When a knock came on the door of her trailer in Chugiak, Alaska, Kristine Bayne was a teenager and the mother of a 2-year-old. Two women informed her about Head Start, a federally funded preschool program opening near their home. Intrigued, Bayne signed up her daughter hoping it would make a difference. Little did she know that it would also change her life.
Bayne, who completed high school through correspondence after getting pregnant at 16, later worked at her child’s Head Start. Empowered by the experience, she pursued a bachelor’s degree, stating, “I learned so much about taking care of my children, advocating for them, and finding my voice. They help you become a better person.”
In Alaska, numerous parents share similar stories of how Head Start aided them in obtaining degrees leading to better employment opportunities. It has supported parents in recovery from addiction, taught children in foster care, and prepared youngsters for kindergarten.
However, the closure of CCS Early Learning’s Chugiak Head Start and Meadow Lakes center, where Bayne’s granddaughter was enrolled, has had a significant impact. Despite a waiting list and full classrooms, the shortage of staff remains a challenge.
Many Head Start teachers have left their positions for higher-paying jobs in retail or at school districts, resulting in a decrease in enrollment and limited early learning opportunities for children from disadvantaged families.
The closure of the Meadow Lakes Head Start has left parents and children without the vital support and resources the program provided. The multigenerational approach aimed to create healthy environments by supporting both children and adults, positively impacting the lives of many families in the community.
As the Meadow Lakes children bid farewell to their beloved center, teachers and staff tried to maintain a sense of normalcy while acknowledging the emotional significance of the closure. Despite the challenges, they worked to create a cheerful and celebratory atmosphere for the last day of school.
On the playground, children released butterflies they had been nurturing, symbolizing new beginnings amidst the closure of their beloved Head Start program.
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