Tammy Stanley, Head Start Director
As the month turns to August, Head Start and Early Head Start prepares for a new beginning to the school year. We are renewed and refreshed from the summer and have our full attention to welcoming 494 children to our programs. Many faces will be familiar, and some will be new. Regardless, the beginning school year brings an opportunity to start anew and do all we can for our children and families.
Head Start and Early Head Start has many updates to report as we wrap up our summer planning processes. We are beginning a new initiative entitled the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP). ELP will allow Instructional Assistants the opportunity to be selected to complete advanced training and college coursework with the intention of being fully qualified Teachers within two years. These Instructional Assistants will be trained to work with our Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms and will be deployed to support classrooms across the agency throughout the year.
To help increase support for our teaching staff and enhance services to children, Head Start and Early Head Start is adding a 4th Education Coach. We want to make sure that all staff are adequately supported and can provide the highest quality services to our children. Adding an additional Education Coach to our ranks increases Head Start and Early Head Start’s ability to do so.
Lastly, COVID-19 is still with us. Head Start and Early Head Start is working closely with the Lincoln Trail Health Department to implement pandemic safety protocols in alignment with the CDC and Ky’s Division of Regulated Childcare. We would like to encourage you and your loved ones (ages six months and older) to consider getting vaccinated. The more children and families who are vaccinated, the safer we all are and the more likely we can keep all classrooms and centers open this year.