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Vanzetta Evans                                                                                           V. Evans Communications                                                                                        518-542-9864                                                             v.evanscommunications@gmail.com

Nick Lorenzen

Nellie Mae Education Foundation

nlorenzen@nmefdn.org

CAYL Institute awarded $50,000 to bring 16 Massachusetts Elementary School Principals to National Conference

Cambridge, MA – The Nellie Mae Education Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Cambridge-based CAYL (Community Advocates for Young Learners) Institute to bring 16 elementary school Principals from school districts across Massachusetts to participate CAYL’s innovative July 2009 National Conference, entitled “Young Learners in America’s Schools: What’s in Your Toolkit?” This Conference is a result of three years of CAYL’s intense work with elementary school Principals in Massachusetts who have pre-kindergarten programs in their schools, and the demand from other states for this type of training.

The 2009 Principal Scholars are:

• Rhonda Brenner, Assistant Principal, Columbus Elementary School, Medford, MA
• Lisa Buchinski, Principal, Crosby Elementary School, Pittsfield, MA
• Susan Burt, Principal, Capeless School, Pittsfield, MA
• Joseph Curtis, Principal, Morningside Community School
• Jillayne Flanders, Principal, Plains Elementary School, South Hadley, MA
• Katheleen Ford-Pelley, Assistant Principal Leicester Primary School/ Leicester Memorial Elementary School, Leicester, MA 01524
• Neil Gile, Principal, Quarry Hill Community School, Monson, MA
• Shelley Gross, Early Childhood Director, Medford Public Schools, Medford, MA
• Pamela Holmes, Supervisor of Early Childhood Educations, Somerville Public Schools, Somerville, MA
• Jose Irizarry, Principal, Ells Elementary School, Springfield, MA
• Donna Leep, Principal, Conte Community School, Pittsfield, MA
• Greg Martineau, Principal, Leicester Memorial Elementary School, Leicester, MA
• Norma Micheroni, Assistant Principal, John Breen School, Lawrence, MA
• Michael Sabin, Principal, Arthur D. Healey School, Somerville, MA
• Michael Simon, Principal, Brooks School, Medford, MA
• Debbie White, Principal, Central Berkshire Regional School District, Dalton, MA

The 16 Principals from Massachusetts will join with other elementary school Principals and early childhood Administrators from across the United States in a hands-on, interactive Conference featuring site visits to high quality early childhood programs in Boston and Cambridge, national experts, and interactive workshops. They will join CAYL’s growing Network of elementary school Principals who want to increase their knowledge and skill in early childhood education for the betterment of their school’s prekindergarten program.

 “At CAYL, we are delighted to welcome these 16 Principals to our Young Learners Conference and to work intensively with them,” said Valora Washington, CAYL President.  “The selected Principals will all bring a unique perspective to our Conference, and we look forward to integrating them into our existing network of Principals and early childhood professionals from across the nation.”

“We’re excited to support CAYL’s important work with these education leaders,” said Nicholas C. Donohue, President and CEO of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation. “We look forward to the conference and to building off of it to continue to grow the type of high quality educational opportunities that enable our youngest citizens – especially those from underserved populations – to reach their full potential as successful learners.”

As more elementary school Principals incorporate programs for pre-kindergarten children into their schools and as more of the public begins to recognize the increased value of early childhood education, Principals across the country want to learn more about appropriate ways to lead programs with children younger than kindergarten and how to align the youngest children with standard elementary school practices

CAYL’s Young Learners Conference, led by trained and experienced Principals, will offer a pathway to vision, strategy and practice for addressing the current realities that Principals face.  The Conference will create the conditions for Principals to empower themselves and create sustainable change for children.

Features of the National Conference include:

• Panel Interviews and Interactive Discussions
• National Experts on Early Education and Care in Public Schools 
• Boston Children’s Museum Field Trip
• Site Visits to NAEYC Accredited Early Education Schools
• Roundtable Lunches and Discussions
• Each participant will receive a copy of the CAYL Principals Toolkit, a universal digital media tool to facilitate the rapid dissemination of high quality best practices for America’s youngest learners. 

For more information on the National Conference, please visit: http://cayl.org/PrincipalConference2009

About the CAYL Institute:

Community Advocates for Young Learners, or the CAYL Institute,  envisions a nation where the right to high quality early education and care is embedded in public policy and professional practice. Our purpose is to organize, equip and empower people to create change on behalf of children. Please visit www.cayl.org for up-to-date information and for early childhood care and education resources.

About The Nellie Mae Education Foundation: