Chatham County Partnership for Children
Pam Anderson and Julie Mashburn
Child Care Support
Elevating early childhood quality by empowering educators, supporting families, and strengthening child care communities through coaching, training, and connection.
How is it going?
The program is progressing well and remains on track to meet its technical assistance (coaching) and professional development (training) goals. Technical assistance has continued to focus on improving classroom quality through the use of Environment Rating Scales, with the added benefit of more in-depth coaching than in previous years. This has led to noticeable improvements when there is consistency among lead teachers and openness to change. A joy this year has been an increase in time spent in classrooms, working alongside teachers and modeling best practices, which has supported meaningful changes. While participation in the LENA Grow program and training workshops has been challenging due to funding and engagement barriers, new county funding beginning in January and the upcoming Early Educator Conference are expected to increase participation and address educators’ interests more effectively.
Successes
When I first started working in the toddler classroom at one site there was very limited communication with the children that showed interest in what the children were doing and enjoyment in spending time with them. The children’s physical needs were being met, but the social and emotional support was lacking. The teachers were focused on caregiving tasks and communication with the children was primarily around controlling behavior: however, they were interested in changing the language environment and very open to suggestions. The teachers have made great strides making the classroom environment more positive for the children.
In one of the preschool classrooms where initially children were spending very little time in center play and a lot of time in teacher directed activities. They are now spending at least an hour each morning in classroom centers with the teacher moving from center to center engaging with children. For preschool aged children, playing is the most effective and lasting form of learning. We are proud of the changes these teachers were willing to make in their classrooms to better support and engage their children!
18 child care classrooms or homes have received on-site technical assistance and coaching!
97% of training attendees gained skills they can immediately use in their jobs!
| Goal: 150 child care staff attending trainings Current Total: 105/70% | Goal on Track |
| Goal: 80% of training attendees indicate they gained skills they can immediately use in their jobs Current Total: 97% | Goal on Track |
| 22 Trainings have been offered this year | 153 Chatham children have been impacted by training. |
| Goal: 25 classrooms or homes receive on-site technical assistance/coaching Current Total: 18/72% | Goal on Track |
| Goal: 90% of coaching recipients report implementation of strategies provided by coaching Current Total: 83% | Goal on Track |
This question is given to training participants at the end of a workshop or training. Answers are collected anonymously.
Assessments are used to guide coaching. Coaches will often complete an assessment near the beginning of a coaching relationship, provide support and assistance on identified areas of need, then complete a second assessment to review growth.
