"These children are going to fall remarkably behind," he said. If that does happen, potentially classrooms would close, staff would be laid off, and kids wouldn't get the services they need. "Kentucky's Head Start programs are not going to be impacted necessarily on that day, but what we are going to see if that shutdown were to last days or weeks or even until December, you'll begin to see programs not getting their funding, programs not getting the federal funding they need," Mountjoy said. Impacts won't be immediate, said John Mountjoy, the executive director of Kentucky Head Start Association, which represents the independent programs across the commonwealth. (LEX 18) - The potential government shutdown could force Head Start classrooms in Kentucky to close down, depending on how long the shutdown lasts. Dailey was named the 2024 Kentucky Teacher of the Year and earned the Milken Educator Award in 2021.LEXINGTON, Ky. Kevin Dailey is an eleven-year veteran in education, beginning his career at Gallatin County High School and currently teaching social studies at Ballyshannon Middle School (Boone County). The future of our students, and the future of Kentucky, depend on it. To that end, I strongly encourage you to find a way to increase teacher pay and to fully fund early childhood education services. What is undeniable is that for Kentucky to have the best future possible, young people – all of them – need access to a FULL education, instructed by highly-effective professionals who are equipped to guide them on whatever path they may choose. There are certainly disagreements that can be had on how exactly to ensure that outcome. If you want to ensure Kentucky’s future is bright for ALL Kentuckians, fully fund preschool and all-day kindergarten.Īt the end of the day, we all want what is best for Kentucky today and tomorrow. And Kentucky’s children should not be at the whim of their parent’s budget. These children are provided opportunities to learn social skills through cooperative play, gain access to books and guided support for academic readiness, and the chance to build critical thinking and independent problem-solving skills.Įvery parent with the resources to provide this type of head start for their child undoubtedly does so. We hear so often in public statements that everyone wants “what is best for kids.” If that is the case, then we need fully funded preschool and full-day kindergarten.Ĭhildren who receive early childhood education are given a strong foundation to build upon. Next, fully fund early childhood education in Kentucky. If you want to ensure Kentucky’s future is bright, pay your teachers. We must recruit and keep the best teachers in the classroom and our current pay structure doesn’t do that. This is a role that should be revered for its importance to our democracy and our future. Not only to teach them reading and writing, but to help them learn how to face adversity and overcome it how to question the world around them and how to find their place in it and to instill in them that no matter where they came from or what home looks like for them, that they are loved and that they matter. These are the professionals that have dedicated their lives to YOUR children and grandchildren. To do that, you have to invest in public education, and that begins with paying teachers a fair, appropriate, and competitive wage. Their creativity, compassion, and capacity to change this world is only limited by the support they are given along the way, at home and in the classroom.Īnd if you believe, as I do, in a Kentucky that leads instead of follows in a Kentucky that thrives through adversity, instead of succumbing to it if you believe in this next generation of Kentuckians, you MUST give them the support to reach their potential. My confidence in that comes from my privilege to witness the incredible minds of the next generation of Kentuckians. Not to sound like a politician, but I truly believe the future of Kentucky is bright. While I can’t provide expert testimony, I can provide a perspective rooted in values forged from a life of service to this great Commonwealth. Full disclosure, I do not claim to be an expert on either of these issues. With that in mind, I’d love to talk about two items on the legislative agenda that I feel are priorities in education in the Commonwealth – teacher compensation and early childhood education. It is to be selfless, enduring, and energetic. To me, that is what it means to be a Kentuckian. The best I can hope to do is to do what I have done my entire career: take the charge openly, wholeheartedly, and with my eye set on improving the lives of others. As the 2024 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, I have been gifted the incredible honor and opportunity to represent teachers across the Commonwealth – their brilliance, their passion, their dedication.
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