FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 7, 2009
Zapata Classrooms Awarded School Readiness Certifications
Laredo, TX – – TMC a member of the Texas School Ready Project, formerly the Texas Early Education Model program, announced yesterday the quantity of classrooms in Zapata that were awarded the “School Readiness Certification for 2008-2009 by the State Center for Early Childhood Development at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. A ceremony was held at the UISD Student Activity Complex to announce the 13 classrooms that were certified from Zapata County.
The following classrooms received the Texas School Ready! designation Marlen Guerra at Arturo L. Benavides Elementary and the classrooms of Connie Muñoz, Damiana Guerrero, Jessica Villarreal, Jose Manuel Araiza, Julianita Alaniz, Laura Elena Garcia, Margarita Garcia, Melisa Garcia, Susana Lopez, and Veronica Gutierrez at the Zapata North Early Childhood Center. Also, the classrooms of Yolanda Salinas and Lina Lozano at the El Lago Head Start received the designation.
The School Readiness designation indicates that after two years of compliance, the designated classrooms have demonstrated a high level of performance in providing a quality pre-school curriculum to children ages 4 and 5 years old. These teachers have successfully implemented the School Ready Project principles of classroom management, phonological awareness, vocabulary building, letter knowledge, early writing, early math, and preparatory reading.
“We are excited that we are able to offer TEEM-mentor classrooms in Zapata this program helps Zapata County’s children start school ready to learn," stated Mary Capello, CEO.
Background
Pre-schools and child-care centers apply yearly to SCECD and provide their review staff with information about classrooms and educational programs, including the learning environment and curriculum. Children attending applicant classrooms are then followed from pre-K into kindergarten and evaluated by the SCECD for early reading and social development to determine if the pre-K classroom helped prepare the student for success in elementary school.
