Superintendent receives CAYL Catalyst Award for Elevating Excellence in Early Care and Education

BOSTON - Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Dr. Carol R. Johnson recently received the CAYL Catalyst Award for Elevating Excellence in Early Care and Education from the CAYL Institute. Dr. Johnson was honored for her pioneering initiative and commitment to ensure that all of BPS elementary schools meet the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation standards.  

Dr. Jerlean Daniel, Executive Director Designate, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), presented Dr. Johnson with the award at the CAYL Institute’s Teaching, Testing, Learning & Leading: A Policy Roundtable for Massachusetts Elementary School Principals and Early Learning Leaders, held on May 1 in Marlboro, MA. This landmark event convened principals, administrators, and national experts to lead the reform discussion necessary to develop innovative strategies for the effective assessment of young children age three though eight in elementary schools. (Read Dr. Daniel’s remarks here.)

Dr. Jacqueline Jones, Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Early Learning, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education gave the keynote address at the event. Speakers included Paul Reville, Secretary of Education, Massachusetts Executive Office of Education; Mitchell Chester, Commissioner, MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; Dr. Sherri Killins, Commissioner, MA Department of Early Education & Care; and Dr. Valora Washington, President of the CAYL Institute.

NAEYC accreditation, widely seen as the mark of quality in early childhood education, provides a powerful tool through which early childhood educators improve the quality of their programs by comparing their practices with national and professional standards. Only eight percent of early childhood programs nationwide are NAEYC accredited. Boston Public Schools currently has seven accredited programs:  Warren/Prescott K-8 School (Charlestown); Winship Elementary School (Brighton); Baldwin Early Learning Center (Brighton); West Zone Early Learning Center (Jamaica Plain); East Boston Early Education Center; Haynes Early Education Center (Roxbury); and Mason K-8 School (Roxbury).

Founded in 1926, NAEYC is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children with nearly 90,000 members, a national network of over 300 local, state, and regional Affiliates, and a growing global alliance of like-minded organizations. For more information, visit www.naeyc.org.

Community Advocates for Young Learners, or CAYL, Institute is an umbrella organization housing several well-known Fellowships including the CAYL Schott Fellowship in Early Care and Education and the CAYL Principals Fellowship in Early Care and Education. For more information, visit www.cayl.org.

Photo: Dr. Johnson receives the CAYL Catalyst Award for Elevating Excellence in Early Care and Education (photo courtesy of the CAYL Institute).

Photo: BPS Principal Scholars