BATON ROUGE, LA – The LSU Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool proudly announces that Demika
Gilmore has been selected as one of the five finalists for the Early Childhood Educator
of the Year award. This prestigious recognition highlights her dedication, passion,
and exceptional contributions to early childhood education.
in Child Development from Southern University and has worked with young children since
2010. Originally from Baton Rouge, she is a devoted mother to a daughter and a son.
Throughout her career, Ms. Gilmore has remained committed to creating a warm, positive,
safe, and loving environment for her students, one that fosters hands-on learning
and promotes early development.
“It is a blessing to be named a finalist for this award. Playing a role in my students’
formative years brings me joy,” said Gilmore. “The team at the Preschool is truly
a winning team,” said Kamille Watson, MEd, Director of the LSU Early Childhood Education
Laboratory Preschool. “Ms. Gilmore’s accomplishment highlights how we are changemakers
in early childhood education.
Gilmore’s teaching philosophy centers on the belief that early childhood education
is the foundation for lifelong learning. Her hands-on, child-centered approach ensures
that each child feels valued, engaged, and empowered to explore the world around them.
Most recently, she and teaching assistant Katie Slaughter received a perfect score
– 7.0 – on their Picard CLASS observation.
The LSU Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool continues to be at the forefront
of early childhood education, shaping the next generation of learners with innovative
teaching strategies and a commitment to excellence.
About the LSU Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool
The Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool (ECELP) is a Reggio Emilia – inspired
research facility within LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education and is aligned
with the university’s undergraduate and graduate programs in Early Childhood Education.
The ECELP is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children,
which is the leading early childhood professional organization in the nation. The
ECELP serves as a laboratory for the generation of cutting-edge research in the areas
of child development and education. It also serves as a training site for undergraduate
and graduate students as a model demonstration site within the community. Through
its support of research and teaching, the ECELP generates and disseminates knowledge
about best practices in early childhood education to support children’s development
and learning. Visit the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool website.
About the College of Human Sciences & Education
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division
of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education,
the School of Information Studies, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership
& Human Resource Development, and the School of Social Work. CHSE has two model demonstration
schools, the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, enrolling birth to age
four and the University Laboratory School enrolling Kindergarten through grade 12.
The college also has four centers and institutes: the Early Childhood Education Institute,
the Healthy Aging Research Center, the Leadership Development Institute, and Social
Research & Evaluation Center. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards
in teaching, research, and service and aims to improve quality of life across the
lifespan. Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education website.
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