Cathy Grace has served as the early childhood coordinator at the Mississippi Department of Education and assisted school districts in the implementation of public kindergarten throughout the state. Working with the Department of Human Services, Cathy coordinated the development of a family support/family preservation program that is now a statewide model. Cathy has served as President of the Mississippi Early Childhood Association, has served on the nomination panel for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and represents Mississippi on the Human Resources Committee of the Southern Regional Education Board. She also received the Outstanding Member of the… Early Childhood Association in 2000. Cathy Grace has also held the title of Executive Director of the Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA), which gave her an opportunity to assist in the professional development of early childhood educators across the Southern United States. She has spoken to groups across the country on behalf of children and families. Cathy Grace lives in Tupelo, Mississippi.