Cathy Grace

Cathy Grace served as the early childhood coordinator at the Mississippi Department of Education and assisted school districts in the implementation of public kindergarten throughout the state. Working with the Department of Human Services, Cathy coordinated the development of a family support/family preservation program that is now a statewide model. Cathy served as president of the Mississippi Early Childhood Association, served on the nomination panel for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and represented Mississippi on the Human Resources Committee of the Southern Regional Education Board. She also received the Outstanding Member of the Early Childhood Association in 2000.

Grace served as executive director of the Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA), which gave her an opportunity to assist in the professional development of early childhood educators across the southern United States. She has spoken to groups across the country on behalf of children and families.

Mississippi State University appointed Grace to direct the National Center for Rural Early Childhood Learning Initiatives within the MSU Early Childhood Institute. She led a team of researchers at MSU and at partner universities and agencies to study gaps in early childhood services in rural communities and to develop research-based technical assistance models that can be replicated and adapted in diverse rural areas.

Dr. Grace retired from the institute in 2011 to serve as the director of early childhood development policy for the Children's Defense Fund in Washington, D.C. In June 2012, she returned to Mississippi and now serves as the director of early childhood education for the Gilmore Early Learning Initiative in Amory.

Awards

For The Portfolio Book: Benjamin Franklin Award

Videos

 Introduction to The Portfolio Book 

Reviews