family.”

Teams worked together for the rest of the morning to develop displays of what they have identified as their community’s strengths, and challenges or barriers, as well as what goals/accomplishments they have set for themselves.  Gov. Jack Markell joined the celebration and talked with team members about their efforts.

For more information on the Delaware Readiness Teams, contact Daphne Y. Evans, lead facilitator, at dyevans@lf.k12.de.us or 302-480-3873.

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