News

Category: Preschool

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Porter-Leath provides affordable early childhood education

WREG recently spotlighted Porter-Leath as part of their "Community Changers" feature and donated $1,000 with the help of Brown Missionary Baptist Church. The feature discussed how Porter-Leath is providing affordable early childhood education for local family and showcased a bit of the new Porter-Leath & University of Memphis Early Childhood Academy at Orange Mound. Click here or the image above to watch the spotlight online. Read More
Posted by Mary Braddock at Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Featured Preschool

Thursday, December 15, 2022

Porter-Leath teacher coaching program aims to professionalize early childhood education

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters Samantha West, Chalkbeat Tennessee Dec 15, 6:00am EST   Clarissa Odom had her hands — and lap — full when a visitor stopped into her preschool classroom. Odom, a new infants teacher at a Porter-Leath center in Orange Mound, sat cross-legged on a colorful rug, bouncing two finicky babies looking for snuggles, one on each knee. At the same time, she tried to comfort a... Read More
at Thursday, December 15, 2022
Children's Issues Developing Children Featured Preschool Teacher Excellence Program

Growing in Language and Literacy

Did you know that conversational turns are powerful? Conversational turns are simple back-and-forth alternations between a child and an adult. A turn has occurred when an adult speaks and a child follows, or vice versa, with no more than five seconds in between. Through Porter-Leath’s Teacher Excellence Program, early childhood educators across Memphis are learning about the daily impact of these conversational turns on the brain structure/function and socioemotional development of chil... Read More
Children's Issues Developing Children Featured Preschool Teacher Excellence Program What's Up Memphis

Screenings Provide Baseline for Learning Success

Porter-Leath values providing the earliest intervention for the children and families we serve. One way our staff fulfills this value is by offering all students connected to Porter-Leath with a variety of health screenings. Lead by Stephanie Jones, Porter-Leath’s Health Services Manager, the initial screenings take place at the beginning of the school year, most of which occur within 45-90 days from the first day of school. Jones’ team collaborates with fellow Porter-Leath staff ... Read More
Children's Issues Developing Children Featured Health & Family Preschool What's Up Memphis

Books from Birth Hosts “A Night Around the World”

While all Tennessee drivers must obtain a new license plate this year, many may be unaware a Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library license plate is available as an option for drivers. Simply search or ask for “Dollywood Foundation” when you purchase your speciality plate. A portion of the license plate sale is distributed to the local Imagination Library affiliate within the county chosen at the time of purchase. This means that over $15 of each Imagination Library plate purcha... Read More
Books from Birth Developing Children Featured Health & Family Preschool

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Porter-Leath to Host Agency-Wide Job Fair

  Porter-Leath will be hosting an agency-wide job fair at the Porter-Leath & University of Memphis Early Childhood Academy at Orange Mound. (Job positions are available across all of Porter-Leath's departments and locations.) We are seeking Certified Pre-K Teachers, Certified Special Education Pre-K Teachers, Preschool Teachers, Assistant Teachers, Floaters, Home Visitors, Residential Monitors, and more! The mission of Porter-Leath is empowering children and families to... Read More
at Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Children's Issues Featured Preschool

Porter-Leath Preschool Job Fair on July 16th

Porter-Leath to Host Preschool Job Fair WHAT: Porter-Leath Preschool Job Fair. The organization is now seeking Preschool teachers and teaching assistants to provide high-quality education and support services for all five preschool locations. Candidates should arrive in business casual attire, bring a resumé, and be prepared for an onsite interview should they qualify for a position. These are 12-month positions with a special need for infant/toddler teacher and teaching assistants.... Read More
Children's Issues Developing Children Preschool

Friday, March 4, 2022

Porter-Leath & University of Memphis Early Childhood Academy at Orange Mound Celebrates Grand Opening

  On March 4th, The Porter-Leath & University of Memphis Early Childhood Academy at Orange Mound celebrated its grand opening. The Academy is a research-based educational facility which serves children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old, where care is most crucial and underprovided in Shelby County. At the grand opening event, representatives from both organizations recognized supporters and leadership that helped make the world-class facility a reality. With the help of some young... Read More
at Friday, March 4, 2022
Developing Children Featured Preschool

Porter-Leath’s Teacher Excellence Program Partners with the University of Notre Dame

Recently, Porter-Leath’s Teacher Excellence Program established a partnership with the University of Notre Dame’s Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO). LEO helps a cohort of service providers across the nation apply scientific evaluation methods to better understand and share effective poverty interventions with the goal of using research to positively impact people.The partnership matches top researchers with passionate leaders in the social service sector to condu... Read More
Developing Children Featured Preschool Teacher Excellence Program

Porter-Leath Expands Access to High-Quality Preschool for All Families

Porter-Leath recently expanded its Early Childhood Education options for all families by offering a tuition option for preschool children ages birth to 5 years old. This newly added option operates parallel to the Agency’s publicly funded educational and social services through Early Head Start and First 8 Memphis. Porter-Leath accepts child care certificate from Tennessee’s Department of Human Services and also offers scholarships for families who may need assistance with tuition... Read More
Children's Issues Developing Children Featured Preschool

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Porter-Leath Hiring Event - December 9th

Porter-Leath Hiring Event - December 9th at 2869 Park Avenue, Memphis, TN 38114 Porter-Leath is investing more in top talent than ever before! If you havn’t checked us out lately or are new to Porter-Leath, consider starting a great career serving children and families throughout Memphis and Shelby County. We offer: New, Higher Starting Pay Scales $1,500 Sign On Bonus Comprehensive Benefits Package Inclusive Work Culture Professional Development Programs Best-in-class... Read More
at Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Children's Issues Developing Children Featured Preschool

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Porter-Leath Foster Grandparent Makes Impact through Time Spent Volunteering

“Listen to your teacher, and listen to  your parents. I love you all, and I’ll see you tomorrow!” This is how Maxine Nolan leaves her classroom of 22 children at John P. Freeman Optional School after every day. She is an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer and spends her weekdays connecting with children and mentoring them to help build confidence and life skills.  Five years ago after retiring from a local hospital, Mrs. Nolan became an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer thro... Read More
at Tuesday, November 2, 2021
Developing Children Featured Generations Preschool

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Enrollment, Employment and Education Extravaganza

Porter-Leath will host a series of student and employee recruitment fairs: Sept. 21st - Porter-Leath Early Childhood Center | American Way 4207 American Way, Memphis, TN 38118 5:00 - 7:00 PM Sept. 27st - Benjamin L. Hooks Library 3030 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38111 2:00 - 6:00 PM Oct. 8th - Porter-Leath Early Childhood Academy | Frayser 3060 Baskin, Memphis, TN 38127 3:00 - 7:00 PM Porter-Leath is seeking teachers, assistant teachers, and family service workers. Candidates will be eli... Read More
at Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Developing Children Featured Preschool What's Up Memphis

Monday, September 20, 2021

Memphis Opportunity Scholarship Trust Announces Porter-Leath as Partner School

Memphis Opportunity Scholarship Trust (MOST) is announcing Porter-Leath as a partner school and a new option for future MOST scholarship students. Students who receive scholarships through MOST and graduate from Porter-Leath Preschool can carry the scholarship forward to their next school.  “Porter-Leath’s attentiveness to early childhood learning translates into their students going on to excel in Kindergarten through 12th grades. We are proud to add them to our fantastic ... Read More
at Monday, September 20, 2021
Developing Children Featured Preschool

Thursday, June 10, 2021

Porter-Leath Continues Preschool Programming after Shelby County Schools Destroys Nationally-Renowned Early Childhood Education Partnership

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Porter-Leath will continue providing preschool services for children and families in the upcoming school year, while SCS chooses to absorb additional dollars that could be used to support children and families. SCS has continually decreased Head Start funding available to Porter-Leath, making continued operations in Porter-Leath centers using Head Start resources impossible without significant cuts that would diminish quality and increase risks to health and safety ... Read More
at Thursday, June 10, 2021
Featured Preschool

Opening Soon: New Early Childhood Academy in Frayser

Porter-Leath to host virtual Grand Opening on March 26 MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Porter-Leath is proud to announce the upcoming opening of its newest Early Childhood Academy which will house preschool children ages six weeks to five and Porter-Leath’s Teacher Excellence Program. Made possible by community partners committed to high-quality early education for all Shelby County children regardless of ZIP code, the Early Childhood Academy in Frayser is a state-of-the-art preschool and t... Read More
Developing Children Featured Preschool Teacher Excellence Program

Easy As 1, 2, 3: A parent’s perspective on what makes Porter-Leath special

Myrika Williford took her volunteer role on Porter-Leath’s Preschool Parent Council seriously. As a representative for Early Head Start, Myrika provided feedback from parents to the site manager and worked collaboratively with members of the council and Porter-Leath staff to make decisions that affect the Preschool Program.  She is also on a mission to educate parents on why it is important to volunteer in their child’s classroom and to recruit new families to enroll in... Read More
Children's Issues Developing Children Preschool

Thursday, October 8, 2020

University of Memphis, Porter-Leath, RedZone to break ground in Orange Mound

The University of Memphis and Porter-Leath are partnering to launch a new, innovative Early Childhood Academy located alongside the Orange Mound neighborhood’s RedZone Ministries. The Academy is designed to help address a critical need for early childhood care in the Memphis community.  Construction and design plans are being finalized with the support of $15 million raised in private contributions. Groundbreaking is scheduled for November 11th. The partnership will provide a r... Read More
at Thursday, October 8, 2020
Developing Children Featured Preschool

Little Engine Playhouse Visits Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – The Dollywood Little Engine Playhouse Tour, presented by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, makes its next stop in Shelby County to area public libraries. Presented in partnership with Penguin Books, the Tour adapts Imagination Library books into 20-minute sing-along musicals for young children The Imagination Library is the flagship program of the Dollywood Foundation. The book gifting program mails free, high-quality books to children from birth until they... Read More
Books from Birth Developing Children Preschool

Friday, August 16, 2019

Porter-Leath Announces the Construction of Three New Early Childhood Academies

Porter-Leath is thrilled to announce the construction of three additional Early Childhood Academies over the next three years! By building world-class facilities in Memphis’ highest need neighborhoods, we are living our promise to help provide the very best early childhood experience to every child, regardless of zip code or income. We look forward to engaging the parents and stakeholders in each neighborhood in ways to continue improving early childhood education equity and q... Read More
Posted by Mary Braddock at Friday, August 16, 2019
Developing Children Featured Preschool

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

SESAME WORKSHOP SELECTS MEMPHIS AS NEW COMMUNITY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVE

Pictured above: Jeanette Betancourt, Senior Vice President of U.S. Social Impact at Sesame Workshop with Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris Sesame Street in Communities announces partnership with ACE Awareness Foundation and Porter-Leath to provide resources and services to families and children Memphis, Tennessee- Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organization behind Sesame Street, has announced that Memphis, Tennessee is the next community selected for Sesame S... Read More
at Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Books from Birth Cornerstone Preschool Teacher Excellence Program

Porter-Leath to Host Preschool Career Fair

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Porter-Leath recently announced that it will host a career fair on Thursday, April 13 to hire new Preschool staff to join its team. The organization is now actively seeking to fill more than 25 positions, including teachers, administrators and non-instructional staff to provide high-quality education and support services. Certified Pre-K Teacher candidates, who are of the greatest need, must have a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or a related... Read More
Preschool

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Porter-Leath Hosts Miss Tennessee Serves Day to Promote Early Childhood Literacy

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – On April 8, Miss Tennessee 2016, Grace Burgess, celebrated Miss Tennessee Serves Day at Porter-Leath American Way Head Start and Early Head Start, 4207 American Way. Presented by Shelby County Schools and Volunteer Tennessee, Miss Tennessee Serves Day is a day of service where Miss Tennessee and others in the Volunteer State come together to help meet the unique needs of their communities. Hosted by Porter-Leath, the event promoted Burgess’ chosen cause o... Read More
at Tuesday, April 4, 2017
Preschool

Porter-Leath Continues to Stress Attendance

Did you know that chronic absenteeism in kindergarten and even pre-K can predict low academic performance trends in later grades? According to a 2008 study conducted by the National Center for Children in Poverty, 1 in 10 children in kindergarten are chronically absent, missing one month per school year; and in some schools, it’s as high as 1 in 4. This study goes further to show that 2 in 10 children in poverty miss too much school, preventing young children from grasping fundamental r... Read More
Preschool