When Cassidy was just 8 months old, her mother, Jalisa, enrolled her in Lee County First Steps’ home visiting program, Early Steps to School Success. Every other week, the family received a visit from an early childhood expert, Felecia Evans, who provided tips and coaching to help mom and dad maximize their daughter’s early experiences.  Jalisa, a middle school teacher and her husband, Lawrence, who teaches high school, value education and know the importance of starting early.  Through a scholarship program, Cassidy was able to attend a high-quality early childhood program at Bishopville Lee Child Care Center.  When she aged out of the Early Steps program, which focuses on children birth through age three, she transitioned into Lee County First Steps’ Raising a Reader book exchange program.  Every few weeks, her bookbag would be refilled with new books to enjoy with her family.  Thanks to these programs, Cassidy has everything she needs for a bright start to school and life.  Now six years old, she is looking forward to First Grade. The family was so happy with the impact of the First Steps programs that they enrolled Cassidy’s little sister, Kyleigh, in the program, too.  The family recently attended the press conference announcing the expansion of programs like the ones in which they participated.

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