Glasgow, Barren County preschools earn 5 stars

GLASGOW, Ky. (WNKY) — Preschool programs in both Barren County Schools and Glasgow Independent Schools have earned 5-Star ratings through Kentucky All STARS, the highest level available in the state’s quality rating system. Educators in both districts say the recognition reflects work in classroom instruction, staff development, family engagement and school leadership — all aimed at helping children enter kindergarten ready to learn.

Consistency across Barren County

Every Barren County Schools preschool site received the 5-Star designation.

Denise Rose, preschool coordinator for Barren County Schools, said reaching that level across multiple sites came down to consistency.

“Consistency is the big thing,” Rose said. “Our teachers have worked hard, our assistants have worked hard. Everybody that’s involved is worked hard to ensure that they were providing for the kids, that we were giving it all to them and making sure they were all successful in their learning.”

Evaluators observed teachers providing hands-on learning, using visuals and working at the children’s level. They also considered the learning environment and family engagement.

Rose said no single area was responsible for the rating.

“I don’t really feel like one was stronger than the other because I feel like they all have to work together for us to be a high quality center,” she said.

Glasgow focuses on social-emotional skills

Glasgow Preschool Academy also earned the highest rating.

Belinda West, preschool coordinator for Glasgow Independent Schools, said Glasgow’s classrooms place a strong emphasis on creating a welcoming environment while helping children learn friendship, problem-solving and social-emotional skills.

“Our teachers go out of their way to make every child feel welcome, and to teach those importance to friendship skills and problem solving skills, all of the things that they need just to be a good human,” West said. “They learn here in preschool. And our teachers really embraced that, and they did it just outstanding.”

Glasgow uses the Pyramid Model framework, which West said helps children learn how to be good friends, solve problems, identify their emotions and handle the “big emotions” that can come at ages 3 and 4.

All 11 Glasgow preschool teachers scored 90% or higher during observations connected to that framework, according to West. Those scores were factored into the district’s All STARS rating.

West said earning the designation required extensive documentation, reflection and adjustments within the program.

“It was a lot of learning and reflection on our program, learning how to do things better, how to do things differently,” she said. “It was a lot. But like I said, it was a great time of reflection and evaluation for our own program.”

Preparing children for kindergarten

Both preschool coordinators said the value of preschool goes beyond academic preparation.

“Preschool is initially going to be their first step in education,” Rose said. “We’re not only just preparing them for school, we’re preparing them socially so that as they enter into kindergarten, they’re going to be ready to learn.”

West pointed to many of the same foundational skills.

“Learning how the all of those important foundational skills, being a good friend, social emotional learning, problem solving, then when they go to kindergarten, they’ve got that strong foundation,” she said.

She said those skills can help children adapt to kindergarten routines and participate more successfully as expectations become more academic.

Parents are also seeing some of those lessons carry over at home, West said. Families have reported hearing children use the same language about friendship and behavior outside the classroom that they use at school.

Five stars, but more work ahead

Both districts say the rating is not an endpoint.

Barren County plans to continue evaluating its preschool program annually even though the star-rating process occurs every three years.

“We’re not going to stop because we’re a five star,” Rose said. “We’re going to keep pushing forward to see what we can do to better improve, to better each child.”

Glasgow also plans to continue the practices that helped earn its rating. West said the district will keep working with a coach and continue building on its social-emotional learning framework.

“I think we’ve seen so much improvement that we’ve seen the benefit of it,” West said. “So we’re going to continue to do that.”