Jen Cooper has a long history with HSOLC starting as a HS parent herself. Did you know she comes from a military family?
Let’s learn some more…
Are you a parent ? Were you or are you a HS/EHS parent?
I am a Head Start parent. My son, who is now 13, went to Head Start for 2 years, at the Fairfield site. My son said that he still remembers the doll house that was in the classroom and being able to play outside even if it was rainy.
Are you from Oregon?
I was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and lived around the US as a military brat. I settled here in Eugene in 2005, right before my senior year of high school.
What surprised you most about HS?
I stumbled into Head Start while getting my associates at LCC. I was assigned to the therapeutic classroom with Kerry Holmes for my practicum hours. After that term, I decided to work for Head Start “just” for the 2 semesters between my associates and bachelors program. 10 years later, I am still here! When I started that fall as both as a Head Start parent and an associate teacher in our full day program, I had no idea how well-rounded the services were. Support and connection to education, special education screening, dental, health/hearing/vision, mental health/counseling, social, food and community resources, etc… It’s not “just preschool”.
What would you tell parents about HS/EHS you think they really need to know?
As an Early Head Start employee, I would love more people to know that EHS exists! We serve families with pregnant adults and kiddos 0-3 in our home-based and classroom models. I wish I had known about it as a Mom with a baby and toddler. Having a baby/toddler/preschooler is hard work, and support from the village around you is precious and necessary.