Two Camden classes have earned the right to display a special banner for exceeding all requirements set by the state for pre-kindergarten (pre-K) education. Those honored were Robin Thornton's classroom at St. Marys Elementary and Jamie Moore's classroom at Crooked River Elementary.
The school system has one pre-K class of 20 students in each of its nine elementary schools. Pre-K is not fully funded by the state so a lottery is held each year to select students for the popular program.
Every year all pre-K classrooms are evaluated by Bright from the Start which is the state agency of the Georgia Department of Education that oversees pre-K education.
The evaluation process covers 34 key indicators including the physical learning environment, instruction and curriculum, transition to kindergarten, family involvement, lesson plans, daily schedule and administration.
According to Dr. Rebecca Gillette, Camden County Schools director of elementary curriculum, the evaluation process gets refined more each year. She said it especially looks at how the class promotes and encourages children to explore and learn in natural ways.