Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy FY 24 Annual Report
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear Partners, Donors, and Friends,
As the Deal Center continues to honor the legacy of Mrs. Sandra Dunagan Deal, I am pleased to reflect on my first full year as Executive Director of this extraordinary organization. As you will see within this report, we have made significant progress to elevate the Center’s work and have taken important steps to build a stronger foundation for early language and literacy across Georgia. Our work spans from our home in the Milledgeville community to broader regional and statewide initiatives.
This year, our statewide work has seen a renewed emphasis on policy development and implementation in language and literacy. In conjunction with joining the Deal Center team, I was appointed by Governor Kemp to the Georgia Council on Literacy. This opportunity has allowed the Deal Center to be deeply involved in the implementation and evaluation surrounding the Georgia Early Literacy Act, HB 538. These efforts have positioned the Deal Center to shape effective policy within the language and literacy ecosystem.
We also revamped the processes for our two primary grant mechanisms, Implementation Science Research and Community Coalition grants. By increasing the rigor of the application process, offering applicant webinars, and engaging external reviewers, we awarded over $800K to recipients across the state. These funds support implementation research and foster collaborations among schools, libraries, and community organizations, creating a cohesive network of support for early language development. These partnerships have allowed us to reach more Georgians and provide them with the tools they need to support children’s healthy development.
In addition to providing professional development programming to almost 1000 participants, our delivery of the 7th Annual Governor’s Summit on Language and Literacy was unparalleled. This year’s theme, The Brain-Building Network, brought together professionals and organizations in the birth through eight space to bridge the gap between research and practice. The summit highlighted policy updates, new research and implementation, as well as boots on the ground programs and practices, all aimed at equipping Georgian’s with tools to build children’s healthy, thriving brains.
I am delighted with the progress we made in FY2024, and this is just the beginning! We recently launched our 5-year strategic plan for the Deal Center, which includes a renewed vision: A Georgia where everyone has the tools they need to support children on the path to literacy. This plan focuses on refining and expanding our existing efforts while developing new programs and initiatives.
As we continue this journey, I am reminded that our success is made possible by you — our partners, donors, and supporters. If you are able, please consider contributing to our community through an individual or corporation donation. Your support means the world for Georgia’s children!
Sincerely,
Lindee Morgan, Ph.D., CCC-SLP Executive Director
ABOUT THE DEAL CENTER
At the Deal Center, we believe literacy changes lives, and we work to turn this promise into practice. We are a statewide organization, established in 2017 by the state legislature and former Governor Deal in honor of his late wife, Sandra Dunagan Deal. The Deal Center is Georgia’s hub for embedding evidence-based practices into early childhood systems through research and policy, professional development, and community outreach. The Deal Center continues the legacy of Mrs. Deal through our charge to put all of Georgia’s children on the path to reading success. Located on the campus of Georgia College & State University (GCSU), we are centrally located and work alongside partners and collaborators throughout the state. We are well positioned to achieve our vision of a Georgia where everyone has the tools they need to support children on the path to literacy.
Deal Center Board
Arianne Weldon, Chair
Get GA Reading Campaign
Martha Ann Todd, Vice Chair
Technical College System of Georgia
Commissioner Amy Jacobs
Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
Evan Michael Bush
Georgia Public Library Service
Lisa Kinnemore
Georgia State Board of Education
Dr. Joanne Previts
Georgia College & State University
Joy Hawkins
Governor’s Office of
Student Achievement
Dr. Keisha Callins
Mercer University School of Medicine
Community Health Care Systems
Carrie Deal
Georgia Lottery Corporation
Deal Center Team
Dr. Lindee Morgan Executive Director
Julie Sirmans Program Manager
Caroline Lacksen Professional Development Specialist
Amanda Vining Program Assistant
Kimberly Scott Administrative Office Manager
Katrina Davis Administrative Assistant II
Joseph Wenke Data Analyst I
Thank you to our student assistants, volunteers, and faculty affiliates.
$225, 998 AWARDED TO 21 COMMUNITY COALITION GRANTEES FY24 DEAL CENTER QUICK FACTS
158 COUNTIES IMPACTED IN FY24 FROM DEAL CENTER INITIATIVES
IN SPONSORS AND DONATIONS TO SUPPORT OUR WORK
FY24
DEAL CENTER QUICK FACTS
The Deal Center is meeting its statewide goals through Community Coalition Grant Initiatives, Implementation Science Research Grant Initiatives, and other collaborations and partnerships. The map below shows the number of projects in each county supported by Deal Center grants and collarborations in FY24.
1 Project
2 Projects
3+ Projects
No Projects
In the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2024, the Deal Center conducted an independent review of universal reading screeners approved by the Georgia State Board of Education. The Georgia Early Literacy Act (HB538) requires school districts to select a screener from the approved list to monitor progress, measure foundational reading skills, and identify struggling students. These screeners assess both foundational literacy skills and characteristics of dyslexia. The Deal Center’s report provides an analysis of screener psychometrics, literacy components, and relative rankings to assist local education agencies in their decision making. We are proud to announce this review was published in the 46th volume of the Georgia Journal of Literacy
Top Left:Pages from the Deal Center’s published research article, A Psychometric Review of Universal Reading Screeners Approved by the State Board of Education
The Deal Center partnered with the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, the Georgia Council on Literacy, and Georgia Department of Education to create a district inventory to assess progress toward implementation of the Georgia Early Literacy Act (HB 538). The report provided baseline information on district implementation of HB 538 to inform statewide literacy initiatives and resource allocation.
District Survey on Progress Toward Implementation of The Georgia Early Literacy Act
In Year 2 of the Deal Center’s Champion Award with Emily Rubin, United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, and United Way of the Coastal Empire, the Language as a Missing Link Toolkit showed significant proficiency increases on all survey items. Participants reported their personal and professional goals were met, and they actively implemented and shared the toolkit with coworkers and communities.
The Language as a Missing Link Champion Award
GRANTS
2024 COMMUNITY COALITION GRANT INITIATIVE AWARDEES
The Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy was pleased to support the FY2024 Community Coalition Grant Initiative. The Deal Center invested in projects that use the four research-based pillars of the Get Georgia Reading (GGR) Campaign as a framework for cross-sector collaboration, to advance developmentally responsive practices throughout a community, town, city, and/or county. This initiative funds projects that foster optimal conditions for educational, social, language, literacy, and/or cognitive development for Georgia’s children from birth through age five. Thirteen (13) grants of $10,000-$24,000 were awarded.
2024-25 RESEARCH GRANT INITIATIVE FOR EARLY LANGUAGE AND LITERACY PRACTICES
In December, the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy awarded seven research grants to provide University System of Georgia institutions and state agencies funding to conduct implementation research on early language and literacy practices for children to be on the path to third grade reading proficiency. Each awardee designed a study using implementation science principles to examine practices that foster early language and literacy within the context of birth through age eight service and educational systems. Each recipient was awarded up to $50,000 for project implementation from January 15, 2024, to December 31, 2024.
GRANT SPOTLIGHT
Norcross Boy with a Ball, Empowering Youth Through Literacy: The Success of Read Write to Lead
In a heartwarming testament to the power of community and the transformative impact of literacy education, Boy with a Ball’s Read Write to Lead program is making a difference in Norcross, Georgia. This year’s summer literacy camp, made possible in part by a grant from the Deal Center, has proven to be a success. Hosted in collaboration with Gwinnett Global School, the camp brought together over 50 volunteers and nearly 200 students, including ten former campers who returned as leaders. This remarkable turnout underscores the program’s ability to foster lasting connections and cultivate future leaders. Gwinnett Global School, Perimeter Church’s Rush Conference, and countless community volunteers played pivotal roles in this endeavor, demonstrating the collective commitment to empowering youth and encouraging language and literacy skills development.
If you are interested in applying for a grant, visit galiteracy.org/grant-opportunities
A volunteer and a camper work on a reading and writing exercise at the summer literacy camp.
A camper listening to instruction for writing exercise.
PROGRAM
The Deal Center Program Team delivered and supported multiple professional development events focused on evidence-based practices to support Georgia’s early childhood educators and other child-facing professionals. These opportunities included presentations at literacy conferences, training for library staff, and training for volunteers in libraries and school systems.
Georgia LitLink, June 2024
The Deal Center Program Team presented at Georgia LitLink hosted by Cox Campus, the state’s first literacy conference dedicated to classroom teachers. Over 400 classroom teachers joined us for this inaugural conference. The presentation, The Science of Writing for the Early Childhood Classroom, covered writing developmental models, evidence-based instructional approaches, and recognizing the importance of teacher knowledge about early childhood literacy.
Azalea Regional Library System All-Staff Training, February 2024
The Deal Center Program Team provided training about the Science of Reading to 80 staff members of the Azalea Regional Library System. The goal was to provide library staff with background knowledge on literacy research and to build a positive, collaborative relationship with the library system.
Volunteer Reader Training, January 2024
The Deal Center held a pilot Volunteer Reader Training event at the GCSU campus. This initiative helps adults learn and practice evidence-based strategies to share stories through reading aloud with children, thereby, fostering their love of reading. The kickoff training was hosted by Mrs. Deal’s daughter and Deal Center board member, Carrie Deal. She was joined by Evan Michael Bush, Deal Center board member and Director of Youth Services for the Georgia Public Library Service, and Charles Eames, a retired librarian and children’s storyteller from Waycross, Georgia. More than 20 teachers, parents, and community members attended. Our staff equipped participants with the confidence and tools to support children on the path to literacy!
Faculty Collaboration Initiative, January 2024
The Deal Center held a Georgia College & State University Faculty Collaboration Initiative to further orient GCSU faculty and staff to the work of the Center. The Deal Center proposed several mechanisms for GCSU engagement, including research grants, internships, professional development, and faculty service opportunities. As part of the initiative, the Deal Center asked participants for their ideas for faculty and graduate student engagement with Deal Center work.
Playbooks
The Deal Center carefully crafted playbooks or how to guides for communities to use following the successful execution of two pilot projects to support community implementation. Access the playbooks for Volunteer Reader Training and Tale Trail through the Deal Center website. www.galiteracycenter.org
Conferences
The Deal Center showcased its extensive resources while expanding our knowledge base through strategic participation in statewide conferences. Past conferences attended by Deal Center staff include:
• IDA-GA
• GACIS
• Get Georgia Reading Summit
• Georgia LitLink
• Georgia Preschool Association
• Knowledge Building Cohort for Leaders
Follow us on social media to see where we will be next!
Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy GCSU
@dealcentergc
@dealcentergc
Learn more about our program offerings by visiting: galiteracy.org/programs
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Through our special projects funding and donations, we are able to make an impact on our local community and schools by supporting reading initiatives and related activities. Our efforts include piloting innovative programs that foster a love of reading and learning. These initiatives not only benefit our immediate area but also serve as a foundation for creating best practices that can be scaled and implemented across the state.
GCSU Gives Day
The Deal Center was excited to be a part of the GCSU Gives Day Kid’s Block Party on August 19th, 2023, in Milledgeville. This event was part of the university’s Week of Welcome and proved to be the biggest volunteer site of the year! This free family event provided fun activities and a special read along with Thunder, the University’s mascot. Thunder was proud to read Thunder Learns to Read by Dr. Linda Golson Bradley! The Deal Center enjoyed giving out Dr. Bradley’s book, tuning in to hear GCSU President Cox’s reading of Thunder Learns to Read, and holding a book raffle!
Mrs. Deal’s Birthday Reading
February 1st is a special day for the Deal Center team as we honor Mrs. Deal’s birthday and lifelong work on behalf of Georgia’s children. During Mrs. Deal’s entire birthday month, we celebrated by piloting the Volunteer Reader program and honoring her legacy by reading in local schools. We participated in the #thedealfoundation social media campaign by encouraging everyone to read to children and share photos and videos on the Deal Center’s social media pages.
April 2024, Harrisburg Community Tale Trail
The Tale Trail is an idea developed by StoryWalk and brought to life by the Deal Center and partners. It showcases a unique opportunity to couple the beauty of the outdoors with the magic of reading. The inaugural trail, on display in Baldwin County, is designed along a quarter-mile footpath and includes illustrated, interactive storyboard stands to encourage reading and literacy. The illustrated book on the inaugural Tale Trail is Grayson’s Play Date by Steve J. Zachary, Jr.
In 2025, The Deal Center’s goal is to help create new Tale Trails across the state. If you have a story idea that you would like to see come to life in a greenspace in your community, please reference our playbook available on our website at https:// www.galiteracycenter.org/programs
2024 GOVERNOR’S SUMMIT
The Deal Center team would like to thank you, our friends and supporters, for attending the 2024 Annual Governor’s Summit, The Brain-Building Network! This event was designed to bring together content experts, educators, and other stakeholders from across the state of Georgia. We are thrilled to announce 168 daytime attendees, 126 dinner guests, and 10 exhibitors on-site in Milledgeville from July 17-18th. Many thanks to our panelists and facilitator Malcolm Mitchell for insight into the exciting panel topic It Takes a Village to Build a Brain. We had captivating keynote speakers, including Dr. Patrice Buckner Jackson, DJ Pryor, Mary Lauren Salvatore, and Carrie Deal. Our talented emcee, Jemeria Cummings, spotlight speakers, breakout presenters, and our Traveling Tale Trail experience were other exciting features.
Traveling Tale Trail Activation Station
Malcolm Mitchell, Super Bowl champion, author, and founder of Share the Magic Foundation, introduced the Traveling Tale Trail, A Magnificent Field Trip to the Governor’s Mansion, on the GCSU campus in Milledgeville, GA. This mobile, outdoor literacy experience is designed to bring the magic of reading to our community and to yours! A series of portable signs, each displaying a page from the children’s book, were sequenced to tell a complete story as families walked along the campus. The signs include prompts and questions to encourage reading, discussions, and engagement
with children, all while building children’s brains, bodies, and language. With your help, the Traveling Tale Trail can be displayed in parks, schoolyards, community centers, and other public
spaces in your neighborhood. Please contact the Deal Center for more information about how to install your Traveling Tale Trail!
The Deal Center was honored to host Governor Deal, Carrie Deal, and family at our third annual Dinner with the Deal Center Fundraising Gala as we remember the life and legacy of Mrs. Sandra Dunagan Deal. A special night of entertainment by DJ Pryor and many others working toward our vision of a Georgia where everyone has the tools to support children on the path to literacy.
Special thanks to our advanced sponsors, Georgia Lottery Corporation and The Deal Foundation, and all the other donors and supporters that made this event possible. We are looking forward to seeing you again next year and, as always, we know you will continue to support the academic and lifelong success of Georgia’s children!
STRATEGIC PLAN
AS WE
LOOK
TO 2025 AND BEYOND, WE ARE POISED TO IMPLEMENT OUR FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC
Our new strategic plan clarifies the Deal Center’s scope of work, outlines our priorities, and establishes a foundation for aligning our efforts with other statewide initiatives. While the plan spans the next five years, we have identified key priorities for FY25.
One priority is to position the Deal Center as the leading hub for research and policy content in early childhood language and literacy. In addition to fully developing our research and policy agenda, we will design and implement a continuous process for scanning and reviewing emerging research. This practice will keep us abreast of the latest developments in the field and, in turn, enable us to share evidence-based content across the state.
We are also committed to distinguishing the Deal Center as a leader in language and literacy. To elevate our state and national profile, we will strengthen our media presence through targeted marketing strategies. Alongside these efforts, we will regularly share web and social media content that highlights the work of our grantees, provides strategies for professionals, and spotlights new resources. We have already made progress by revamping the Deal Center website and creating an internal communications position to oversee and enhance our marketing efforts.
We are pleased to announce our internal data dashboard, designed to incorporate key performance metrics reflected in our strategic plan. We will use this platform for accountability
PLAN
by setting measurable goals that define the quantity and quality of our program offerings. In addition to hosting the annual Governor’s Summit, we plan to offer at least eight public training opportunities and four public speaking engagements per year. As we grow our team, these numbers are expected to increase.
Here at home in Milledgeville, we will continue to strengthen our ties with Georgia College & State University. As proud members of the GCSU community, we aim to provide relevant resources and foster collaborations across university departments. We plan to expand our partnerships with the university, including hiring and training additional students to serve as reading tutors and by co-sponsoring events with the John H. Lounsbury College of Education.
Finally, we will mindfully invest in people and processes to ensure staff retention and our longterm organizational excellence. Building on last year’s efforts, the Deal Center team is focusing on maximizing efficiency through streamlined processes and standardized procedures. More importantly, we are enhancing the experience of being a Deal Center team member by embedding team-strengthening activities, staff recognition, and personalized professional development in our workplace culture.
Thanks again to each of you for your dedication to Mrs. Deal’s vision. We are excited to usher in a new exciting era.
FY ‘25 -’29 STRATEGIC PLAN
WE WILL GROW OUR STATE AND NATIONAL RECOGNITION AS A LEADER IN LANGUAGE AND LITERACY WORK.
WE WILL ADVANCE RESEARCH THROUGH GRANT MAKING, ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS, AND SYNTHESES OF THE LATEST RESEARCH.
WE WILL CONTINUOUSLY DEFINE OUR ROLE WITHIN, AND OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO, THE LITERACY ECOSYSTEM.
WE WILL EXPAND AND DIVERSIFY OUR FUNDING RESOURCES.
WE WILL DEFINE AND DELIVER STANDARD OF PRACTICE FOR OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
WE WILL GUIDE POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION.
WE WILL GROW OUR OUTREACH THROUGHOUT GEORGIA.
WE WILL DEEPEN TIES WITH GEORGIA COLLEGE & STATE UNIVERSITY TO MORE EFFECTIVELY PURSUE OUR MISSION.
WE WILL INVEST IN OUR PEOPLE AND PROCESSES FOR LONG-TERM EXCELLENCE.
Scan the QR code to join in supporting our efforts of funding implementation research, awarding grant opportunities, and spreading program initiatives for a Georgia where everyone has the tools to put children on the pathway to literacy.
Thank You, Georgia! TO EDUCATION SINCE INCEPTION
Every time you play the Lottery, you’re helping our kids get one step closer to their dreams. For 30 years, the Georgia Lottery has contributed $28 billion to education. On top of that, over 2.1 million HOPE scholars have gone to college, and more than 2 million four-year-olds have attended a Lottery-funded Pre-K Program. That’s a lot of students, so we’ll just say “Thank You, Georgia!” for all of them.
The Deal Center’s mission is to advance research in language and literacy practices throughout Georgia to ensure that every child meets their potential.
