In 2015 Amber Alves was a new mom, working a minimum wage job at an alarm dispatcher company and supporting her husband through college. Her family just moved to Kelseyville, and she was looking for opportunities to socialize her 3-year-old. A friend told her about the local North Coast Opportunities Head Start Child Development center. When she walked in that first day, Alves knew it would go a long way in preparing her child for kindergarten but didn’t realize it would change the trajectory of her professional career.
Head Start encourages parents to be involved in the program, and Alves seized the opportunity to volunteer in her child’s classroom. She attended Healthy Families classes with her husband where they met other parents and formed a social network. Parents noticed her dedication, and in 2016 they nominated her to serve on the Program Policy Council (PPC), the advisory board comprised of current and past parents that oversees the program’s finances, policies, and direction.
The PPC reading material was sometimes intense, but it prepared her for what was next. In 2016 she quit her job and with encouragement from a staff member who saw potential in her, took a position as a Head Start Substitute Teacher. Alves states that her experience on the PPC and the staff she met as a volunteer provided the knowledge and confidence she needed to take the leap.
“I was super nervous, and they encouraged me by saying ‘I think you were born to do this. You should pursue your education because you’re a natural,’” said Alves.
“Because we are an education program, bringing people into the field is part of our model,” said Miriam McNamara, Head Start Program Director. “The investment in staff and families begins on day one.”
More than 47% of Head Start employees are current or former Head Start parents, a testament to the program’s ability to engage parents in their child’s growth and support them in their career paths. Unlike many Pre-K and TK programs, Head Start provides a holistic approach to family resiliency by helping parents identify and reach their educational, professional, and financial goals. One way Head Start accomplishes this is by hiring parents and supporting their career advancement within the program.
“It’s embedded in all aspects of employees’ jobs,” said McNamara. “We give them the push they need.”
Many Head Start positions require additional education to move up, so supports for staff in school are built into their employment benefits. Students have access to a tuition repayment program, paid work release time to attend class, and a learning library of textbooks. In 2019 with funding from the Community Foundation of Mendocino County, Head Start invited Mendocino College instructors to its central office to teach foundational courses the employees needed to advance up the ladder.
Alves moved away after completing the 2016-2017 school year and when she returned, was hired at a small preschool. However, it was not long before she was drawn back to Head Start.
“I knew the growth opportunity would be so much better than any small preschool around here,” she said.
She was right. Alves was hired as a Classroom Aide as she began her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education at Woodland College. After taking the necessary credits, she was promoted to Assistant Teacher.
A 2020-2021 employee survey found that 62% of staff stay with Head Start because they enjoy all aspects of the job, while 76% said working with children is what they enjoy most.
“It’s not an easy job, but it’s so rewarding,” said McNamara. “We are boots on the ground during a child’s most critical period of brain development. We are one of the main resiliency factors for families and children experiencing childhood trauma.”
Anyone in the early childhood education field must have a love for children and their best interest at heart, yet 54% of Head Start employees reported that collaborating and interacting with team members is what motivates them to come to work every day.
“They are the best mentors I’ve ever had,” said Alves. “They’ve helped me be a better teacher, a better mom. Of course, working with kids is rewarding; it’s fun to watch them grow throughout the school year with everything you’ve taught them.”
This summer Alves is excited to apply for the Associate Teacher position having secured the minimum credits. The year following, she will qualify for Associate Teacher II. While she eventually plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree, she’d like to wait until her children are a bit older.
“Maybe I’ll just move up in the company. You never know.”
Start your career with NCO Head Start today. Many positions are available, including entry level roles, with opportunities for advancement. To learn more about Head Start and to view open career and volunteer opportunities visit www.ncoheadstart.org/
[This archive item was originally published on Tuesday, July 19, 2022]
