CCSD Early Learning Center - West

We love our Teacher of the Year. Congratulations Chaitra Curry. Thank you for always putting kids first. You make us proud to work alongside you!!

Wrapping up our 2026-27 school-level Teacher/Support Professional of the Year individual spotlights tonight with a look at Chaitra Curry, Pre-K Teacher at CCSD Early Learning Center - West and the Office of Early Learning Teacher of the Year! Although she has been on maternity leave recently (congratulations!), we didn’t want to miss the opportunity to spotlight her!

Ms. Curry began her career in education in 2008 and is currently in her 13th year with CCSD, where she began as a Pre-K paraprofessional in 2014 and has served as a Pre-K lead teacher for the past seven years. She is a proud graduate of Piedmont University, where she earned both her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and master’s in Special Education. She was previously the Office of Early Learning Teacher of the Year for the 2022-23 school year.

“Throughout my journey in education, I have been fortunate to cross paths with people who saw a light in me that, at times, I did not yet see in myself,” says Ms. Curry. “From the moment I walked into my very first classroom, I knew Pre-K was where I belonged. When I began my journey with CCSD, I had the privilege of working under our beloved Pre-K legend, Mr. Gregory Hull. I will never forget him telling me, ‘You are a gem.’ Those words stayed with me. He reminded me that I had something special to offer and recognized a drive and passion within me that encouraged me to keep growing. That encouragement helped inspire me to return to school, complete my education, become a lead teacher, assume leadership roles within Pre-K, and find confidence in using my voice to advocate for young children and early childhood education. Along the way, many other mentors, colleagues, students, and families have continued to shape the educator I am today.”

Ms. Curry says her “why” has remained the same through every stage of her teaching career: “helping students achieve success while ensuring they feel loved, supported, valued, and confident in who they are.”

“My favorite part of my job is the joy that comes from working with young children and knowing that I have played a role in building the foundation for their future success,” she adds.

Outside of the classroom, Ms. Curry enjoys cooking, crafting, singing, and spending time with her family and friends. She is the proud mother of four beautiful children, who are among her greatest joys and inspirations.

“For me, teaching is more than a profession,” says Ms. Curry. “It is an opportunity to build relationships, support families, inspire young minds, and make a lasting difference in the lives of others.”

Please join us in congratulating Chaitra Curry, Teacher of the Year! And thank you for reading along each of these spotlights over the past 11 days showcasing these 44 remarkable individuals who are raising the bar and making CCSD Better Together in all that they do! Stay tuned in the coming days for much more TOTY-SPOTY content!

Pre-K friends showed their Spirit as they put on shades and socks during our recent Spirit Week. Check out all the fun being had as they joined in on our School Spirit Week Activities. We Have Fun at ELC!!

As we wrap up our Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, we share our beautiful tribute to several Hispanic Country Flags. Check out these gorgeous displays. Our Home Based Team and Ms. Curry's class won our flag contest and will receive a well deserved prize for their efforts.

We Love our Custodial Crew at ELC West. Thank you to Liz, David and Tangela for always supporting us and helping our school stay in tip top shape. We appreciate you more than you know. :)

Today in Ms. Angel & Mrs. Bijaya’s Early Head Start class, our students enjoyed reading The Three Little Pigs! 🐷🐷🐷 They had fun placing pictures on the felt board and participating in a sensory activity linked to the story.

During center time, students painted using yellow, our color of the week! They also enjoyed caring for baby dolls and exploring the light table. What a fun day of learning, exploring, and playing!

📚✨ Every child has a story… and Pre-K is where some of the BEST chapters begin!

Our ELC West Pre-K team is ready for a year filled with learning, laughter, friendships, and lots of memories! 💙💛

📖 Welcome to our PRE-K STORY!
We have a feeling it’s going to be a BESTSELLER! ⭐

We are so proud of our PreK Lions. 🦁