ATLANTA – State Representative Keisha Waites (D-Atlanta) visited Humphries, Cleveland Avenue and Perkerson elementary schools to show support for early childhood education during Georgia Pre-K Week on Wednesday, October 5, 2016. During the visits, Rep. Waites read a favorite children’s book to a group of students to highlight the importance of reading at a young age.
“Today I had the wonderful privilege of visiting schools within my district as a part of Georgia Pre-K Week,” said Rep. Waites. “Georgia’s future depends on giving every child the best start possible. I wanted to show my support for this effort by reading to young learners and visiting the centers that help students develop key skills and inspire them daily to reach for more. I also had the opportunity to visit Conley Hills, Hamilton Holmes and Thomasville Heights elementary schools earlier this week.”
Pre-K Week, October 3 – 7, is organized each year by Voices for Georgia’s Children, a policy and advocacy non-profit. For the past six years, Pre-K Week has brought together people in celebration of Georgia’s Pre-K program. The week-long observance recognizes the importance of a quality early education for Georgia’s youngest learners.
“Such broad support from so many of our state’s most influential citizens, such as Rep. Waites, shows us that Georgians really understand the long term value of quality early learning,” said Emily Pelton, Executive Director of Voices for Georgia’s Children. “Getting the right start helps a child succeed in nearly every phase of life, from learning to read successfully by third grade to graduating high school and ultimately entering the workforce.”
Pre-K Week is a chance for Georgia schools with pre-kindergarten programs to showcase their work by inviting special guests into classrooms. Eleven schools have state legislators or local elected officials confirmed as class visitors during Pre-K Week.
Rep. Waites is scheduled to visit two additional schools within her district on Thursday, October 6, 2016. Rep. Waites will be at Unidos Dual Language Charter School at 9 a.m. and Huie Elementary at 10 a.m.
Voices for Georgia’s Children is a nonprofit child policy and advocacy organization that envisions a Georgia where children are safe, healthy, educated, employable and connected to their family and community.
For more information on Voices for Georgia’s Children, please click here.
Representative Keisha Waites represents the citizens of District 60, which includes portions of Clayton and Fulton counties. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2012, and currently serves on the Interstate Cooperation, Juvenile Justice, Public Safety & Homeland Security, Special Rules, and Transportation committees.
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