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California Kindergarten Association.

Rockin' Kindergarten for over 30 years!

President’s Message

Michelle Jones
CKA President

Dear CKA Members, 

Welcome to the California Kindergarten Association!  As President of this incredible organization, I personally welcome you as a valued member of CKA! 

CKA’s Mission Statement, “to foster children’s early learning and development by promoting best practices and professionalism in teaching and advocating for high quality, developmentally appropriate early childhood education”….is our beacon. It keeps us focused on what we can do as educators, administrators, and teachers to contribute to what we know is best for young children in their early learning and development. 

As President of CKA, my goals include continuing the amazing work we do as an organization by serving educators and young children.  We have a board of highly talented and experienced educators and together we DO and WILL make a difference in providing high-quality educational experiences to ALL of our youngest learners! 

Welcome to CKA! 

Michelle was elected President of CKA in March 2019 after serving on the Board of Directors for four years. Michelle is a professor and coordinator in the Multiple Subject Credentialing program for Teachers College of San Joaquin in Stockton, California.  She has taught for 22 years in grades Pre-K-8 and 13 of those teaching precious kindergarteners and Transitional Kindergarteners! Michelle believes the foundation of all good practices is to build relationships. She is an extraordinary leader, passing on her knowledge about good teaching practices and development of curriculum and collaboration, both in the workplace and with CKA.  Michelle has been a mentor teacher to numerous student teachers, and she has led professional development, grade level chair and has served on curriculum council for Oakdale Joint Unified School District, TCSJ (Teachers College of San Joaquin), California Kindergarten Association and KinderStar in Vietnam.

Latest on Instagram

🐝GRATITUDE POST!🐝 …..heads-up….it’s long…. So much 🐝GRATITUDE POST!🐝 …..heads-up….it’s long…. So much to be thankful for!!! 💛💛 Hands on table activity donations:
Kodo Kids
Discount School Supply 
SYNLawn 
BouncyBand 
Andrea (CKC committee member)
Expression Systems 
  Raffle prize donations:
Kodo Kids
Discount School Supply 
BouncyBand 
Tito’s vodka
MoveIt
MEKA Kids 
MathStackers
Really Good Stuff
Lakeshore 
Trader Joe’s  We couldn’t have done it without you!!!!! #ckc2026 #ckalovesteachers #gratitude
Another AMAZING art exhibit this year at #ckc2026! Another AMAZING art exhibit this year at #ckc2026! Get all the projects here: bit.ly/CKCArt2026
Did you LOVE the art exhibit this year? Our gift t Did you LOVE the art exhibit this year? Our gift to you: a document with ALL of the projects- images, directions and materials needed! bit.ly/CKCArt2026 #artrules ! #ckalovesteachers
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today & every Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today & every day.
Tanja Schulte-Irwin is currently discussing the co Tanja Schulte-Irwin is currently discussing the competencies needed for the 21st century. Participants are exploring her "Dream Pre-K Teaching Guidelines" and experiencing how play-based learning—which is brain-based learning—develops social-emotional, cognitive, and physical skills. We are learning how to foster the intrinsic motivation that helps children make a difference in the world. #21stCenturySkills #PlayBasedLearning #BrainBasedLearning #LifelongLearners
Christina DeCarbo-Wagers is currently leading "Sen Christina DeCarbo-Wagers is currently leading "Sentence Success!". Educators are diving into developmentally appropriate, sentence-level writing instruction. Participants are currently engaging in tons of sentence-building activities designed to boost their students' confidence and reading comprehension, turning them into "sentence superstars". #SentenceSuccess #WritingInstruction #LittleWriters #LiteracySkills #ckc2026

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California Kindergarten Association

4 days ago

California Kindergarten Association
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today & every day. ... See MoreSee Less

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California Kindergarten Association

5 days ago

California Kindergarten Association
Tanja Schulte-Irwin is currently discussing the competencies needed for the 21st century. Participants are exploring her "Dream Pre-K Teaching Guidelines" and experiencing how play-based learning—which is brain-based learning—develops social-emotional, cognitive, and physical skills. We are learning how to foster the intrinsic motivation that helps children make a difference in the world. #21stCenturySkills #PlayBasedLearning #BrainBasedLearning #LifelongLearners ... See MoreSee Less

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California Kindergarten Association

5 days ago

California Kindergarten Association
Christina DeCarbo-Wagers is currently leading "Sentence Success!". Educators are diving into developmentally appropriate, sentence-level writing instruction. Participants are currently engaging in tons of sentence-building activities designed to boost their students' confidence and reading comprehension, turning them into "sentence superstars". #SentenceSuccess #WritingInstruction #LittleWriters #LiteracySkills #ckc2026 ... See MoreSee Less

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California Kindergarten Association

5 days ago

California Kindergarten Association
Deonna Smith is showing educators why "Mindsets Matter" for classroom success. Right now, participants are examining their own biases, frames of reference, and assumptions through self-awareness exercises. We are currently learning how to become change agents who promote cross-cultural learning in their schools. #MindsetsMatter #EducationalEquity #CrossCulturalLearning #TeacherEmpowerment #ckc2026 ... See MoreSee Less

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California Kindergarten Association

5 days ago

California Kindergarten Association
Katrina Duval and Sheila Koester are shaking up the classroom with "Innovative Centers!". Right now, educators are discovering how to infuse science, writing, SEL, and fine motor skills into their rotations. We are experiencing an empowering and student-directed way to handle center time that encourages self-discovery. #CenterTime #FineMotorSkills #IndependentLearning #ClassroomInnovation #ckc2026 ... See MoreSee Less

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Phone 916.780.5331
Email cka@ckanet.org

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