Video: Mississippi Education Chief Tours Early Childhood Education Center

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TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – The state’s top educator uses one of the state’s oldest pre-K programs to showcase what she says is the key to Mississippi’s long-term education needs. WCBI’s Allie Martin tagged along for a tour that the state superintendent says is the first of many steps the state needs to take.

Since she took over as head of the state’s school system last year, Doctor Carey Wright has pushed for a greater emphasis on pre k programs.

That’s what brought her to Tupelo’s Early Childhood Education Center. It was established in the early 1990s and is the largest Title 1 pre K program in the area.

She met with students, and teachers.

It was a chance to showcase the education centers in each class that focus on a particular skill, to better prepare the students for kindergarten.

“As you can see, just touring, kids are having a blast, learning and not even realizing they’re learning cause it’s so much fun, and that’s what we want, to keep the lights on in young people and keep them excited and engaged about being here at school,” said TPSD Supt. Dr. Gearl Loden.

Dr. Wright has pushed lawmakers to provide more funding to expand pre k programs throughout the state and she says Tupelo’s ECEC is proof that the initiative works. And she says these programs are even more important to get students ready for new standards such as the third grade reading mandate.

“You get a highly qualified teacher you get all these wonderfully, developmentally appropriated experiences, you get to learn what it’s like to work in a group, and how to pay attention and follow directions and just the whole literacy piece begins here, being read to and having those experiences in the centers they participate in,” Dr. Wright said.

Principal Anita Buchanan acted as tour guide and says she’s glad Dr. Wright was able to get a firsthand look at the success of ECEC.

“We also know what an advocate she is for early childhood education and we are glad she had the opportunity to see what we can do here in Tupelo city schools,” Principal Buchanan said.

Doctor Wright’s stop at ECEC is part of a tour across the Magnolia state to push long-term investment in education to eventually raise the state’s standard of living. Dr. Wright said ECEC would be a good model for a statewide pre k initiative.