Head Start for the whole family

In 1991 Head Start came to Madison, VA and I read an article in the Madison Eagle that they were recruiting.  My daughter turned 4 years old that year. My husband was retired from the Army with a service connected disability, I wasn’t working and we also had a 7 year old son at home. Unfortunately the class was full so we went on the wait list.

Jo’s Story

Shenandoah Valley Head Start is proud to recognize the accomplishments of Family Service Advocate, Jo Carpenter. Jo admits that after graduating from high school in 1972 she had no desire to continue an academic career. Instead of going to college she began working at Western State Hospital here in Staunton as a psychiatric aide where she remained for 14 years. During this time Jo entered the Elizabeth Brant School of Business and received certification for office administration skills. She married her husband Roscoe in 1985 and Roscoe Jr. was born in 1988.

A Head Start for ESL Children

In my opinion, the most significant success story of the year involves the acclimation and development of several children who live in homes where English is not the primary language. Greene enrollment includes two children who spoke Spanish, two Urdu-speaking children and one child who spoke Vietnamese. None of these children had any previous preschool experience. All were socially immature, and most suffered significant separation problems.

Back to School for One Successful Parent

LaToya Hunt of Hurt didn’t have an opportunity to go through Pittsylvania County Community Action Inc.’s Head Start Program, but she’s benefiting from the program both as a parent and professionally.

Hunt’s 5-year-old son, DeAndre Milller, spent two years in Head Start in Altavista.

“He did very well. It’s a very good program with good teachers,” said Hunt. “He learned a lot. It’s going to help him a lot in kindergarten.”