Sacramento Head Start Alumni Association

Success Stories

Feb 04, 2003

Head Start
Success Stories


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Mary Maxwell

Mrs. Mary Maxwell, a mother of 10 children and 28 grandchildren, was a former Head Start parent. Eight children were enrolled in the Head Start Program. Mrs. Maxwell served as a classroom volunteer, bus monitor, policy council member from 1968 until 1974. She admits that she was very shy. However, she thanks the Head Start Teachers and staff who provided her with encouragement and support. She was a Head Start Teacher?’s Assistant from 1973 to 1974. Her professional experience includes Nursery Director, Housing Director, Case Worker, Math Tutor, Parent Assistant and Teacher?’s Assistance for Orange County Public Schools. She is currently working as a Clerk at Orange Center Elementary School Family Services Center.

Her eight children are now working as professionals in the following positions: State Trooper, Secretary, Math Tutor, Head Start Assistant, Body Builder, Credit Union Representative, Sales, and Operations Manager. She truly believes that "all parents and children can learn and succeed". She knows that "if a child was in the program and stayed there everyday or most of the year, they were ready for public school."

Mrs. Maxwell was awarded the Neighborhood Volunteer of the Year Award and received Congressional commendation from U.S. House of Representative, Corrine Brown, 3rd District. She was also selected for Outstanding Volunteer of the Year, Johnson Village Homeowners Association, District 6. She devoted tremendous energy to neighborhood and community issues, helping youth, those less fortunate and her neighbors. She serves as a City Academy Member for the City of Orlando, Office of Neighborhood Services, Neighborhood Association. Mrs. Maxwell is a member of the biracial committee and has monitored Orange County?’s desegregation efforts. The August/September 1996 issue of Black Family Today indicated that Maxwell has mixed feelings about the return to neighborhood schools, but despite her reservations, she hope the changes will bring about more parental involvement and a strong sense of community in the school.

Sonya Hill

Ms. Hill, a Orange County Head Start Social Worker, fondly remembers pink eyeglasses, yellow grits and love. Ms. Hill, a Head Start Alumni, credits the Head Start Program with providing both a loving environment and her first eyeglasses. She is legally blind and stated that Head Start staff were the first to identify a vision problem.

Ms. Hill graduated from South Carolina State University and was the first college graduate in her family. She is now works at Hal Marston Head Start Center. Ms. Hill has a special perspective on the value of education for children and services for their families. The classroom brings back her fond memories of playing in the "house" area and learning to write her name. Her triumphs over life?’s struggles has made working for Head Start very important. Ms. Hill maintains that many families still benefit from the Head Start Program.

Connie Sloat

Ms. Connie Sloat, a Head Start parent and wheel chair basketball player for Orlando Ice. She fell in 1990, hitting the right side of her forehead. As a result of the accident, she underwent brain surgery. Despite her disability, she aims high and faithfully attends wheelchair basketball practice at Valencia Community College. She says that no matter your shortcomings, believe in yourself and your own abilities.

Ms. Sloat believes that the Head Start Program is the most wonderful program for available for preschoolers. Her daughter, Anna Grace Charity attended Mitchell Head Start Center. She strongly believes that the Head Start Program is molding our future leaders and thanks Head Start for giving children a "jump start" on school and life?’s opportunities.

Edwarnique Lapointe

Ms. Edwarnique Lapointe, a former Head Start child, works as a Social Worker at Grand Avenue Head Start Center. She remembers the encouragement of her Head Start Teacher and support of classmates. She says "after Head Start to primary school, I went through the next twelve years of school knowing that I could succeed. I had a Head Start, a loving family and many extended members. It was not easy, but I never gave up."

Ms. Lapointe graduated high school with a grade point average of 3.65. After graduating from high school, she became a young mother and found herself needing childcare. She selected Head Start because she wanted her "child to be in an environment in which learning was stressed." She met the Social Worker and Case Worker and credits them for encouraging her to continue her education. She earned an AA at Seminole Community College and Bachelor?’s Degree of Public Administration, with a minor in Sociology from the University of Central Florida.

Ms. Lapointe believes that Head Start gives children and families a "Head Start". As a Head Start Social Worker, she continually encourages others to never give up on their goals.

http://www.orangecountyfl.net/dept/hfs/headstart/Success.htm