PEACE, Inc.’s Early Head/Head Start program held its Policy Council Celebration on Wednesday! The purpose of the Policy Council is to allow parents a voice and governance rights for Early Head/ Head Start Programming. The policy council plays a vital role in making the best choices on behalf of all Head Start parents.
Our Executive Director Carolyn Brown recently had the delightful chance to engage with the children at our Baldwinsville Head Start location through reading. This experience was filled with warmth for both Carolyn and the kids!
Our little artists at Merrick Head Start have outdone themselves this year! The gymnasium was transformed into a stunning art gallery featuring their amazing creations. We’re so proud of their creativity and talent!
Families from Jordan-Elbridge Head Start celebrated Memorial Day by marching in the Jordan Memorial Day parade yesterday! The turnout was great to honor those who have served and sacrificed for our county.
Recently, Jenn Gaffney, the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Coordinator, paid a visit to Grandma Lana’s classroom to read a storybook to the Kindergarteners. During the visit, Jenn chose to read Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Webb, which turned out to be a delightful experience for both the students and Jenn.
Tieyonnia Brandon began working in our Head Start program in February 2018 as a Teacher Aide, then became a Teacher Assistant later that year and a Family Worker in 2022, obtaining her Child Development Associate Credential and Family Development Credential.
Tieyonnia has been an anchor at our Merrick site, continuing to provide a great deal of classroom coverage throughout the building as well as support to families beyond her standard caseload due to continued staffing shortages. Meanwhile, she is attending college classes at night, and is on track to earn her Associate’s Degree in Human Services by December 2024.
Our Head Start Family Workers help clients to prepare their children for success in school and beyond, by meeting families where they are while providing support and encouragement toward forward movement at their pace. Tieyonnia has demonstrated through her work that she realizes the key to success and positive progress for families is based on developing healthy partnerships and being a valuable and encouraging resource, whether it is by supporting them through the complex challenges of homelessness, or by assisting them with the initial steps of scheduling a child’s first medical exam.
Recognizing her dedication, commitment, and hard work, we are pleased to honor Tieyonnia Brandon as our Employee of the Month for March!
Photo: Employee of the Month Tieyonnia Brandon, with Merrick Head Start Site Supervisor Sharon Bean and Executive Director Carolyn Brown.
Erin Hess has been a lead teacher at our Head Start site in Lafayette since September 2021. She was chosen for this month’s award because of the dedication to excellence that she consistently demonstrates as a child development professional, and for always being positive and helpful toward her co-workers.
Congratulations to Erin Hess, our Employee of the Month for February!
Photo: Employee of the Month Erin Hess, with Lafayette Head Start Site Supervisor Kelly Tucciarone and Executive Director Carolyn Brown.
PEACE, Inc. staff members and their families went to Albany yesterday for the Empire State Campaign for Child Care’s 2024 Advocacy Day. Alongside local partners and advocates including the Early Childhood Alliance of CNY; Child Care Solutions of CNY; Partners in Learning, Inc.; the Salvation Army; and Micron Technologies, critical conversations/education took place with lawmakers and with a public rally. Among the most important calls raised: the importance of investing in the child care workforce and the need to make it easier for families to access quality early childhood child care and education.
#NYSuniversalchildcare #PEACEIncSYR
Carolyn Brown, Executive Director of PEACE, Inc., took a break from her executive duties to visit Merrick Head Start and read to the children in room 211. Brown’s warm and engaging storytelling brought the pages of the book to life for the young listeners.
The children were captivated by Brown’s stories and her expressive reading. They giggled at the funny parts, gasped at the suspenseful moments, and cheered for the characters they came to love.
Brown’s visit was a reminder of the importance of early literacy and the power of storytelling. She hopes that her visit will inspire the children to develop a love of reading that will stay with them throughout their lives.
“It was such a joy to read to the children at Merrick Head Start,” Brown said. “Their enthusiasm and excitement were contagious. I hope that I was able to spark a love of reading in them that will last a lifetime.”
Merrick Head Start was recently honored to host Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter (128th District) and share the exciting work they are doing with families and youth. Assemblywoman Hunter had the opportunity to learn how the program is meeting the learning and nutritional needs of its young students while also empowering families.
“We were thrilled to welcome Assemblywoman Hunter to Merrick Head Start,” said Carolyn Brown, Executive Director of PEACE, Inc. “It was a great opportunity to showcase the important work we do and how we are making a difference in the lives of children and families in our community.”
Head Start/Early Head Start is a program of PEACE, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides a variety of educational and support services to children and families in the community. The program serves children from birth to five years old and offers a variety of services, including early childhood education, Head Start, and family support services.
We are grateful to Assemblywoman Hunter for her visit and her support for our work. We are committed to continuing to provide high-quality early childhood education and support services to the children and families in our community.
