Pre-K teachers tell Barrow County board program prepares students for kindergarten; literacy resources and training highlighted

Two pre-K teachers addressed the board during public comment, describing how the district’s pre-K program prepares children academically and socially for kindergarten.

Ms. Perry, a pre-K teacher at Holsenbeck Elementary, described daily routines and instructional priorities: “Barrow County Schools pre-K program helps students be prepared for kindergarten by giving them a lots of hands-on experience... We do a lot of pre-reading skills. We talk about letters, letter sounds, differentiating sounds, rhyming words.” She emphasized social-emotional instruction and hands-on centers as key components of readiness.

Katie DeCarlo, a Georgia pre-K teacher at Bethlehem Elementary, said the program builds foundational literacy and math skills through phonological-awareness lessons, small-group instruction, and center-based play. On curriculum, district academic staff said the district’s resources align with the “science of reading,” naming Heggerty for phonemic awareness and HMH Into Reading for phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension; Dr. Brown and principals noted that certified teachers completed Georgia Literacy Academy training and that the district will sunset the Myon Reading license for 2026–27 after a resource review.

Public comments concluded and the board reconvened to take personnel votes and note the next meeting date.