Dr. Connie Jo Williams, Director
Early Beginnings Program
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Excel by 5 | Dolly Parton Imagination Library
The Early Beginnings Program is Pascagoula School District's first step in the Destination Graduation process. This program is designed to assist parents, teachers, child care providers and community agencies ensure that children enter kindergarten with the necessary skills to be as successful as possible. The most important years in a child's development are those from birth to age five. We present all delivering mothers at the Singing River Hospital with a New Mother Packet that includes parenting resources, growth and immunization charts, a baby's first reading book and other helpful information. We have a Resource Toy Lending Library for the residents of the Pascagoula School District. There are developmentally appropriate, educational materials available for checkout. These materials were provided by Chevron through the Excel By Five grant. There are also four computers available for parent usage and a number of parent training programs available.
The Early Beginnings Program is working with the teenage mothers in our community to ensure that they remain in school and complete their high school diploma requirements. We are providing parenting support and assistance to these mothers to make certain they and their children have the resources they need to have positive and productive school experiences.
The Early Beginnings Program has partnered with the Jackson County Library System/Pascagoula Branch to provide Preschool Storytime each month. This occurs the last Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at the Resource Center. We also have quarterly Super Saturday events for parents and children. Please watch the calendar for the dates of these special Saturday activities! The Early Beginnings Program has worked with a number of other agencies in the Pascagoula area to assist our city in obtaining certification as an Excel By Five community. We are now the third city to receive this recognition. This reinforces the dedication our community and our school district have for the success of our children.
The Early Beginnings Resource Center is located on Market Street across from Pascagoula High School. Please call 938-6418 for more information.
Educational Background
- 1977: B.S. Auburn University: Early Education for the Handicapped
- 1981: M.Ed. University of South Alabama: Severe and Profound Mental Retardation
- 1984: M.Ed. Auburn University: Early Education for the Handicapped
- 1986: M.S. University of South Alabama: School Psychometry
- 1988: A.A. University of South Alabama: School Administration
- 1992: Ed.S. University of Southern Mississippi: School Administration/Special Education
- 2001: Ph.D. University of South Alabama/Auburn University: Instructional Design and Development/Instructional Technology; Educational Leadership and Administration
Professional Background
- Fifteen years as an early education for the handicapped teacher, program facilitator, and early intervention facilitator/diagnostician for the third largest school district in Alabama.
- Two years as Assistant Principal of a Title I K-3 school with 770 students in Bay Minette, Alabama.
- Thirteen years as Principal of Title I PK-6 school with 450 students in Loxley, Alabama. Loxley Elementary School received numerous awards and distinctions for innovative programming and student achievement.