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Head Start California Updates
Head Start Looking ForwardBy: Guest contributor, Paul Behrman
Walnut Leadership www.walnutleadership.com
Friends in California! I bring you good tidings from the Brave Little State of Vermont!
In July 2021, I began work as a national consultant, trainer and keynote presenter for Head Start organizations across the U.S. My national work, and continued advocacy for the Head Start program, builds on my 22+ years as a Head Start director in Vermont, and 20+ years as chair for the Vermont Head Start Association. -
Head Start California Updates
Mapping the Road Ahead: Insights from the Head Start Professional Development SurveyHere at HSC, we have two critical functions: advocacy and professional development. And our goal in everything we do is to meet your most pressing needs and make your life that much easier. To that end, this summer we teamed up with the Region 9 Head Start Association to conduct a survey on professional development needs. Thank you to everyone who responded to the survey! Your input is impactful and appreciated. We know you are asked to answer a lot of surveys and are grateful you chose to help map our future professional development offerings.
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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 California Updates
Remembering Senator Dianne Feinstein: A Champion for Head Start
Head Start California is saddened by the passing of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, a leader whose legacy will forever resonate across our nation, throughout California, and within the Head Start community. Senator Feinstein’s unwavering support for Head Start was a testament to her dedication to enriching the lives of at-risk children and families nationwide.
Among her most notable contributions to Head Start, Senator Feinstein introduced the bipartisan Loan Forgiveness for Head Start Teachers Act of 2007, -
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. -
Head Start California Updates
It’s Head Start Awareness Month: Celebrate with us
October has arrived, marking the beginning of Head Start Awareness Month—a wonderful opportunity for us to shine a light on Head Start! With looming threats to cut Head Start funding by $750 million in FY 24, now is an urgent time to impress upon our lawmakers the profound significance of Head Start.
Last month, we put out a call for story submissions and received a total of 24 stories, each a testament to the remarkable impact of Head Start.
