West End educator a finalist for state Pre-k teacher of the year
♦ Heather Melillo is one of six chosen to compete by DECAL judges.
A West End Pre-k teacher is among the six state finalists for the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning’s 2020-2021 Pre-k Program Teachers of the Year.
The finalists are Heather Melillo from West End Elementary School in Rome; Deana Snowden from Demorest Elementary School; Tricia Floyd from Maxwell High School of Technology Pre-k in Lawrenceville; Genevieve Rodriguez from Discovery Point #3 in Duluth; D’arri Moore from the Andrew and Walter Young YMCA in Atlanta; and Alderline Healy from the YMCA Paulding Early Learning Center in Hiram.
Each finalist received a
The 2020-2021 finalists are Heather Melillo from West End Elementary School in Rome; Deana Snowden from Demorest Elementary School; Tricia Floyd from Maxwell High School of Technology Pre-k in Lawrenceville; Genevieve Rodriguez from Discovery Point #3 in Duluth; D’arri Moore from the Andrew and Walter Young YMCA in Atlanta; and Alderline Healy from the YMCA Paulding Early Learning Center in Hiram.
$500 cash prize from the ist this fall, submit a small Georgia Foundation for Early group video to be scored by Care + Learning after their outside judges, and face a applications were reviewed panel for an in-office personal and scored by a panel of impartial interview. judges. In September, DECAL will
Next, the six finalists will select a winner from a local each receive a classroom observation public school system and a by a Pre-k Special- winner from a private child care center. They will receive a $3,000 check for themselves, $2,000 for a classroom makeover and supplies, and $2,500 to cover out of the classroom costs while the teacher is away.
“All Georgians can be proud of Georgia’s Pre-k Program that helps lay a solid foundation on which the academic careers of the state’s 4-yearolds can be built,” said Commissioner Amy Jacobs in a press release.
Since the program was piloted in 1992, she said, more than 1.6 million children have entered kindergarten better prepared to succeed.
“That preparation, however, would not have been possible without the dedicated Pre-k teachers and assistants who implement this program every day. Recognizing these committed professionals by choosing Pre-k Teachers of the Year is one way to thank them for their efforts,” Jacobs said.