safety
Historic African American nursery school in Rome falls on hard times
Summary by The Atlanta Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Berndt Petersen , WSB-TV (ABC) - News
· July 20, 2026
· 2 min read
Shaundria Dean says it has never felt like work. “It’s joyful. I’ve been here 32 years, and I love it. I love my job,” Shaundria said. She’s the Director of the Rebecca Blaylock Child Development Center on Graham Street in Rome. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks ] Vera Mat...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Atlanta Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Berndt Petersen, WSB-TV (ABC) - News Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 20, 2026 Indexed here Jul 21, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks ] Vera Mathis has been teaching here for 52 years.
Why this matters in The Atlanta
The struggles of the Rebecca Blaylock Child Development Center have significant implications for Atlanta's neighboring communities, like Rome, where historic institutions are vital to the social fabric. As a hub for early childhood education, the center's potential closure would not only erase a 92-year legacy but also leave a gap in local childcare options. The center's rich history, marked by its designation as an official Rome landmark, underscores the importance of preserving such institutions. In the context of Atlanta's broader regional landscape, the decline of the Rebecca Blaylock Child Development Center serves as a cautionary tale about the fragility of community resources, particularly those serving marginalized populations. As the center fights to stay afloat, its fate will be closely watched by community leaders and residents, who recognize the value of preserving historic institutions that have long provided essential services to the African American community.
About this story
Original reporting by WSB-TV (ABC) - News . The Atlanta surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSB-TV (ABC) - News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 20, 2026 ·
Source: WSB-TV (ABC) - News ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Shaundria Dean says it has never felt like work. “It’s joyful. I’ve been here 32 years, and I love it. I love my job,” Shaundria said. She’s the Director of the Rebecca Blaylock Child Development Center on Graham Street in Rome. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks ] Vera Mat...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 20, 2026 by WSB-TV (ABC) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Berndt Petersen at WSB-TV (ABC) - News. To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Atlanta, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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