New Report Highlights Impact of PRIME TIME Preschool Pilot 

In follow-up to our innovative educational partnership with Air Liquide Corporation in 2011 and 2012, the LEH is pleased to announce that the company will again fund PRIME TIME Family Reading Time in Plaquemine, Louisiana in the fall of 2014.  "We are delighted and excited to bring a PRIME TIME program to Plaquemine this fall.  I can't think of a better way to strengthen Air Liquide's presence and involvement in the local community, while also helping to make a difference in the long-term, positive, educational outcomes of children and families in Iberville Parish," stated Christine George, V.P., Mississippi River Pipeline System. 

"The LEH is very pleased to be entering into a new, more comprehensive relationship with one of Louisiana's most educationally-minded companies," added Dr. Jeff A Hale, LEH Vice President for Institutional Advancement.  "On behalf of the many children and families that will benefit from this Plaquemine program, I want to express my sincere thanks to Christine, as well as her predecessor Luke Aass, now V.P. for Operations Control in Houston, and also Michael Rosen, the company's V.P. for Communications & Public Affairs."  Air Liquide offers industrial gases and related services to a variety of customers including those in large industry (refining, chemicals, energy, and metallurgy), industrial merchant (automotive, manufacturing, food, pharmaceuticals, technology and research), electronics, and healthcare marketplaces (for more information, see: www.us.airliquide.com.) 

Cheniere Energy, one of the largest corporate investors in Louisiana, has agreed to fund the LEH's PRIME TIME Preschool early childhood education program in Cameron Parish in the summer of 2014. This first-of-its-kind partnership will fund two after-school, early literacy programs at different locations across the parish, which was hard-hit by Hurricane Rita in 2005, but has since completely rebuilt its schools and related infrastructure. "I want to thank Cheniere Energy for being such a great corporate citizen in Louisiana," said Miranda Restovic, LEH Interim President/Executive Director. "This is the first time that our PRIME TIME Preschool program will be implemented in Cameron Parish, and we are excited to be working closely with CPSS Superintendent Stephanie Rodrigue and her talented team to foster improved kindergarten readiness for the Parish's children, ages three to five."

The Mississippi Humanities Council Reconnects with PRIME TIME

The Mississippi Humanities Council (MHC) has returned to PRIME TIME! During the earliest phase of PRIME TIME's national expansion (1997), the Mississippi Humanities Council became the first statewide agency to partner with the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities on the PRIME TIME project. Through a grant from LEH, the Canton Public Library became the first site in the state to present this innovative program. As part of the "Shell-LEH National Gulf States PRIME TIME Initiative," MHC will implement approximately 6 PRIME TIME Family Reading Time programs over 12 months. 

David Morgan, Special Projects Director for Mississippi Humanities and PRIME TIME project director stated, "The Mississippi Humanities Council has decided to join forces with the LEH's PRIME TIME Family Reading Time program as part of its Family Literacy Initiative. The MHC, which previously served as a pilot site for PRIME TIME, has made this decision based upon several advantages of the LEH's reading program including the availability of intensive training of key program personnel; direct access to materials, information and consultants associated with this program and the availability of a variety of books and discussion curricula. This final advantage will allow families to participate in multiple reading and discussion series', thus helping to reinforce and encourage their family reading experience. (The question most frequently asked by our always eager participants is "When will the program start again!"). The MHC is looking forward to partnering with the LEH in furthering this important endeavor incorporating parents, children, literacy and the humanities."

The LEH and PRIME TIME, Inc. are pleased to welcome the Mississippi Humanities Council back to the PRIME TIME family and look forward to a long-term partnership.

The PRIME TIME Family Reading Time and PRIME TIME Preschool Training Workshops were held on Saturday, July 12, 2014 at the Louisiana Humanities Center at Turners' Hall in New Orleans. Previously, PRIME TIME trainings occurred over 2 days. The July training workshops shifted to a 1-day agenda while providing the same number of instructional hours and maintaining an intense review of the program methodology, planning strategies, and implementation techniques.By all accounts, both trainings achieved the goal of preparing the newest group of team members for their programmatic roles in 2014!

Nearly 135 new team members descended upon New Orleans to engage in intensive instruction and practice on the PRIME TIME methodology and program implementation strategies.  Participants from Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Nebraska were trained by experienced consultants and PRIME TIME staff members.  As always, the training workshop was a fun and enlightening experience for all.   

Details on the January 2015 training workshops will be made available soon.  In the meantime, questions regarding the training workshop and upcoming training opportunities can be directed to the PRIME TIME staff.