Governor’s Education Promises Please Pre-K Teachers

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Governor Robert Bentley used his State of the State Address to deliver groundbreaking news for education. He proposed teacher pay raises, an increase in the education budget and a monumental expansion of the state’s pre-Kindergarten program. All things educators say are extremely necessary.

Lisa Peavy at Butler County’s Bright Beginning’s Pre-K program is one of those teachers. She believes that a quality Pre-K experience can make a difference in a child’s entire educational career.

“My heart is in Pre-K,” Peavy explained. “Because I see the value. I see that it changes everything from here on out. A good quality Pre-K experience does.”

Director of Student Learning, Tera Simmons, agrees with Peavy. She also believes a strong education starts at an early age. Both women are excited that Governor Bentley is proposing a change to the state Pre-K program.

“I think it’s a wonderful vision that he wants to expand it to all students, where it’s been a grant process and we used a lottery to determine what students would have a spot in Pre-K. But this way, every student will have access, which is wonderful,” Simmons said.

Bentley’s promises on education show teachers that he and other lawmakers are making an effort to keep education a top priority.

“That education is where it should be. At the forefront. And that education is important,” Simmons said about the governor’s plans.

Bentley also wants to give educators a two percent pay raise and increase the state education fund. Small changes that teachers say will make a huge impact on everyone.

“Sometimes teachers feel like they’re all alone. Because we don’t, sometimes we don’t get the support we need from families,” Peavy said. “Sometimes we don’t get the support we feel like we need from legislators or from community either. So for the legislature to make this a priority this year, makes us feel like somebody’s on our side.”

The Pre-K expansion is projected to begin in 2019. If you live in the Butler County area and want to enroll your child in the Bright Beginnings Pre-K program now, click here for a link to the online application.