State Rep. Tommy Reynolds has made a contribution of $30,000 to local prekindergarten programs, which qualifies him for a 1:1 state tax credit.
“Contributions from local donors, like Mr. Reynolds, are vital for the continued operation and success of our pre-K program,” said Jessica Benson, birth to pre-K director for Tallahatchie River Foundation, recipient of Reynolds’ gift. “We are so grateful for the generosity of our community.”
Now in its fourth year, Charleston Elementary School’s pre-K classes are part of the Tallahatchie Early Learning Alliance’s (TELA) early childhood education efforts across the county.
They are operated by a partnership of East and West Tallahatchie school districts, Eva Covington Head Start Center, West Tallahatchie Head Start Center and Tallahatchie River Foundation.
The classrooms have been rated “successful” since 2014-15, the first year of the program.
Before the collaboration began, students in Tallahatchie County scored below both the readiness benchmark and state average on the state’s kindergarten entry test. Now, the entry score average at both R.H. Bearden Elementary and Charleston Elementary schools is well above the state average, and exceeds the readiness benchmark, too.
TELA is an initiative of Tallahatchie River Foundation, a private operating 501(c)(3) founded by actor Morgan Freeman that is committed to quality early childhood education in the state of Mississippi. The foundation invests in communities and cross-sector collaborations to improve early childhood outcomes by third grade.
IN THE PHOTO: State Rep. Tommy Reynolds is pictured with Charleston Elementary School principal Scarlett Willis (back right) and teachers, assistant teachers and students of the school’s pre-K program. (Photo special to The Sun-Sentinel)
