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Head Start Stories
My Head Start Story: JoyceBack 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. As a parent, I had to volunteer, and sometimes I would skip work to complete the required hours.
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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. -
Head Start Stories
My Head Start Story: SebastianStory submitted by: Sebastian
Head Start Alumni
I am an alumni of UCLA’s Early Head Start Program from 2005-2006. After attending those years, I was more than prepared to tackle pre-school. My academic work ethic stuck with me since then. I became the top student in elementary school and Valedictorian in middle and high school. Currently, I attend UC Berkeley studying Mechanical Engineering.
Besides my academic trajectory, I have been impacted by the amazing opportunities to help my community. -
Head Start Stories
My Head Start Story: Daniela
Story submitted by: Daniela
Head Start Alumni and Parent
Dear Head Start,
I wanted to express my heartfelt appreciation for the tremendous impact your program has had on my life and the lives of my children. When my mother, sister and I immigrated from Mexico to San Diego in 1988, I enrolled in Head Start as a young child. The compassionate staff encouraged my mother to sign up for night school classes so that both of us could learn English, -
Head Start Stories
Head Start Cuento: MarthaPresentado por Martha
Padre de Head Start
Cuando mi hijo tenía 3 años de edad, estaba buscando desesperadamente ayuda de cuidado de niños o inscribirlo en la “escuelita” ya que era una mama, desempleada, con depresión y apunto de ir a la banca rota. Por lo cual necesitaba ayuda para poder buscar un trabajo, o ir a la escuela, superarme y darle una mejor vida.
Head Start a sido una bendición en la vida de nuestra familia.
