In celebration of National Arts & Humanities Month, Educational Resource Services (ERS) Library is hosting an open house event on Tuesday, October 15 from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. This event will showcase the wide array of new visual and performing arts-related curriculum resources just added to the library collection. TCOE’s QUAIL Project grant supported the acquisition of the new resources, including over 200 print and eBooks, dozens of puppets and readers theatre resources, small classroom musical instrument kits, and more.

The open house event will also feature a live demonstration by local author and illustrator Merry Miller-Gass. The first 50 guests to the open house event will receive a free copy of Merry’s book, “The Ultimate Picture Book Planner.”

Merry Miller-Gass is a picture book writer, illustrator, freelance artist, and the owner of Merry's Mobile Art Studio. She is available to facilitate workshops for schools throughout Tulare County, inspiring students’ love of art and creativity. Merry's whimsical illustrations have been published in esteemed magazines such as Spider and Ladybug (Cricket Media) and she is currently working on illustrating her debut picture books, “Duck Duck Groove” and “No Love Potion" (The Little Press, 2025).

ERS Library resources and the new arts curriculum are available to contracting Tulare County schools. For more information about the library and its services, visit tcoe.org/ERSLibrary. 

Photo above:

~ A illustration by Tulare County artist Merry Miller-Gass, who will provide a live demonstration of her work at an open house hosted by the ERS Library on October 15. The open house is being held to celebrate the addition of over 200 arts-related books and other teaching materials to the library’s collection. 

Last week, the Tulare County Council on Child & Youth Development hosted its 16th Annual Legislative Event.  At the event, Eric Sonnenfeld, assistant administrator of the Early Childhood Education Program, moderated a panel comprised of researchers Stergios Roussos, Ph.D. and Joanne Brion, who were commissioned by the Council to complete two important early care and education studies. Roussos was responsible for the needs assessment while Brion completed the economic benefits study.

In his study, Roussos reported on the continued need for early care and education (ECE) opportunities to serve Tulare County parents. Nearly 15,000 preschool children in Tulare County do not have access to early care and education. That’s roughly 68% of the county’s preschoolers left unserved. The percentage is far higher at 94% for infants and toddlers.

Brion’s recently completed economic benefits study dovetailed with the needs assessment study. In it, she noted that ECE has an economic benefit of $370 million in Tulare County, which currently has a gross domestic product of $23 billion. She also found that if Tulare County was able to solve its shortage of ECE spaces for children, an estimated 35,000 parents could go to work, contributing an additional $4.5 billion to the county’s gross domestic product.

To read the new 2024 Early Care and Education Needs Assessment Study and the 2024 Early Care and Education Economic Benefit Study, including easy-to-read infographics and executive summaries, visit tcoe.org/tularecountylpc/ELC.

The Tulare County Council on Child & Youth Development is the local planning council comprised of 25 members jointly appointed by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors and the Tulare County Superintendent of Schools. Funded by the California Department of Social Services, the Council serves as a liaison between the county and the state to identify ECE needs and to advocate for them.

Photo above:

~ Researchers Joanne Brion (left) and Stergios Roussos, PhD. were among the featured speakers at the Tulare County Council on Child & Youth Development’s 16^thAnnual Legislative Event. Brion and Roussos presented highlights from early care and education studies they completed this year – the 2024 Early Care and Education Economic Benefit Study and the 2024 Early Care and Education Needs Assessment Study.

Last month, Chai Phannaphob, Ed.D., joined the California Center on Teaching Careers (the Center) as a program manager for the Teacher Residency for Rural Education (TRRE) residency program.

Phannaphob’s experience with TRRE began with the first cohort but her educational career encompasses over 20 years. She previously worked as a high school Latin teacher, community college education program coordinator, adjunct lecturer in education, anthropology, communication, modern and classical languages and literatures departments, and as an education and professional consultant in K-12 and higher education settings. She continues to support, mentor, advocate, and encourage future educators in the Central Valley and beyond.

One of the cornerstones to the Center’s work is its residency programs. The Center is home to four residencies, including TRRE. Its work has attracted attention at the national level. In August, the National Center for Teacher Residencies (NCTR) recognized TRRE and selected it as one of three residency programs across the nation to host a network site visit.

For more information on the Center, visit tcoe.org/CCTC/TRRE. 

Last Wednesday, Monson-Sultana School hosted a grand opening for the school’s latest campus additions. The school celebrated the unveiling of a new gymnasium, library that includes two classrooms, a community resource center, and playground.

On a Facebook post about the new gym, the school said “This gymnasium isn't just a building—it's a symbol of our community's strength, perseverance, and bright future. From sports events to community gatherings, these walls will witness countless memories in the making. Remember, this is only the beginning! The best is yet to come for our amazing community!”

Editor: Robert Herman, Communications Director
Contributors: Nayirah Dosu, Marlene Moreno, Jennifer Fisher, Kate Stover, Chai Phannaphob

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