By the Numbers: Shaping the Future for Early Learners in Gwinnett

IMPACT REPORT

SHAPING THE FUTURE FOR EARLY LEARNERS IN GWINNETT

LETTER FROM THE LEAD FACILITATOR

As I reflect on this past year, I am struck by the ever-present passion and dedication that so many Gwinnettians exhibit as we work towards ensuring all of our youngest citizens enter Kindergarten ready to thrive. Ambassadors are tirelessly working within the community to share resources and information with parents, partners are coming together to share their expertise with early learning center teachers and staff to improve their teaching craft, organizations are sharing resources to enhance programming for families and the list goes on and on. All of the hard work has paid off as we have seen the needle truly move on Kindergarten readiness with more children entering Kindergarten ready to thrive than ever before.

With all the successes this year has brought, including the launch of our PSA to the best-attended early learning field trip and impact lab to date, there is still a tremendous amount of work to be accomplished. As we look to this coming year, we are excited to debut the first Goodnight Gwinnett Presents: Bedtime with Brainy storytime and the Play 2 Learn On the Go bus,

which will be in the community providing highquality early learning programming to families who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity or access.

I am also excited to announce that Jason West, Deputy Division Director - Gwinnett Community Services, will be joining me as a lead facilitator for this initiative. Jason brings a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge to the team. He has been a great supporter for many years and I am thankful to have him join me in moving the work forward.

Please take some time to read through this Impact Report to learn more about all the ways the community is coming together to shape the future of our early learners in Gwinnett. We invite you to join us by giving your time, treasure, or talent to this most worthy cause. Reach out anytime at info@buildingbabiesbrains.com.

With much gratitude,

Kim Holland

GCPS Executive Director of Early Learning & School Readiness and Lead Facilitator for Gwinnett Building Babies’ Brains

Through Building Babies' Brains’ targeted efforts to enhance Kindergarten readiness in Gwinnett, we are proud to announce a significant achievement: a significant decrease in the number of children arriving at Kindergarten unprepared. Moreover, this represents a 5% decrease since 2021, showcasing our steadfast efforts to mitigate the challenges posed by the pandemic and ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive from the very start. We are tailoring programs and initiatives to bolster high-quality early learning experiences that provide families with the tools they need to ensure their children will be successful in school and beyond.

WHAT IS KREP?

Out of the critical need to define and measure readiness for incoming Kindergarten students, the Kindergarten Readiness Entry Profile (KREP) was developed by GCPS. They recognize that a child’s readiness for school is not only defined as academically ready, but also socio-emotionally ready. KREP was designed to measure skills in all domains of a child’s development including Cognitive Development, Communication Language and Literacy, Motor Skills, Social Emotional Development, and Approaches to Learning. The information derived from KREP provides teachers with formative data to inform instruction beginning day one of school, schools with performance levels to create

Kindergarten Readiness Entry Profile (KREP):

% of Students Not Ready to Thrive

meaningful class lists, and the district with data to determine the Kindergarten readiness of children entering GCPS.

To meet the Kindergarten curriculum readiness benchmark, students need to score a minimum of 70% on the KREP. For comparison, a score below 70% is considered an F (failing grade) on the GCPS grading scale. GCPS believes that children who score above this benchmark will be able to master the remaining skills while accessing the Kindergarten Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum.

BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES

Since the inception of Gwinnett Building Babies' Brains, ~600 more children have entered Kindergarten ready to access the curriculum on day one without interventions. This exemplifies the tangible impact that parent education and access to high-quality resources can have in establishing a foundation for success.

Gwinnett Building Babies' Brains (GBBB) is a community initiative driven by a group of individuals who give their time, treasure, and talent to improve the lives of our youngest learners. We are on a mission to mitigate the Kindergarten readiness crisis in Gwinnett due to the fact that around 50% of Gwinnett’s children are not arriving ready to thrive in Kindergarten. Our work is only made possible through the contributions that are made by those within our community. GBBB is fully funded through grants, community donations and in-kind support from many generous organizations, businesses, and individuals.

OUR MISSION:

To ensure that all children in Gwinnett are ready to thrive in Kindergarten.

Our strategy is to ensure that all parents have access to the information, resources, and tools they need to be their child’s first and best teacher. In order to support families and successfully move the needle of Kindergarten readiness, the Gwinnett community initiative continues to focus on the following key levers:

KEY LEVERS

Community Awareness:

In Gwinnett, we all will recognize the importance of early learning and development and know how to access what is available.

High-Quality Early Learning Resources and Programs:

In Gwinnett, our families have local access to highquality books, materials, resources, and programs that they need and want.

Keep an eye out for these icons as they are featured throughout the report, indicating which key lever each project impacts.

Collective Approaches to Success:

In Gwinnett, we collaborate, share resources, and provide collective support for broader resourcing for early learning.

A DEDICATED COLLECTIVE

THE EARLY LEARNING WORKING GROUP

For over 5 years, a committed group of individuals, consisting of leaders from across Gwinnett, has been coming together with a results-mindset, convening in highly productive monthly meetings. The success of the Gwinnett Building Babies’ Brains community initiative can be attributed to the dedication of these committed individuals through their collective efforts.

COLLECTIVE APPROACH ON WHEELS

The Play 2 Learn On the Go bus, made possible through a collective effort between Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) and the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation and United Way embody the community’s commitment to accessible and innovative early learning experiences. GCPS generously donated a school bus that underwent a complete transformation, funded by a grant from United Way, to become a mobile Play 2 Learn classroom. The dedicated teacher and driver will be staffed by GCPS, ensuring a seamless integration of the Play 2 Learn program into the community. By providing early learning opportunities at various sites throughout Gwinnett, including support for Kindergarten registration, this initiative addresses transportation barriers and promotes awareness of the importance of early education for children aged birth through age five and their families. The Play 2 Learn On the Go bus will be providing an early learning opportunity for families at various sites throughout Gwinnett beginning this spring!

POSTERS

Multilingual posters in Chinese, English, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese guide our community to the website for free resources, supporting parents and caregivers as their child’s first and best teachers in their native language.

As of January 2024, posters have been distributed throughout the community:

Pediatrician’s offices

Dentist’s offices

Grocery Stores

Churches

Gwinnett County Public Library Branches

Mexican Consulate

Leadership Gwinnett

GCPS Summer Leadership Conference

Early Learning Centers

An additional posters were distributed by GCPS Human Resources.

BEDTIME WITH BRAINY

books have been distributed to children to read along with the author during Gwinnett County Public Library’s Goodnight Gwinnett Presents: Bedtime with Brainy as of February.

Goodnight Gwinnett Presents: Bedtime with Brainy is a monthly initiative made possible though donations and partnership with:

Digital, shareable resources are available on our website. These files can be downloaded and shared with anyone who may benefit from learning more!

DIGITAL RESOURCES PARENT BOOKLETS

Our Parent Booklet serves as a key resource for new and expecting parents.

As of March 2024, printed English and Spanish copies of the Parent Handbook have been distributed at the following:

Early Learning Centers •

Doctor’s Offices • Dentist’s Offices • Grocery Stores •

Churches • Gwinnett County

Public Library Branches • Mexican Consulate • Aurora Theatre • Gwinnett Building Babies’ Brains Field Trips • Gwinnett County Public Schools’ School Events • Leadership Gwinnett • Gwinnett, Newton, Rockdale (GNR) Health • HR Departments •

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our Public Service Announcement (PSA) launched in September 2023, emphasizing several crucial points:

“90% of a child’s brain is developed before the age of 5!”

“Make the time!”

“You are your child’s first and best teacher!”

The PSA has received over views across events, social media and YouTube streams. Special thanks to GCPS and Richardson Housing Group for their donation of production locations.

BUILDING BABIES’ BRAINS BIBS

Gwinnett Building Babies’ Brains branded bibs, featuring our beloved mascot, Brainy, were included in holiday gift boxes given to families with newborns enrolling in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program by GNR Health. These boxes contained essential baby items as well as materials that encourage brain development through talking, singing, and playing with your baby.

BRAIN AT WORK BAGS

In continued partnership with Northside Hospital Gwinnett, Women’s Pavilion, and a newer partnership with Piedmont Eastside, our Brain at Work bags, containing a onesie, board book, and early learning information, are hand-delivered by the nurses directly to families.

SINCE BEGINNING THIS INITIATIVE IN MARCH 2023,

BRAIN AT WORK BAGS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO FAMILIES OF NEWBORNS AT PIEDMONT EASTSIDE AND NORTHSIDE GWINNETT.

PARENT ENGAGEMENT SPECIALISTS

Ambassadors are sharing information, resources, and tools wherever early learners and their families gather. By participating in events like festivals and expos, we are also forging connections with businesses and organizations, fostering partnerships and expanding our outreach efforts!

CONNECTIONS MADE WITH PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN AGES BIRTH THROUGH AGE 5

CONNECTIONS MADE WITH STAKEHOLDERS

FAMILIES SUPPORTED THROUGH LOCATING & ENROLLING IN FREE EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS

FAMILIES SUPPORTED IN ACCESSING RESOURCES ON THE WEBSITE

EARLY LEARNING EVENTS ATTENDED

IMPACT LAB

We continue to offer high-quality learning experiences for Gwinnett early learning educators through our Impact Labs where we share effective ways to engage with our youngest learners and encourage connection and collaboration amongst the participants as well.

INVESTING IN EDUCATION

Without the generous support of these sponsors, Impact Lab would not be possible.

Dr. Bisa Batten-Lewis, President, Black Child Development InstituteAtlanta served as the Keynote Speaker.

“The speakers were excellent!!!!! It was enjoyable and good to meet others to network with.”

“Everything was great!

Lots of giveaways, great food, and well qualified presenters! Great job!

During the recent professional learning session for the Meadowcreek/Norcross Clusters on December 9, 2023, 100% of the 113 participants found the conference impactful and expressed a likelihood to attend another Impact Lab. Attendees emphasized their desire to attend an Impact Lab twice a year, and they appreciated the inclusion of vendors, guest speakers, choice sessions, snacks, and free giveaways. The overall positive feedback highlighted the impact of topics, venue, and stipend, along with a desire for more hands-on strategies and a focus on working with special education students. Participants also expressed gratitude for the engaging and informative nature of the training, emphasizing the excellence of the speakers and the opportunity to network with others.

FIELD TRIPS

Families engaged in free early learning field trips that fostered learning, community connections, and creating memories. These field trips were thoughtfully designed to include information, resources, and hands-on activities, encouraging interactive play and learning.

Three early learning field trips across Gwinnett attracted a total of families with children from birth through age five. Participants consistently expressed high satisfaction, with the majority strongly agreeing that they learned new ways to engage with their child and that the information and materials provided would support their child’s learning and growth. Nearly all attendees found the event times convenient, and an overwhelming majority, across all events, indicated they would attend another field trip in the future.

Thank you to our partners for hosting field trips in 2023.

P3 PARTNERSHIP

The GEEARS P-3 Leaders Fellowship fosters collaboration among Gwinnett’s early learning directors and GCPS elementary principals and leaders, aiming to enhance and align educational experiences for children from birth through age five by creating meaningful early learning opportunities for their school communities and ensuring a smooth transition for children from Pre-K to Kindergarten.

G.R.E.A.T. LITTLE MINDS

G.R.E.A.T. (Gwinnett Reading Exchange and Art Transforms)

Little Minds features more than 65 free-standing book exchanges located in book deserts across the county. The exchanges spark a love of reading with a FREE selection of books, suitable for ages 8 and younger. Since the program was initiated in 2020, more than books have found themselves in the hands of Gwinnett’s children!

BRAINY AWARD

John Upchurch was presented with the 2023 Brainy Award in recognition of his unwavering efforts and support for early learning and the Gwinnett Building Babies’ Brains community initiative.

THANK YOU!

Individual Donors:

Alan Bryant

Allison Anderson

Asif Jessani

Babak Mostaghimi

Brian Irvin

Brittany Bentley

Bryan James

Carole Boyce

Cheril Whitman

Clayton Teague

Clyde Strickland

Cynthia Peterson

Dan King

Deborah Durrence

Denise Rogness

Dennis Maher

Dick LoPresti

Ernie Johnson

Hillary Rohrer

Hope Hawkins

Jack Threadgill

Jennifer Robison

Julie Norman

Karen Pagoaga

Katherine Jones

Kathy Greenstein

Kevin Barney

Kevin McCutchan

Larry Dyer

Linda Maher

Linda Schoepf

Lisa Deprez

Mackenzie Botts

Matthew Upchurch

Monica Tanner

Patricia Heitmuller

Priscilla Sukroo

Randy Sutt

Raymer Sale

Robin Sansone

Roger Causby

Rosemary Miller

Scott Jordan

Scott Woodall

Sherri Hawe

Stacy Lord

Stephanie White

Tammy Clay

Terri Hoye

Thomas Anderson

Thomas Upchurch

Todd Sims

Woodhull Family

Anonymous Donors

Foundations & Organizations:

Alpha Delta Kappa (Delta Chapter)

Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia Community Foundation of West Georgia, Inc.

Culver’s Share Nights

Dick LoPresti Family Fund Foundation 521

GCPS Foundation Board

Georgia Power Foundation

John and Maria Upchurch Family Fund

Jordan Family Charitable Giving Fund

Love You Too Foundation

The Massaroni Family

Richardson Family Foundation

GRANT FUNDING

Rotary Club of Gwinnett

Scott Hudgens Family Foundation

Ramlose Foundation United Way: Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation

Primerica

Department of Early Care and Learning: Community Transformation Grant

FY2022 Congressional Appropriations Request Funding

The work we do would not be possible without the generous donation of time and talent by so many in Gwinnett and beyond. We would like to extend a specific thank you to Gwinnett County Public Schools, without whom none of this would be possible.

Join us as we continue shaping the landscape of early learning in Gwinnett!

Whether it’s investing your time, contributing resources, or sharing your distinctive talents, you have the power to help build babies’ brains in Gwinnett.

Make a meaningful impact by financially supporting our projects and initiatives. Your contribution will help fund programming such as our Impact Lab professional learning opportunities, Early Learning Field Trips, and operational costs. Your generosity directly fuels our mission to ensure Gwinnett’s children are ready to thrive in Kindergarten by supporting all parents and caregivers in being their child’s first and best teachers.

Let’s unite to shape a brighter future for all of Gwinnett’s children!