Beech Tree News Network

Butler County Schools is working hard to shape the future and bring new meaning to school readiness!   The Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Education presented an opportunity to participate in a statewide initiative on early childhood education.  Superintendent Scott Howard put together a School Readiness team of eight individuals, leading the team himself as part of this Initiative.  Butler County’s team was chosen to participate and have attended statewide meetings in the Fall 2016 and in the Spring of 2017.  Our local team includes Scott Howard, Superintendent;  Sarah McKee, Director of Special Education and Preschool Coordinator for the School System;  Ms. Ginny Lockhart, preschool teacher at North Butler;  Elizabeth Grubb Center Manager/Family Service Worker from Butler County Head Start;  Melissa Glass, Coordinator and Brandie Smith, Home, School & Community Liaison from the Family Resource Center;  Amy Hood, Early Childhood Specialist at WKU and 3rd district board member, and Lisa Lee owner and director of Lee’s Family Child Care Home.   
One of the projects that this team worked on over the past few months was to host Butler County’s first Early Childhood Extravaganza.  This event, in collaboration with the local community early childhood council, included a variety of community partners to be sure families of young children know about the variety of local resources for their children and family.

 The Extravaganza was held in the Butler County Education Complex from 9-noon on Saturday April 22. Families and children birth through school age were encouraged to attend.  Overall the team feels that this event was very successful as there were 42 individuals representing 16 Exhibits from a variety of area partners and over 100 children and families visited the event throughout the morning.
These exhibitors included school staff such as Principals, counselors, kindergarten teachers, and preschool teachers from both elementary schools; Speech and Language staff, Food service staff who treated the children to some nutritious snacks, and our Transportation Director along with a bus driver were available offering a tour of the bus!

Other exhibitors included:  Elizabeth Grubb, Denise Ballinger and Carolyn Damron from Butler County’s Head Start program discussing opportunities available for local children; Kenna Martin, director of the public library sharing fun and games with children and information on the library children’s programs;  Giles Taylor and James Embry Morgantown city police, answering questions about children’s safety; Taylor Tucker, Child Care Aware who provided information on regulated child care in Butler County; Bonnie Petty with the WKU Institute for Rural Health sharing information and offering dental screenings; Shira Hankins, Nurse Practitioner from Dr. Hammad’s office discussing important health care for children; Ellie Harbaugh from United Way of Southern Kentucky;  Michelle Moore with the Butler County Nutrition Education program,  and  Extension Agent Tracy Thorton Cowles, who all shared their programs resources for families and children to help them be ready and healthy for school. 

  
Butler County recognizes Early Childhood Education as a significant predictor for school success the team included student volunteers Delaney Embry, Becky Mullins and Chloe Jenkins from BCHS FCCLA and the Child Development/Parenting classes who were on hand contributing appropriate activities for the children as well.
Howie, BC’s very own School Readiness Bear was also on-site to greet children and was available for photos along with a sign indicating the child’s high school graduating class!  It is KEY that families understand that they are their child’s first teachers and learning begins at home very early.
The School Readiness Team hopes that this will become an annual event and also by pulling all of our area resources together to help prepare children and families from school that together the community can build a great future for Butler County Children.