On Monday, July 29, fourteen early educators in Giles County will be recognized for their professional development and dedication and rewarded with cash stipends, thanks to the G.I.F.T. program.
The recognition program, known as G.I.F.T. (Giles Incentives for Teachers), was launched in January to reward early educators for attaining professional credentials. G.I.F.T. recognizes that developing and providing incentives for our early education workforce is the key to building high-quality fulltime early education in Giles County.
In just six months, G.I.F.T. is proving very effective in supporting these critical educators. The program has grown from nine to fourteen participants and all the original teachers are still working at their centers.
G.I.F.T. has motivated teachers to pursue professional development opportunities, including the Child Development Associate certificate (the first step in early childhood professional development).
G.I.F.T.’s twice a year cash incentive is critical in a profession that pays significantly less than retail or other employment. Even more important is the recognition from our community that conveys that these early educators are valued as professionals who are respected and appreciated.
G.I.F.T. is focused on licensed fulltime care and education as Giles County (and the entire NRV) has a critical shortage of the high-quality full-time care required to sustain working families.
Nurturing our early education workforce enables fulltime centers to grow, families to work and ensures that young children arrive at kindergarten ready to succeed.
For more information, contact Bethany Mott Executive Director Alliance for Better Childcare Strategies at 540-494-7175 and bethanymott@abcsnrv.org
