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Head Start Stories
My Head Start Story: OlgaStory submitted by: Olga, Head Start parent and staff
As I began my education career at Woodland Community College, one of my electives was Early Childhood Development, and one of the requirements was to observe a childcare center. I went into a Head Start center and signed up to volunteer. I was very nervous, but the moment I saw the classroom, I had the best feeling. I knew I was in the right place and wanted to pursue this career. -
Head Start Stories
Head Start Cuento de JulianaStory submitted by: Juliana, Head Start parent
El programa está ayudando a mi hijo a ser más independiente de mamá; él busca realizar las cosas por sí solo. Esto se debe a la enseñanza de las maestras del programa. A mí también me ha ayudado a tener tiempo para realizar todas las tareas pendientes del hogar y, además, a tener la oportunidad de buscar un empleo, ya que ya no estoy preocupada por quién cuide a mi hijo. -
Head Start Stories
My Head Start Story: RandiStory submitted by: Randi Head Start alumni, parent and staff
I am Head Start!
I started in Head Start as a young child back in 1980! I remember it vividly as we had actual nails, hammer and wood to practice with outside. As I got older, I did not have any interest in school, as I was a child of a depressed, drug-addicted mom. I struggled in school and only went because it was the only place I could receive a free hot meal. -
Head Start Stories
My Head Start Story: JoyceStory submitted by: Joyce, Head Start parent and staff
Back in 1987, I lived in a small community called Orange Cove, California, located southeast of Fresno near the foothills. It was mostly made up of farm workers, and I was one of them, picking oranges in the fields. To be able to work, I needed to enroll my son in preschool, so I signed him up for the Orange Cove Head Start EOC Program. -
Head Start Stories
My Head Start Story: AdrianaStory submitted by: Adriana, Head Start parent and staff
When I separated from my partner and became a single mother of three, I needed a job to support my family. Fortunately, I found support for my daughter through the Head Start Home-Based program. Eventually I transitioned her to a center-based program. While she was enrolled, I was encouraged to join the Policy Council, which later led to a role on the Board of Directors as the Policy Council Representative. -
Head Start Stories
My Head Start Story: JoyStory submitted by: Joy, Head Start Parent, and Staff
I live in a small community, and over the years, I’ve had the privilege of serving three generations of children from many families. I know I’m making a difference, and I truly love what I do. My journey with the program began in 1984 when I was a parent. A teacher visited my home and helped both my child and me develop positive skills. My son had special needs at the time, -
Head Start Stories
My Head Start Story: BelindaStory submitted by: Belinda, Head Start Parent, and Staff
My son Robert was born very premature and was treated at Children’s Hospital in Oakland. I didn’t know about Head Start until the hospital told me about it when Robert was turning 3 in 1988. Since there was no classroom option at the time, he became a home-based student. I learned so much about his development that I wanted to get more involved, so I volunteered daily. -
Head Start Stories
My Head Start Story: RamonaStory submitted by: Ramona Topete
Family Development Educator – Early Head Start
Child Development Resources of Ventura County, Inc.
This interview was originally published by Child Development Resources in May 2023.
Ramona wanted to share the story about her daughter, Isis Topete, and her experience as a CDR Head Start student in the late 90s and how that journey guided her to a career as a successful pediatric optometrist.
“I didn’t know about Head Start back then,” -
Head Start Stories
My Head Start Story: BrendaStory submitted by: Brenda Poteete
Executive Director, Sierra Cascade Family Opportunities Head Start and Head Start Parent
When I became a Head Start parent of two young children in 1987, I was working fulltime in a retail job and raising two children with my husband. We were enrolled in a home-based program and I went from being the shy parent who sat at the back of the room for parent meetings to being the parent committee representative and then to the chairperson of the Policy Council. -
Head Start Stories
My Head Start Story: ValeryStory submitted by: Valery
Head Start Alumni, Parent, and Staff
Our Head Start story began in 1995. My mother and father were working hard to lay a strong foundation for our little family. They were immigrants with two young daughters to raise in an unfamiliar country. When I was four, they enrolled me in a Head Start program.
At that time, my mother was working the graveyard shift at a local Target. This freed her days to volunteer in the classroom and attend the parent workshops.
