A proclamation was signed Tuesday by Bell County Judge-Executive Albey Brock with the help of students from Lone Jack School and Pineville Elementary School recognizing National Week of the Young Child.

National Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration hosted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAYEC) to spotlight early learning, young children, their teachers, families and communities.

Karen Thompson, who works with the group, spoke before the Bell Fiscal Court thanking them for their support in the proclamation signing.

“We are focused on school readiness and other important things for children of birth to eight years,” Thompson explained. “One of the things we are celebrating is the National Week of the Young Child, and one thing we have to do is declare the week in Bell County.”

Thompson said she is not going to let the rest of the nation pass Bell County by when it comes to signing the proclamation.

“We are doing the proclamation today,” she said. “We have a summit for childcare providers tonight. We have family fun day on Saturday and a bunch of things mixed in between.”

She explained that it is just a way of recognizing children, families and the importance of school readiness.

“School readiness is strengthening those families and fighting those adverse things that might hold them back,” she explained. “We are just so appreciative that the attention is being drawn to the needs of our children and families.”

Brock thanked the group for coming and being a part of the fiscal court meeting.

“Thank you guys and you teachers that are here,” he said. “You are the answer to the problems that we’ve got in our community.”

Brock pointed out that the teachers are the ones on the front line in the classrooms educating the children to make good decision as they get older.

“The folks that are in trouble, I think the jailer, the sheriff and the county attorney will back me up, are the folks who made bad decisions,” Brock said. “You guys are the only hope we’ve got, and I can’t say enough about how much we appreciate you all bringing them down here.”

National Week of the Young Child is celebrated April 8-12 across America to inspire children to learn and enjoy learning.