Metro Action Commission

National Head Start Regional Meeting Gives Teachers Best Practices Techniques

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June 11, 2002 - Metro Action's Head Start Program along with 200 Head Start educators in the Southeast Region are in Nashville this week to participate in the Region VI Summer Teacher Education Program (STEP) Training, which is the first phase of training for nearly 50,000 Head Start teachers nationwide.

The conference, which began Monday, includes a week-long session to include various educational components designed to enhance the curriculum of Head Start agencies.

Tuesday begins the training component sessions, which are as follows:

Tuesday, June 11 Time Sessions Location
10:45am-11:45am Make & Take (Arts & Crafts for pre-schoolers) Sarratt Room
Letter Knowledge Gold Room
Written Expression Platinum Room
Phonological Awareness Lyric Room
Read Aloud (reading motivation) Melody Room
Language Development McTyeire Room
Print & Book Concepts Carmichael Room
Mentoring Neely Room

The conference will be held today through Friday, June 13 at Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel in Nashville.

Project STEP, is a research-based literacy training program for Head Start agencies. STEP is designed to build upon existing quality improvement and professional development initiatives.

President Bush has directed the National Head Start Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to implement a national training initiative to equip Head Start teachers with best practices for pre-reading and language techniques for young children.

Metro's Head Start program serves approximately 1,485 children enrolled in the agency's 9 Head Start centers, 6 local child care facilities and 2 metro school locations in Davidson County.

Editor's Note: The complete news release on the conference can be accessed on our website www.nashville.gov/mac/news.