Head Start California is thrilled to welcome its newest team member, Gricelda Ocegueda, who joins us as the Engagement Coordinator. In this vital role, Gricelda will spearhead the support for HSC’s five signature conferences and a range of other learning opportunities. Her responsibilities will encompass program coordination, registration management, speaker coordination, and on-site support. Additionally, she will actively engage with members at cluster meetings and contribute to the association’s social media, advocacy, and outreach efforts.

Gricelda brings a wealth of experience in event support, administration, and operations. Most recently, she served as the Health and Nutrition Manager at the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA), where she led the program’s CACFP administration and food service, health and nutrition operations, and quality assurance monitoring. Before transitioning to health and nutrition, she worked in SETA’s contracts and budgets. We are excited to have someone on the HSC team with a deep background in the Head Start program operations.

Expressing her enthusiasm, Executive Director Melanee Cottrill remarked, “Gricelda’s decade of experience in a Head Start program will provide our team with invaluable insights. Her understanding of the program’s needs will be instrumental in helping us offer the best possible support to the field.”

Gricelda holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of the Pacific and a master’s degree from California State University, Sacramento.

Passionate about both Head Start and event planning, Gricelda is eager to merge these interests in her new role. Beyond her professional talents, she has a not-so-hidden passion for multi-media production, including film, music, and entertainment. Recently, she even completed her first feature film! Reflecting on her passion, Gricelda shared, “I’m a storyteller. Long before books existed, there were stories. Some stories are imaginative and bring out my inner child, while others reveal the raw beauty of lived experiences. I love bringing stories to life.”

Gricelda’s connection to Head Start runs deep—she was a Head Start child herself. She fondly recalls those early years in Tracy, California, where her parents, migrant farmworkers, enrolled her in the program. “Those early days in Head Start were so special to me,” Gricelda reminisced. “It’s where I learned English, American culture and my ABCs, but I also learned to cherish and preserve my family’s culture.”

Gricelda is a proud parent of a teenage daughter, who was also a Head Start child. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, cooking and baking, beach trips, and watching “dramedy” films.