The Academy at NHSA Receives National Award for Excellence in CDA Programming

ORLANDO, Fla. — The National Head Start Association (NHSA) is proud to announce that The Academy at NHSA has been honored with the 2025 Advocacy Award from the Council for Professional Recognition. The award recognizes The Academy’s outstanding Child Development Associate (CDA) programming and NHSA’s ongoing commitment to rebuilding and strengthening the Head Start workforce, starting with the CDA.

NHSA’s Zuly Vazquez accepted the award on October 8, 2025, at The Council for Professional Recognition’s annual conference in Orlando, Florida.

“This award from The Council for Professional Recognition is a powerful affirmation of the work being done to build a strong, sustainable Head Start workforce,” said Yasmina Vinci, executive director of NHSA. “The Academy’s CDA programming opens doors for aspiring educators and ensures every child has access to qualified, caring professionals ready to make a lifelong impact.”

Since its launch in 2022, The Academy’s CDA program has helped over 1,000 early educators start their careers and expanded access to professional development for early childhood educators nationwide. The program offers multiple learning pathways, including a full Spanish-language CDA program and Pathway to Purpose, a special CDA track designed for high school students exploring careers in early childhood education – with over 300 high school students enrolled.

NHSA remains committed to providing high-quality training and development opportunities that empower educators to deliver the best outcomes for children and families across the country.