Story Submitted by: Deisy, Head Start Alumni, Parent, and Staff

I walked into my first Head Start classroom in 1986. As the first child of immigrant parents, my parents wanted me to have the right tools to start my education. In that classroom, we felt safe, cared for, and truly at home. Over the years, I developed a love for teaching, and from the wonderful experience I had in Head Start, I knew I wanted to work with young children one day.

When I was in high school, I completed the Child Development program and later attended Modesto Junior College, where I earned my AS in Child Development. In 2017, I returned to Head Start—this time as a parent—dropping off my first child and signing up as a parent volunteer. I soon joined the Parent Policy Committee, serving as Vice Chair to represent my site for Modesto City Schools, and later as Vice Chair for my district at the Stanislaus County Office of Education.

With one child graduating from Head Start and my second enrolling, my connection to the program only grew stronger. Being part of the Parent Policy Committee gave me the opportunity to attend the Head Start National Conference in 2019, where my passion for teaching was reignited. In January 2020, I was hired as a substitute paraprofessional in the ECE department at Modesto City Schools. I loved exploring different classrooms and learning from amazing teachers.

That same year, I was diagnosed with a heart condition that forced me to take time off. It broke my heart to step away from teaching after working so hard to reach my dream. Still, I stayed involved—volunteering, attending meetings, and participating in workshops to remain connected to the Head Start community.

As a former Head Start parent, I was invited to join Cradles to Career, a pilot program in our county. There, I met someone who took an interest in my story and invited me to help design a program for single mothers in Stanislaus County. After months of hard work, the program was approved, and I became the first participant in TWO GEN. After undergoing a successful heart operation, I discovered a new passion: helping other single mothers with young children.

I began hosting meetings and workshops, sharing my knowledge, experiences, and resources with other families through Head Start. In 2022, I returned to the classroom as a permanent paraprofessional for an all-day Head Start program. However, in 2024, I suffered my fifth stroke. I realized that the fast-paced classroom environment was too demanding for my heart. Admitting I needed to step away from my lifelong dream was incredibly difficult.

But the universe had other plans. That same day, a job opening appeared in the TWO GEN program for a Family Navigator position. In April 2024, I transitioned from my Head Start role and became a TWO GEN Navigator—while still serving as a community representative on the Head Start Policy Committee.

By July 2025, I was promoted to Children’s Education Supervisor at Ceres Partnership Family Resource Center for the Center for Human Services. Today, I’m proud to still be serving families and helping children thrive—the same way Head Start once helped me.