NC Governor Beverly Perdue Visits Lakewood Preschool

Lakewood Preschool Cooperative is a Smart Start funded program, a neighborhood-based preschool and family support program, designed as a cooperative effort among family members, staff, neighbors and volunteers, working together to prepare our children for successful entry and performance in the public school system. 

Governor Perdue said that Lakewood is a perfect example of how successful a community-wide effort can be in fostering an early childhood program. She praised the director, Courtney Alexander, and her staff. The governor spent time talking and sharing with the children at Lakewood.

Smart Start staff gave the governor a Smart Start Bear in appreciation of all that she has done to ensure that young children in the State of NC have the opportunity to obtain a high quality education--beginning at birth. The bear was dressed in a red Smart Start t-shirt to represent the dressed bears that will be available for auction at Smart Start's Teddy Bear Breakfast on April 21st. 

The bears are being dressed by various volunteers in the community and will be auctioned off at the event. Other auction items include include a Panther Bear with Panther Tickets, a night at Morehead Inn, a backyard play set, a week in Orlando. The event is being held to help support Smart Start. For more details, check out Smart Start's website. 

From Left to right: Lee Henderson, Senior Program Manager of Smart Start, Courtney Alexander, Director of Lakewood Preschool, Governor Beverly Perdue, Jane Meyer, Executive Director of Smart Start, and Claire Tate, Executive Director of Partners in Out-of-School Time.