Rep. Mikie Sherrill Honored With NHSA Pledge Award for Championing Early Childhood Programs
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Head Start Association (NHSA) has awarded Congresswoman Mikie Sherill (NJ-11) its Pledge Award for demonstrating a steadfast commitment to fulfilling the Head Start pledge to serve America’s most vulnerable children and families.
Rep. Sherrill’s recognition follows her lead sponsorship of the Head Start Education And Development Workforce Advancement and Yield (HEADWAY) Act in both the 118th and 119th Congresses. The HEADWAY Act would help strengthen the early childhood education workforce by permitting some Early Head Start teachers to be in the process of earning their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential while retaining the requirement that at least one teacher in every classroom be fully credentialed with at least a CDA. Doing so would bolster the Head Start and early childhood education workforce pipeline.
“Head Start changes lives,” said Rep. Sherrill. “It’s a critical program that ensures our youngest children get a high-quality early education and parents get back to work without breaking the bank. I’m honored to receive NHSA’s Pledge Award, and proud to sponsor the HEADWAY Act. which will address staffing shortages at Early Head Start programs and provide job opportunities to New Jerseyans pursuing a career in early childhood education.”
“Congresswoman Sherrill has been a steadfast champion for the children, families, and staff of Head Start,” said Yasmina Vinci, executive director of NHSA. “Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to Head Start’s mission of ensuring every child, regardless of circumstance, is ready to succeed in school and in life. We are proud to honor her with the Pledge Award.”
About the Pledge Award: The National Head Start Association (NHSA) presents its Pledge Award annually to members of Congress who have gone above and beyond to uphold the “Head Start Pledge” – to serve America’s most vulnerable children and families and ensure the every child, regardless of circumstance, is ready to succeed in school and in life. Past recipients include longtime champions of early childhood policy across both parties.
About the National Head Start Association (NHSA): The National Head Start Association (NHSA) is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to realizing the promise of Head Start; that all children have a chance to succeed in school and in life. NHSA is the voice for the nearly 750,000 children served by more than 250,000 staff every day in every Congressional district across the country. In 2025, we celebrate 60 years of service to more than 40 million children, their families, and communities across the country.
CONTACT:
Bob Bissen
Senior Director, Government Affairs
National Head Start Association
media@nhsa.org