Head Start teachers and staff are additional role models outside of the home. That provides quality and service to children and their developmental progress, health, and well- being. 

Head Start is an important service where children learn to socialize with others, solve problems, develop self-confidence and leave Head Start prepared for kindergarten.

Support instructor: Sarah Powell

" Head Start provides a loving and safe learning enviornment to encourage exploration and problem solving. We provde experiences to help children develop self-esteem and self-confidence to gain independence. The teachers, parents, and caseworkers work together as a team to ensure the children's success." 

 AM Support Instructor- Franca Osso 

" We at Head Start work to create a physically and emotionally safe environment for children to become independent, self- motivated, life-long learners. We implement in-depth studies based on children's interest in a fun, child-directed environment. Each child is supported by individual in a warm and caring setting, filled with engaging, developmentally appropriate activities. Parents, teachers, and caseworkers work together as a team to ensure the health and welfare of each child. The joy received from working with this team can be seen in the children that enter our rooms every day."

As a Head Start Team, we focus on providing an environment that allows each student to develop and grow into excited learners.  We provide a positive and safe learning environment where each student can expand their knowledge base as they develop the skills to enter Kindergarten. We are developing their thinking skills, communication skills, motor skills and their creativity through engaging activities and lessons. Therefore, Head Start means a lot to our team and our mission is to provide our very best to each student and family we welcome into our program each year.

We believe that the child’s parents are their first teachers and that they play an integral role in their development and well-being of their child. Our role as Head Start teachers is to support the whole family and their efforts as the child’s first teacher in an educational setting. In our Head Start program we will provide the child with a nurturing and safe environment that is filled with opportunities for language development, along with lessons that are challenging cognitively, physically and socially/emotionally.

We believe as teachers that it is very important to provide a safe, warm, friendly, caring, stable and inviting environment.  We want our Head Start children and families to feel welcome and know that we are excited to have them as part of our program.  We want to inspire and motivate a child so they can learn and grow.  Show patience for a child that may need that extra care.  Show a child they are unique with many talents deep inside.  Help families understand that working together benefits all to succeed.  One of the most important accomplishments as a teacher is the ability to instill a joy of learning, whose experience will remain in their lives forever.

" We love to learn and have great adventures throughout the year while teaching important concepts in Matrh, Literacy, Science, and Social- Emotinal development. We learn through hands-on experiences and social interactions. We learn important skills while we dance and play. We provide a safe place for students to learn and grow and we are here to support you and your student any way we can."  

"We choose to work in Head Start because the ability to support children and families, while providing an exceptional education, is the most rewarding and fulfilling enviornment of all."

"Head Start works to create a physically and emotionally safe enviornment for our children to become independent, self-motivated, life-long learners. We implented studies based on children's interest in a fun, child directed enviornment. We supported each child towards individual goals in a caring setting, filled with engaging and developmentally appropriate activities."

We feel the benefits to the children and families are great.  Children have the opportunity to grow accustom to the school and educational environment while engaging in hands on learning experiences.  Demonstrating and increasing knowledge and skills in Social and Emotional Development, Language, Math, Science and Social Studies.  These areas help the children to prepare for their educational career ahead of them. We encourage children to try new things and do their personal best and explore the world around them in depth, in a safe and loving environment.We encourage families to volunteer in the classroom and community. We provide opportunities for families to learn and grow by informing them of educational opportunities and resources available to them in the community.  

"Head Start is about empowering our communities by making sure every kid has access to a quality education that sets them up for a successful path in life. We work together to provide individualized learning for our students with all aspects of early childhood develpoment in mind. Academics, social/ emotinal skills, exposure to diversity, and knowing your educators care about you are all things I believe are crucial for healthy, happy development."

"Our role of serving Children and their families include caring for them enough to learn about their cultures, their interests, and their needs. We are here to care, protect, and teach students as well as offer parent trainings about subjects beneficial to them."

" Our Philosophy statement is to provide a warm, nuturing, safe, clean enviornemnt where children can learn and grown. Children will learn through group play, individual play, in/outdoor play and adult interactions. I will appreciate aand value different family, cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. My goal is to make each child and family feel important!"

" The Shaw Butte 2 Head Start team is committed to providing a safe, healthy environemt to promote social/ emotional, language development, physical development, cognitive skills, and literacy in a fun, playful, loving, and supportive atmosphere. We agree with Mr. Rogers when he said, "Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But children, play IS serious learning."

" Our goal is to provide a safe, nuturing, and fun enviornment where children can learn and grow. We will welcome you and your children into our school family right away. We are here to help your child and your family with anything you might need to have a positive school experience. Together we will make sure your child loves learning and being at school."

For us, the purpose of Head Start is to help children and families where they are socially, emotionally, physically and mentally in their education. Our role in Head start is to  assess their needs and their abilities so we can best help them accomplish their goals. Our goals are to help them become self-motivated learners and allow them to figure out how they learn best. We plan developmentally appropriate fun activities so they don’t even know they are learning. We believe that children learn best through play and provide opportunities for them to practice new skills. The benefits we provide are a chance for children to build confidence and independence through new skills and challenges we give them every day. We provide support for families and parents by arranging trainings and providing learning games and ways to encourage children to learn. We provide information on how to keep kids healthy and happy, by encouraging proper health, nutrition and safety information.

Head Start provides a safe learning environment for students and their families to grow and develop a love for learning that will last a life time.

Head Start Director: Diana Howsden

Program Coordinator: Michaele Pilsbury

Administrator Specialist: Yvonne Rubalcaba

Risk Assessment Mentor for Educational Services: Myriam Pacheco

Education Program Coach: Claudia Olade

Education Program Coach: Pam Rohrer

Office Specialist: Jackeline Garcia

Office Technician: Cindy Goris 

You will see the Head Start Instructional Assistants working with children in classrooms. They travel to different schools to provide extra support to instructional staff, children and families. The Instructional Assistants definitely increase the quality of our program.