Lakeland PBS Announces Sharna Johnson as Part of 2023 Early Learning Champions Program
Local Red Lake Elementary School Teacher Recognized by Lakeland PBS and PBS KIDS as a Leader in the Northern Minnesota Early Education Community
Bemidji, MN, October 16, 2023 – Today, Lakeland PBS announced Sharna Johnson, Special Education Teacher from Red Lake Elementary Complex, as one of the 14 early education professionals named to the 2023 honorees of the PBS KIDS Early Learning Champions program. The awards, established in 2018, recognize and celebrate passionate educators who work with the nation’s youngest students, from infants to second graders. Through the Early Learning Champions program, PBS KIDS and local PBS stations, including Lakeland PBS, surround educators with professional learning and networking opportunities.
Station Representative, Jordan Stearns says “Lakeland PBS is passionate about supporting childhood education and that goes beyond our broadcast. We have countless resources from free lesson plans, activity guides, and classroom tools to share with those that are caring for and teaching children in Central and Northern Minnesota. We are so excited to highlight Sharna and the incredible work she does for the students at Red Lake Elementary Complex and we are thrilled to be able to collaborate with her and PBS KIDS on how we can continue this work.”
Sharna Johnson was selected for her focus on creative teaching and classroom practices as well as her passion for fostering equity and inclusion.
Sharna Johnson shares, “Our school is experiencing an increase in disabled children, as are many school districts in the nation. It is my goal for more educators and people in the community to see the gifts every child has to offer the world and work on including students with disabilities in more school and community activities. To do this, the school employees and members of the community must work together in accepting individual people for who they are and acknowledging what talents they have to contribute to the world.”
The PBS KIDS Early Learning Champions program, which has recognized 52 passionate educators of young children since its inception, including this year’s honorees, includes various early learning educators, including Pre-K and special education teachers; childcare center owners and directors; librarians and family literacy specialists; community and parent educators; and school counselors. The program
represents the diverse community impacting young learners today. Supported by the CPB-PBS Ready To Learn Initiative, this year’s cohort will work on national co-design projects, such as professional development resources for educators, and everyday learning resources for families while also supporting Learning Neighborhood work across the country.
PBS KIDS and local PBS stations will also provide support in skill-building within the classroom, in-person and at-home, while encouraging these professionals to seek out their own personal and professional trajectories. These Early Learning Champions will also connect with education networks across the nation, and further their commitments to their community’s families, education officials, and administrators through the utilization of PBS KIDS and local PBS stations tools and resources.
A full list of the 2023 PBS KIDS Early Learning Champions can be found here.
About Lakeland PBS:
Lakeland PBS’ mission is to educate, entertain, enrich and enlighten our “community” with the programming we produce right here in northern Minnesota and the nationally available programming we choose to air on our channels. Lakeland PBS’ vision is to be the premier, trusted, indispensable public media resource for the region. We strive to empower citizens while serving and connecting the diverse communities across our broadcast region.
About PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS believes the world is full of possibilities, and so is every child. As the number one educational media brand for kids, PBS KIDS helps children ages 2-8 learn lessons that last a lifetime. Through media and community-based programs, PBS KIDS wants children to see themselves uniquely reflected and celebrated in lovable, diverse characters who serve as positive role models, and to explore their feelings and discover new adventures along the way. Families can stream PBS KIDS for free anytime, no subscription required. A large collection of mobile apps and pbskids.org provide accessible content that spark kids’ curiosity. PBS KIDS and local stations across the country support the entire ecosystem in which children learn and grow – including their teachers and caregivers, parents, and community – providing resources accessible anytime and anywhere. For more information, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Contacts:
General information, photos, etc. please contact our Marketing & Communications Manager, Jordan Stearns at jstearns@lptv.org.
The contents of this release were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. The project is funded by a Ready To Learn grant (PR/Award No. S295A200004, CFDA No. 84.295A) provided by the Department of Education to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
